Dear graduation students, parents, families and friends, teachers and staff members, I welcome you to this graduation from The Icelandic Film School in the spring of the year 2020.

It is always enjoyable for us to graduate students and especially on such a lovely day. Last evening I watched your graduation films and was convinced that you were ready for the deep end. It surprised me how little effect the Corona virus had on the quality of your projects. Because of course this virus completely skewed this last semester. But you did get precious experience in handling the unexpected and defeating this challenge. It happens to be one of the most important features of film making to be able to react to changed circumstances because there will always be unforeseen changes while crafting film projects. For instance the weather, there is no weather in this country, but only examples of weather. It changes constantly and then you need to be able use it and not let the weather control you. It is my experience that the most beautiful film shots in Iceland were shot in extreme weather. When you would not take your dog out for a walk, but exactly in those storms lie opportunities to separate our projects from the calmness of Hollywood where there are always sunny skies. Which is why you need to embrace the saying that local is global. When it comes to choosing future projects it is good to keep in mind to extract them from your local environment. Think like a chef that only uses local produce. And speaking of food and films, try to avoid making films that are only meant to pass time, like fast food is meant to quell hunger for a short while. Try instead making something extraordinary straight from the farm. It is always an experience to watch a film from an exotic country and get to know its culture and traditions, for example the “Parasites” that were awarded the last Oscars. But what environment awaits you?

The positive of the virus is that it created a worldwide condition that we can use to our advantage. It stopped all film making in the world where it flowed before and therefor there are a few grand films awaiting to be shot here. You should all try to get work on these projects and add to your experience. Because in our field we are constantly learning and adding to our collective know how.

I am one of many that the Minister of Education chosen to a committee to shape a vision of the next ten years. In it there is being layed a foundation for a better environment for your future if the government follows through with the proposals. Among others we have put a greater emphasis on growing productions of television material and financially less challenging beginner films. But film making will always be hard work as the global market is so very small. But the desire to tell stories must always be enflamed by passion for the film form as then you will be rewarded by the passion repaid. The passage from an idea of a film to seeing it on the big screen is long. Most of my films have been in the evolving stage for 5 years because patience is a necessity. It is often painful to have a complete film in your mind but not being able to extract it because financing is missing. But trust me, all films benefit from rolling around your head because the knowledge of a painkiller being around the corner is so creative. It is also important to keep in mind that film making is the coordination of multiple artists. It can be likened to a simphony orchestra where each musical instrument plays a part and if one false note is played then you have to start again. That is why respect for others on the project is essential for the best possible end product. For me listening to those that work with me has been especially fortunate. Because the people you work with on each project are improving it. A person that never listens to others usually ends up an isolated idiot laced with an inferiority complex.

Our school is at a milestone, as we will be moving to a new housing before the fall. There we will embrace a long term future vision. We are also working on getting our studies to a university degree. This would not have been possible if not for the kindness of our Minister of Education, Lilja Alfredsdottir, who released the school from many years of contract negotiations with the government and now stands behind the school’s students in making the studies university qualified. As many of you might have seen we have been advertising the position of an assistant principal. This is a new position meant to guide the transfer over to a university level and strengthen the structure of a universal department.  

The Icelandic Film School is exactly on the verge, as on Monday the 29th of June the Icelandic University Quality committee will be meeting about the request of the Ministry of Education and Culture about forming a 3 man review board of foreign experts, that will be giving the minister advice on the existing request for university level changes.  The Film School has requested that the coming review be held in September and that the expected results would be made on December the 1st.

The reason for requesting an accelerated review is the importance of the film industry for the Icelandic economy and community. It is very urgent for the industry to get it to  university qualifications and for the students it is imperative for specialized training, or other future studies. 



We are not only speaking of future students in this context. The Icelandic Film School has been operating by university standards from the year 2010, really even 2007. During this time the school has graduated 500 students and you can assume that at least part of them would like their studies to be applicable to a Bachelor’s degree. Among those are the students graduating here today.

We intend on closing the contract with the University of Iceland as soon as The Film Schools university acknowledgement is in place, and offer the one year study at their wonderful film making department up to a BA degree. We hope to be able to offer this 3 year course in conjunction with The University of Iceland for the spring semester of 2021. As well as having the assessment of past studies available. It must be mentioned that negotiations with The University of Iceland has been ongoing for years and is broadly speaking ready. In actuality the university studies begin this fall and the fall semester will be valued as a university level.

