07/12/2011

The Icelandic Film Centre has signed a contract with Cologne-based digital distributor Europe's Finest for a package of Icelandic features, including six titles by Icelandic Oscar-nominated director Fridrik Thór Fridriksson (pictured).

”Until recently there was no laboratory in Iceland to keep 35mm prints and negatives, so the originals of most Icelandic films are scattered all over Europe,” said Icelandic Film Centre Managing Director Laufey Guðjónsdóttir.

“On digital the material is more easily accessible and restored – it is much cheaper to send DCPs than prints, and possible damage is minimized. We will pay for new subtitling of the Icelandic package on Europe’s Finest network for cinema lovers all over Europe.” The selection from Fridriksson’s 18 films is spearheaded by his Oscar-nominated Children of Nature (1991), and includes Movie Days (1994), Cold Fever (1995), Devil’s Island (1996), Angels of the Universe (2000) and Falcons (2002).

Guðný Halldórsdóttir is represented by two features, The Honour of the House (1999) and The Quiet Storm (2007), Ragnar Bragason is also there with two, Children [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (2006) and Parents (2007). Baltasar Kormákur contributes 101 Reykjavik (2000) and Hillmar Oddsson Cold Light (2004).

The Seagull's Laughter (2001), by one of Icelandic Cinema’s fathers Águst Gudmundsson concludes the first range of films for Europe’s Finest that the Icelandic Film Centre has negotiated ”to preserve the cultural heritage and give the digitised titles a new lease of life”.

Headed by Tilman Scheel, the German company is currently building up a catalogue of European film classics and contemporary art house, which cinema operaters all over Europe can book with the click of a mouse for DCP delivery in original or subtitled versions.