A 25% increase of public funding for Icelandic film production - from ICK100 million to ICK127 million (approximately US$1.9 million) - has launched four new projects, including a new feature by Agust Gudmundsson, a founder of modern Icelandic cinema.
At the Berlinale for the first time, as managing director of the Icelandic Film Fund, Thorfinnur Omarsson announced that four productions will shoot in 1997, after a stale outlet of two in 1996. 'Hopefully, the update of the film law, which is now being made, will allow a further allocation, to maintain a continuity in the film industry and secure an annual three to four local premieres,' said Omarsson.
Gudmundsson and Kristin Atladottir have written the script for Dansinn (We Must Dance), based on a short story by William Heinesen. Isfilm will produce the story of a wedding on a remote island, which is interrupted by a shipwreck and the disappearance of the bride. Gudmundsson directed Land og synir (Land and Sons), the first result of the new Icelandic film legislation passed in 1979.
Hilmar Oddson (Tears of Stone), will helm Sporlaust (Without Trace), described as a contemporary psychological thriller about young people in Reykjavik. Sveinbjörn I Baldvinsson wrote the original screenplay for the film, which will be produced by Tonabio. Fridrik Thor Fridriksson's Icelandic Film Corporation will back two of the new features, Oskar Jonasson's slapstick comedy Perlur og svin (Pearls and Swine) - and Ari Kristinsson's family comedy, Stikk fri (Count Me Out), both from the directors' own scripts.
Two domestic films are currently in post-production, Veggfodur (Wallpaper) director Julius Kemp's Blossi (Flame), about sex, drugs and rock'n'roll in Reykjavik, and newcomer Einar Hernisson's Maria, starring German actress Barbara Auer. Jørn Rossing Jensen
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