CV: ÁSGRÍMUR SVERRISSON, writer/director
S C R E E N P L A Y S
2006 The Rounds
In development.
2002 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 The Seagull’s Laughter
Co-written with Ragnar Bragason. Developed by Baldur Films, Iceland.
1998 East of the Moon
Co-written with Marteinn Thorisson. Developed by Pegasus Pictures Iceland (with the support of MEDIA II).
1997 The Sunrise
Co-written with John Milarky. Optioned by Lynda Myles, Pandora Pictures, UK (development support by British Screen and The Scottish Film Fund).
F E A T U R E F I L M S A S D I R E C T O R
2001 Dramarama (Villiljós)
Feature film. 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.
T E L E V I S I O N F I C T I O N A S D I R E C T O R
2000 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. Also producer. Also writer of one episode.
1999 No Mercy (Engin miskunn)
30 mins. Drama. Produced by public broadcaster RUV TV.
1998 The Visit (Heimsókn)
30 mins. Drama. 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.
1990 The Fortress (Virkið)
28 mins. Drama. Also script. Produced by Alvara films. Sold to RUV TV.
1988 The Irresistibles (Hinir ómótstæðilegu)
30 mins. Comedy/musical. Also production. Produced by RUV TV.
T E L E V I S I O N P R O G R A M M E S A S D I R E C T O R / C R E A T O R
2006 INTERVIEW SERIES: Take 2 (Taka 2) – 2nd series
10×50 mins. interviews with Icelandic filmmakers, discussing their films and
showing excerpts from them. Produced by RUV TV.
2005 INTERVIEW SERIES: Take 2 (Taka 2)
10×50 mins. interviews with Icelandic filmmakers, discussing their films and
showing excerpts from them. Produced by RUV TV.
1998 DOC: Three Women (Kjarnakonur)
3×23 mins. Profiles on three ordinary but formidable women.
Also script and production. Produced by RUV TV.
1997 DOC: Young Icelanders: Ten Years Later (Ungir Íslendingar: tíu árum síðar)
48 mins. A follow up on a documentary made ten years earlier (see below).
Also script and production. Produced by RUV TV.
1989 DOC: The Man with Seven Swords (Sjö sverð á lofti í senn)
2×50 mins. On Icelandic politician Jónas Jónsson (1899-1967). Also production. Produced by RUV TV.
1988 DOC: Talking Stones (Steinarnir tala)
2×55 mins. On Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson.
Also co-script and production. Produced by RUV TV.
1987 DOC: Young Icelanders (Ungir Íslendingar)
55 mins. Documentary on several twenty-somethings and their aspirations. Also 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.
S H O R T F I L M S A S D I R E C T O R
1994 Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Ferðin að miðju jarðar)
40 mins. Co-script with John Milarky. Produced by National Film and TV School, UK.
1993 Home
28 mins. 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.
T V C O M M E R C I A L S / M U S I C V I D E O S A S D I R E C T O R
1983-1999 Director, writer, editor and producer of over 70 television commercials and music videos.
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.
Film Directing Course.
1987 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
Summer intensive course in filmmaking.
O T H E R A C T I V I T I E S
2005-2006 Film analysis lecturer at the Icelandic Film School.
2003-2005 Weekly appearance on the RUV Radio 1 show “Sumarstef”, discussing various films, old and new.
From 2003 Started the website of Land & synir – http://www.logs.is, as The Icelandic Film and Television Academy took over the publishing of the magazine and the web.
2002-2003 Editor of website on films and filmmaking in Iceland (www.asgrimur.is)
From 2002 Member of the board of the Icelandic Film and Television Academy.
From 2001 The Editor of Land & synir, a bi-monthly film magazine published by The Icelandic Filmmakers Association in co-operation with The Icelandic Film Fund, The Association of Icelandic Film and TV Producers and The Association of Icelandic Film and TV Directors.
1999-2001 Founding Manager of The Edda, the Icelandic Film and Television Awards.
1998-2000 Film critic for DV, daily national newspaper. Member of the film selection committee for the DV “Cultural Awards”
1998-1999 Film critic for TV show “Dagsljós” at RUV State TV Iceland.
1997 Scriptwriting tutor at the Icelandic Film School.
1995-1998 The founding Editor of Land & synir, a bi-monthly film magazine published by The Icelandic Filmmakers Association in co-operation with The Icelandic Film Fund.
1984-1990 Graphic design at several advertising agencies and freelance.
1983-1985 Publisher and Editor of film magazine MYNDMÁL (Film Grammar).
1981-2006 Various articles, interviews and apperances on TV and in newspapers, radio, websites and magazines regarding films and filmmaking.
