SUMMER CHILDREN By Gudrún Ragnarsdóttir 84 min, Iceland/Norway, color, 2017, English subtitles, international premiere Black Nights press screening: Fri Nov 24, Coca Cola Plaza, Hall 4, 12.30 13.55 Black Nights public screenings: Fri Nov 24, Apollo Kino Solaris Hall 3, 18:00 19:54 Sun Nov 26, Coca Cola Plaza Hall 8, 18:45 20:29 Press contact: Silversalt PR Thessa Mooij +1.646.637.4700 thessa@silversaltpr.com World rights & producers, attending Black Nights: Ljósband Anna María Karlsdóttir, amk@ljosband.is +354.847.33.30 Hrönn Kristinsdóttir, hronn@ljosband.is +354.899.22.10
Ljósband efh og Filmhuset AS present With the support of the Icelandic Film Centre and Ministry of Industries and Innovation: SUMMER CHILDREN (SUMARBÖRN) Cast: Kristjana Thors / Stefán Örn Eggertsson / Brynhildur Guðjónsdóttir / Magnea B. Valdimarsdóttir / Margrét Birta Björgúlfsdóttir / Guðlaug Elísabet Ólafsdóttir / Þuríður Blær Jóhannsdóttir / Jóhann G. Jóhannsson / Dagur Ingi Axelsson / Sindri Leon Baldvinsson and Hera Hilmarsdóttir / Aðalbjörg Emma Hafsteinsdóttir/Aþena Mist Kjartansdóttir / Bjarni Kristbjörnsson / Daníel Orri Woodard / Hektor Orri Ingimarsson / Helgi Myrkvi Valgeirsson / Karen Lind Ingimarsdóttir / Lúkas Hrafnsson / Olíver Örn Davíðsson / Rakel Ýr Fjölnisdóttir / Sigurður Páll Matthíasson Make Up: Helga Sjöfn Kjartansdóttir Costume Design: Elín Reynisdóttir Set Design: Guðjón Ólafsson / Hulda Helgadóttir Sound Design: Øistein Boassen Original Score: Kira Kira & Hermigervill DOP: Guðbjartsson Editor: Davíð Alexander Corno Co Producer: Egil Ødegård Producers: Anna María Karlsdóttir Hrönn Kristinsdóttir
SYNOPSIS Eydis and Kari are only five and six years old when their parents' marriage breaks apart. As their mother struggles to find her footing following the divorce, they are sent temporarily to a countryside children s home. With days becoming weeks, their stay turns out to be longer than they had ever expected. With no hope in sight, Eydis and Kari plan their escape. SUMMER CHILDREN uses magic realism and adventure to interpret and deal with dark material, recalling similar films from the point of view of children who recede into a world of imagination to deal with reality Terry Gilliam s TIDELAND or PAN S LABYRINTH by Guillermo del Toro come to mind. Gunnar Theodór Eggertsson, Icelandic National Radio In this debut film Guðrún takes risks that I truly appreciate. The first risk is making a family film, it s been years since a family film of this ilk was released in Iceland and the importance of quality productions for the younger generation, in Icelandic, can t be stressed enough. Another risk is casting children in the leading roles, which pays off and the young ensemble does a great job. Brynja Hjálmsdóttir, Morgunbladid
DIRECTOR S BIO Gudrún Ragnarsdóttir is a writer/director living in Reykjavík, Iceland. After graduating as a graphic designer from Iceland's Academy of the Arts she ran her own advertising agency, KRASS, until she moved to Los Angeles to make an old dream come true. She entered the directing/writing program at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and graduated with an MFA degree in 1995. For the next few years she lived in LA, working on various projects in films and advertising. After moving back to Iceland Gudrun has worked in television and films as well as teaching at local film schools. She has written and directed several shorts and documentaries. FILMOGRAPHY Feature Films SUMMER CHILDREN 2017. Writer / Director Produced by Ljósband /Anna María Karlsdóttir and Hrönn Kristinsdóttir Short Films THE BOX OF CHOCOLATE 2008. Writer / Director DÍSA 1999. Writer / Director FAMILY 1997. Writer / Director Short Film Series In Development HOTEL FIVE SWANS Feature. Writer / Director Produced by Tundra Films / Jóna Finnsdóttir THE DANCE OF CHANGE, Short. Writer / Director ANGEL HARVEST, Documentary. Writer / Director Produced by Cinema Reykjavik