06/04/2023 - The new show, boarded by Red Arrow Studios International outside of the Nordics and Benelux, is set against the backdrop of Iceland's tourism industry

Director Tinna Hrafnsdóttir (© Lilja Jónsdóttir)

Red Arrow Studios International has boarded the new family drama series Descendants, commissioned by Icelandic streaming platform Síminn and helmed by actress-turned-filmmaker Tinna Hrafnsdóttir. The news was first reported by nordiskfilmogtvfond.com.

Red Arrow has picked up the project's rights outside the Nordic countries and the Benelux region, which are being handled by Lumière. Hrafnsdóttir, who recently appeared in The Minister and The Valhalla Murders, debuted as a director with the psychological drama Quake in 2021. In this new project, she is attached as the lead actress, creator, director and co-writer with Ottó Geir Borg (The Valhalla Murders, A Letter from Helga [+see also:
trailer
interview: Thorvaldur Kristjánsson
film profile]) and Tyrfingur Tyrfingsson (Wild Game). Hrafnsdóttir is also producing together with Kidda Rokk (Thin Ice) and Gudny Gudjonsdóttir, for Reykjavík-based firm Polarama Productions.

Set against the backdrop of Iceland's booming tourism industry, the story of this character-driven family drama begins when three very different, middle-aged siblings inherit their parents’ successful whale-watching company and beautiful summerhouse, as tensions start to rise between them. The eldest sister Arndís, younger sister Rúna and their brother Elvar all have difficult relationships with their charismatic mother, the highly respected 70-year-old novelist Lóa. When their father passes away, each sibling has his or her own motivation to gain as much as possible from the inheritance. But their domineering mother gets in the way.

Descendants was recently showcased as a work in progress at the Stockfish Film Festival (see the news). It is set to premiere on the streaming platform Síminn later this autumn. The show is being co-produced by Icelandic outfits Freyja Filmworks and Projects, with Belgium’s Lunanime, and with support from the Icelandic Film Centre, Creative Europe, Screen Flanders and Iceland’s reimbursement scheme.