The Film School has already begun the transformation. A four person jury of renowned doctors has been chosen, to evaluate the competence of prospective academic employees. Prospective professors will be hired in August. There has also been formed a 12 person university council, among others headed by representatives from all the main professional associations of film makers and actors. Many other items are in development. No fundamental changes are expected in the curriculum and The Film School is confident that it has the professional quality needed, as it has been in international cooperation for years now and has been able to compare the quality of education to all major film schools abroad.


During times like these that are running amok in Icelandic economy, where income has been contracted by a high percentage, and both the industries and the people in the country are trying to reflate the labor and income, it is imperative that both the educational system and government reacts with haste. The Icelandic Film School gaining university recognition and students earning a university degree actually accelerates the rebuilding of an imperative line of work.It is important to remember that the film industry has been among the top 15 revenue makers in the country and has great room to grow. In this position it is crucial that studying at The Film School is correctly evaluated for the best possible support.


My mother used to begin her speeches by saying; “Today is a day worth remembering.” That will be my final words to you, congratulations on this beautiful day and may it be one to remember .

For the last 10 years Bio Paradis has had a special place for both students and staff of The Icelandic Film School. Every Friday our students have flocked there for film history, and to watch carefully chosen films that have completely changed the genre of film making.

Our students have had the opportunity to watch these films in the highest possible quality in a film theater. These classes are of course a basic necessity in the education of Icelandic film makers.

At the end of each semester we celebrate our “harvest” in Bio Paradis. For a whole week our students show the fruit of their efforts on the same screen where they watched the masterpieces. At the end of the week of premieres our students graduate from the school in a festive ceremony, and of course in a film theater. 


We challenge both the government and the city to find a workable solution to this problem and save Bio Paradis.

This cultural home of films is simply to important to vanish from our society.

The Film Schools students, who have these last few weeks been sat at home being taught remotely, finally returned back to the school for traditional classes, though of course maintaining their 2 meter distance rules. Filming and preparing to film was a priority, as the students have not had the opportunity for it recently.

1st semester students of Directing took Directing Actors with Thorsteinn Gunnar Bjarnason. 2nd semester students prepared to record short films and 4th semester students prepped filming documentaries.

1st semester students assisted 3rd semester students in re-shooting a scene. 2nd semester students took a course in Color Processing with Johannes Tryggvason. 3rd semester students were filming a re-shot scene. 4th semester students finished editing their graduation films.

2nd semester students sat a course in the making of documentaries and prepared shooting their own documentary. 4th semester students worked on finishing their rewrites of full length scripts, as well as preparing shooting their graduation films.

1st semester students sat a course in Acting and Movement with Gudmundur Elias Knudsen and finished the course with a spectacular demonstration, as well as taking a course in Acting Interpretation with Runar Gudbrandsson. 2nd semester students began setting up a play they will be premiering at the end of May. 3rd semester students were filming a re-made scene. 4th semester students prepared shooting their graduation films.

The last few weeks have of course affected the school greatly, but with extraordinary students and staff, we will get back to our former work process and look forward to enjoying the fruits of their labor this summer.

With the global epidemic that has had a foothold in most countries, devastating most populations, Iceland has of course been greatly affected by it. What seems to set the country apart from most though, is its ability to handle the spread, and find the best way to contain it.

Through the years Iceland has been a favorite destination of filmmakers, with the awe-inspiring landscape and its extreme contrasts, a few of the projects shot in the country include “Game of Thrones”, “The secret life of Walter Mitty”, “Die another day”, Star Wars, “Prometheus” and many more.

