Iceland ups its production game

Against the Ice ©Anders Overgaard & Netflix.

Iceland has just raised its tax break for projects that shoot in the country from 25% to 35%, positioning itself in the upper tier of international filming locations when it comes to incentives. makers investigates the likely impact of Iceland’s generous incentive on the country’s audiovisual industry.

Iceland has not been short of productions gravitating to its wintry depths and breathtaking landscapes. If the visual marvels were not enough, the incentive increase to 35% is sure to close the deal for those returning and others yet to explore.

Whether lending the quaint coastal town of Stykkishólmur to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, or Svínafellsjökull Glacier creating an otherworldly experience in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, Iceland is a feature film location phenomenon.

Servicing the newest Luther film, starring Idris Elba, RVK studios provided their expertise and facilities whilst production was stationed in Iceland. The BBC, Netflix, 20th Century Fox and Cherrin Entertainment project travelled to Iceland, using its expanded feature budget to take advantage of the chance to explore what the admired Nordic industry has to offer.

"What we've been able to do [with the movie] – having delivered every episode of Luther on budgets which are comically small – is to have a wider canvas and a bigger budget to tell the kind of stories that we've always wanted to be able to tell,” commented writer and creator Neil Cross in a Radio Time interview on the bigger and better feature version of the franchise.

Welcoming a slew of international productions, Iceland remains the country in the back of every filmmakers mind. Hosting large scale projects such as Robert Eggers’ The Northman and Peter Flinth’s Against the Ice just this year, it is difficult to think how the industry could grow that much further. But the filming possibilities seem endless. The fourth season of HBO crime drama True Detective is shooting there, starring Jodie Foster.

Film in Iceland, an organisation concerned with improving the competitiveness of the Iceland film industry, announced the new 35% cash incentive. With no cap on the total refund that a company can receive, the programme permits reimbursements for all film and television production costs incurred in Iceland.

To be eligible for the incentive, productions must last at least 39 working days in Iceland, creating at least 50 local jobs for Icelanders and spend a minimum of ISK350 million (EUR2.3 million).

As a multidimensional creative hotspot, contributing both awe-worthy locations and an experienced workforce, the efforts to draw in international involvement to the audiovisual sector have been strengthened by the support of the government.

“The widespread backing in Parliament by all parties bears testament to the support that the film industry enjoys in Iceland,” commented Icelandic Minister of Culture and Business Affairs Lilja Alfredsdottir. “Since the introduction of the first reimbursement scheme in 1999, Iceland has been fully committed to building a fruitful long-term relationship with stakeholders in the film industry. The new bill offers enhanced incentives and presents one step of many that Iceland has taken to underline that commitment.”

“WELCOMING A SLEW OF INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS, ICELAND REMAINS THE COUNTRY IN THE BACK OF EVERY FILMMAKERS MIND.”

SET AMONGST THE WINTRY LANDSCAPES OF NOVA SCOTIA, PRODUCTION FOR THE WASHINGTON BLACK SERIES WAS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SIMILAR LANDSCAPES FOUND IN THE ICE COVERED REGION, WITH AN ENTICING FINANCIAL PACKAGE ON TOP. Icelandic filmmaker and founder of RVK studios Baltasar Kormákur’s new romantic drama Touch is bringing multinational expertise to the shores of the country. Known for his work on the safari thriller Beast, Adrift and The Oath, Kormákur is exemplary of the international scope of Icelandic talents. Set in the UK, Japan and of course Iceland, the film, which started production in mid-October, is based on the novel by Icelandic businessman and writer Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, who also co-wrote the script alongside Baltasar.

With a budget of ISK1.1 million (EUR 7.5 million), the film is a product of investment from the Icelandic Film Centre and the Nordisk Film and TV Fond, with co-financing delivered by the recently increased Icelandic film incentive.

Set for release in Autumn 2023, RVK studios will take lead on production, including representation from Kormákur himself and Agnes Johansen. The Icelandic company will be accompanied by Mike Goodridge’s British based production company Good Chaos. Local distributor Sena was placed in charge for Icelandic screen with Focus Features and Universal Pictures taking on international releases.

Washington Black took advantage of the landscapes of East Iceland as well as and undisclosed studio in Reykjavik for its action packed narrative to run wild. The Hulu mini series starring Sterling K. Brown and Tom Ellis, follows the tumultuous story of an 11-year old boy, George Washington ‘Wash’ Black, who must flee a Barbadian sugar plantation and death itself. Brown takes on the role of Medwin Harris, a former Black refugee of Nova Scotia, whose travels with Black will shake up his life in an unexpected way.

Set amongst the wintry landscapes of Nova Scotia, production for the Washington Black series was able to take advantage of the similar landscapes found in the ice covered region, with an enticing financial package on top.

Alfredsdottir’s dedication to the Icelandic visual industry does not stop with the government’s concern for international forces coming to the snowy shores. In our conversation, the minister made it clear that the initiative is just the first step in strengthening the industry from the ground up.

“In this country with over 300,000 people, the pool of talent is undeniable,” the minister commented.

With the objective of establishing Iceland as the go-to creative hub of the north Atlantic, the incentive’s intrigue is but a means of exposing the immense talent existing in the country. In turn, as blockbuster productions come for the sweetened financial deal of the incentive, and stay for the experienced workforce, the number of opportunities increases.

Born and educated in Iceland, musician Hildur Guðnadóttir’s name continues to circulate in the world of film. Making waves with her Oscar-winning contribution to Todd Phillips 2019 Joker, she has also worked with Todd Field on his drama Tár and with Sarah Polley on Women Talking.

The strong musical history of Iceland is also accompanied by an attractive 25% incentive for recording in the country. Locally based independent music company INNI and its eight studios have played a big part in making Iceland a one stop shop for all production needs.

Having worked on a number of international projects, including a television series and three feature films, INNI is supported by a talented roster of composers. Working on projects such as coming of age story The Edge of Seventeen, action packed comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard and Apple TV’s murder mystery drama Defending Jacob, Atli Örvarsson, composer and founder of the music company, has leant his energies to a number of feature projects, stretching across genres.

Beyond the financial draw, the Icelandic film industry continues to flourish with its interconnected local and international associations. With a slate of globally recognised talent and production space, the local industry is a worthy contender against many of the world’s filming heavy hitters and is only on an upwards journey to greater successes.

“BEYOND THE FINANCIAL DRAW, THE ICELANDIC FILM INDUSTRY CONTAINUES TO FLOURISH WITH ITS INTERCONNECTED LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS.”

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