CV: ÁSGRÍMUR SVERRISSON, writer/director
F I L M A N D T V W O R K S :
2009 DOCUMENTARY: Destination: Skjaldborg (Áfangastaður: Skjaldborg)
28 mins. Profile of the 2009 edition of the Skjaldborg Documentary Film Festival in Patreksfjördur, Northwest-Iceland. Produced by Edisons lifandi ljósmyndir. Screened by RUV TV.
2007-2008 TV PROGRAMME: 07/08 Cinema Theatre (07/08 bíó leikhús)
One of four hosts of a weekly programme on cinema and theatre at RUV TV. Also writer and segment producer. Programme nominated for the Edda, the Icelandic film and television awards.
2006 SHORT: A Conversation (Samræða)
1 min. Supported by The Icelandic Film Centre and RUV TV. Writer/director/producer. Screened by RUV TV.
2005-2006 TV PROGRAMME: Take 2 (Taka 2)
Host of 20×50 min. interviews with Icelandic filmmakers, discussing their films and showing excerpts from them. Produced by RUV TV.
2004 DOCUMENTARY: The Making of Nói albínói (Gerð kvikmyndarinnar Nói albínói)
Director and host of a 20 min. film where director Dagur Kári discusses the ideas and the execution of his film “Nói albínói”. Produced by Zik Zak Filmworks. Also participated with Dagur Kári in the director‘s commentary on the film‘s DVD.
2001 FEATURE FILM: Dramarama (Villiljós)
Director of one segment of five. Written by Huldar Breidfjord. Producers: Thórir Snaer Sigurjónsson, Skúli Malmquist, Zik Zak Filmworks (with the support of The Icelandic Film Fund and The Nordic Film and TV Fund). Premiere: January 19th 2001.
2000 TV SERIES: Alive! (Lifandi!)
8×20 mins. improvised comedy series broadcast live in real surroundings. Produced for Skjár einn Television with the support of the Icelandic Cultural Fund for Broadcasting. Director/producer. Also writer of one episode.
1999 TV FILM: No Mercy (Engin miskunn)
30 mins. Drama. Director. Produced by public broadcaster RUV TV.
1998 TV FILM: The Visit (Heimsókn)
30 mins. Drama. Director. Produced by RUV TV. Nominated for the Edda, the Icelandic film and television awards, in the best TV drama and best actor categories. Selected as the best Icelandic TV drama of 1998 by Morgunbladid daily newspaper.
1998 DOCUMENTARY SERIES: Three Women (Kjarnakonur)
3×23 mins. Profiles on three ordinary but formidable women. Direction, script and production. Produced by RUV TV.
1997-1998 TV PROGRAMME: Daylight (Dagsljós)
Segment producer on the daily magazine programme. Also weekly appearance on the programme as a film critic. Also segment producer. RUV TV.
1997 DOCUMENTARY: Young Icelanders: Ten Years Later (Ungir Íslendingar: tíu árum síðar)
48 mins. A follow up on a documentary made ten years earlier (see below). Direction, script and production. Produced by RUV TV.
1994 SHORT: Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Ferðin að miðju jarðar)
40 mins. Direction, co-script with John Milarky. Produced by National Film and TV School, UK.
1993 SHORT: Home
28 mins. Direction. Script by Mark Preston. From a short story by Hrafn Gunnlaugsson. Produced by National Film and TV School, UK.
Made around 20 other shorts since 1978.
1992 DOCUMENTARY: The History of Icelandic Education (Íslensk skólasaga)
45 mins. A brief introduction of education in Iceland up to the 20th Century. Direction, production. Produced by RUV TV.
1990 TV FILM: The Fortress (Virkið)
28 mins. Drama. Direction, script. Produced by Alvara films. Sold to RUV TV.
1989 DOCUMENTARY: The Man with Seven Swords (Sjö sverð á lofti í senn)
2×50 mins. On Icelandic politician Jónas Jónsson (1899-1967). Direction, production. Produced by RUV TV.
1988 TV FILM: The Irresistibles (Hinir ómótstæðilegu)
30 mins. Comedy/musical. Direction, production. Produced by RUV TV.
1988 DOCUMENTARY: Talking Stones (Steinarnir tala)
2×55 mins. On Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson. Direction, co-script and production. Produced by RUV TV.