Vidir Reynisson, Head of the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, has been doing daily press meetings with the public in Iceland to keep them informed of the situation, and on Tuesday he said that he was open to allowing foreign filmmakers into the country this summer to shoot their projects. The news story, from the Icelandic Government news channel, is translated here below :

Vidir Reynisson, says it is a great possibility that foreign filmmakers will be allowed to enter the country this summer do work on their projects here. Anything that can be set within the state of the keeping the infection at bay is a possibility.„We have been looking at this from many angles and it does not matter what the job is.“ Vidir named for instance that fish breeding plants have been getting experts into the country. It all has to do with the precautions set.He said that the head of epidemiology has gone to work on examining how certain fields can be re-started. And it will be interesting to see the outcome from that.The national news agency announced yesterday that the head of epidemiology had received a query last week about a possible meeting on how the country could open up for foreign filmmakers that wish to work here. Among the suggested has been testing the crew for Covid-19 and that they will be requested to keep to certain areas. The film staff would rent smaller hotels that would only serve them and enter the counrty by hired planes.Einar Hansen Tomasson at “Film in Iceland” said speaking to the news yesterday that they were waiting for a response from the government. “We want to know if this is completely foolish or not. It all begins with a conversation.”Foreign film companies have shown interest in Iceland after the streaming site Netflix announced that they had projects going in two countries, Iceland and South Korea. The reason for that was that these two countries had been at the front of testing for the virus and tracing the contagion.

Iceland’s Prime minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, has also been vocal about Iceland gaining control over the epidemic, as she said in an interview with France 24 .

The Icelandic Films School, as other colleges and universities, was made to shut down during a gathering ban that was set in the country and the teachings have been fully done online for the last two weeks.

Of course this has effected the studies, as it is in great part a hands on study, for instance when it comes to the students filming their different projects, but to their credit the students have taken these changes with a positive outlook and have been able to maintain creative inspiration usually found within the school, outside it.

It is clear that as soon as the ban is lifted that the school will be transforming into a production house and we are all looking forward to it.

1st semester students finished a course in the making of music videos, as well as beginning courses in directing and producing. 2nd semester students also did a course in producing and preparing shoots, as well as a script course. 4th semester students did courses in directing and prepared shooting documentary films that they will shoot at the end of the semester.

1st semester students are taking a course in post production, both a basic in film effects and editing. 2nd semester students have also worked in port production and doing sound editing on films they shot earlier in the semester. 3rd semester students did a course in remaking a scene, story boarding and preparing filming. 4th semester students sat with their guide editing their graduation films.

2nd semester students sat a course in making full length film scripts, where they prepared a project they will write during next semester, as well as doing a documentary course, where they will be shooting their own documentary as soon as the ban is lifted. 4th semester did a directing course where they prepared their graduation films, as well as a course in rewriting a full length script.

1st and 2nd semester students sat a course in film history. This is set earlier in their student career than usual, but will be taking courses that need a more physical closeness later in the semester and future semesters. 1st semester students also did a dance movement course where they shot personal dance videos and shared between them, and 2nd semester students are preparing a play they will stage at the end of the semester. 3rd semester students sat a course in remaking a scene and story boarding and prepared shoots that will commence when the ban is lifted. 4th semester students worked on their graduation film characters as well as preparing filming as best to their abilities.

The Icelandic Film School in the pandemic

Like every other country in the world, Iceland has been dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. The most important thing to remember is that every member of the society is in the fight against this scourge together. 

In response to the virus, The Minister of Health, Svandis Svavarsdottir,  declared a four-week assembly ban, which took effect at midnight on the 15th of March. This action was taken at the recommendation of the Chief Epidemiologist in order to impede the spread of Covid-19. Further information on the procedures can be found here: https://www.covid.is/categories/icelands-response

In accordance, the Icelandic Film School has temporarily suspended all teaching on the premises of the school and changed all classes to online teaching – teacher and students gathering in a digital space to learn the craft of film making. As soon as the assembly ban is over – expected in mid-April – students will return to the school for hands-on practice turning the school into a full force production house.

Although the crisis is serious, Iceland has a unique advantage to deal with it quickly and efficiently with minimal costs to the health of its citizens. The fact the country is a small, peaceful island, with a strong community, makes us confident that we will come out the other side of the crisis quickly and stronger than ever – and the Icelandic Film School starting strong next fall, with a crop of eager new students ready to make some films. 


Information about Iceland and the Covid-19 pandemic

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A new assistant director hired

The Film School moves to a new building

Graduation Speech Spring 2020

Save Bio Paradis

The Film School reopens after quarantine

Iceland in the time of Covid19

Iceland is the right place to study

The Icelandic Film School in the pandemic

Information about Iceland and the Covid-19 pandemic

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