1987 DOCUMENTARY: Young Icelanders (Ungir Íslendingar)
55 mins. Documentary on several twenty-somethings and their aspirations. Direction, co-script and production. Produced by RUV TV.
Also a large number of other TV productions, such as docus, music shows, children’s shows etc. since 1987.
1983-1999 COMMERCIALS/MUSIC VIDEOS:
Director, writer, editor and producer of over 70 television commercials and music videos.
S C R E E N P L A Y S :
2010 TV SERIES IN DEVELOPMENT: Snæfells saga
Six-part x 50 min. TV series. Co written with Fridrik Erlingsson and Marteinn Thorisson. Produced by Blueeyes Productions Iceland (development support by the Icelandic Film Centre and RUV TV).
2010 FEATURE IN DEVELOPMENT: Stúlka sem ég þekkti (A Girl I Knew)
Produced by Pegasus Pictures Iceland (development support by the Icelandic Film Centre).
2002 FEATURE: White Lightning
Co-written with Marteinn Thorisson. Sold to Magma Films Ireland (development support by The Icelandic Film Fund, The Icelandic New Business Ventures Fund, North By Northwest scriptwriting programme).
1999 FEATURE: The Seagull’s Laughter
Co-written with Ragnar Bragason. Developed by Baldur Films, Iceland.
1998 FEATURE: East of the Moon
Co-written with Marteinn Thorisson. Developed by Pegasus Pictures Iceland (with the support of MEDIA II).
1997 FEATURE: The Sunrise
Co-written with John Milarky. Optioned by Lynda Myles, Pandora Pictures, UK (development support by British Screen and The Scottish Film Fund).
E X P E R I EN C E I N M E D I A / E D U C A T I O N /
O R G A N I Z A T I O N S / F E S T I V A L S :
Since 2010 Programme and PR Director – Bíó Paradís
One of the founders and present Programme and PR Director of the Reykjavik downtown arthouse and repertory cinema.
1980-2010 Writer/journalist/expert
Various articles, interviews and apperances on TV and in newspapers, radio, websites and magazines regarding films and filmmaking.
2009-2010 Manager of Reykjavik Short Film Days (Stuttmyndadagar í Reykjavík)
Since 2009 Editor of Iceland Cinema Now
Founding editor and owner of icelandcinemanow.com, an english-language website on the Icelandic film scene.
1995-2008 Editor of Land & synir
The Founding Editor of Land & synir (www.logs.is), film magazine and website published by The Icelandic Film and Televison Academy in co-operation with the The Icelandic Filmmakers Association, The Icelandic Film Fund, The Icelandic Producers Association and The Association of Icelandic Film and TV Directors. (Break between 1998 and 2001).
2009 Host at Nordisk Panorama Short and Documentary Film Festival
Host of Q&A‘s.
Since 2008 Host at Skjaldborg Documentary Film Festival
Host of „Work in Progress“, Masterclass with guest of honour Thorfinnur Gudnason.
Since 2007 Host at Reykjavik International Film Festival
Host of Masterclasses and Q&A‘s. Guests include Milos Forman, Costa Gavras, Atom Egoyan, Niels Arden Oplev.
2002-2007 Board member of the Icelandic Film and Television Academy
The Academy runs the Edda Film and TV Awards, holds regular lectures on film and TV and publishes Land & synir.
2002-2003 Editor of website on films and filmmaking in Iceland (www.asgrimur.is).
1999-2001 Founding Manager of The Edda, the Icelandic Film and Television Awards.
Since 1999 Member of the film selection committee for the DV newspaper annual Cultural Awards.
Currently chairman.
1998-2000 Film critic for DV, daily national newspaper.
Since 1997 Regular lecturer at The Icelandic Film School.
Topics include film history, film analysis, screenwriting.
1984-1990 Graphic design at magazines, advertising agencies and freelance.
1983-1985 Publisher and Editor of film magazine Myndmál (Film Grammar).
F I L M S T U D I E S :
2006 NORTH BY NORTHWEST: WIZARD OF OZ
Screenwriting programme. As script editor.
2001 NORTH BY NORTHWEST
Screenwriting programme. As writer.
1990-1994 NATIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION SCHOOL
Beaconsfield, United Kingdom. Post-Graduate Film Directing Course.
1987 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
Summer intensive course in filmmaking.
(Last update: February 11th 2010).
