On 7 and 8 June, the Westfjords-based Skjaldborg Festival (6-9 June) hosted the Work-in-Progress pitches for five new Icelandic documentary projects. In this article, Cineuropa takes a closer look at each of them.

Postcards - Freyja Kristinsdóttir (Iceland)
This 20-minute hybrid short directed and edited by Kristinsdóttir blends animation and brand-new footage with HD archives and 8 mm material filmed by its protagonist in the 1970s and 1980s. Produced by Silver Screen (When the Light Breaks [+lee también:
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entrevista: Elín Hall
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The Culture Smuggler by Jón Bjarki Magnússon and Haukur Már Helgason

The Culture Smuggler - Jón Bjarki Magnússon, Haukur Már Helgason (Iceland)
This 70-minute documentary, produced by SKAK biofilm, revisits the life and legacy of Icelandic cultural journalist and poet Ásgeir H Ingólfsson, who passed away in early 2025 after a short battle with cancer. In 2017, friends and filmmakers followed Ásgeir during summer night shifts at the Mývatn geothermal baths, capturing him scribbling verses between cleaning duties. “This project began years ago and had been quietly resting – until Ásgeir’s death called us back,” say the directors. The film draws from footage shot in Mývatn, Prague and the Berlinale between 2017 and 2018, assembling an archival mosaic of Ásgeir’s life and work. Now in early development, The Culture Smuggler is seeking funders and backers to support its next stages.

Howl! by Jón Bjarki Magnússon and Hlín Ólafsdóttir

Howl! - Jón Bjarki Magnússon, Hlín Ólafsdóttir (Iceland)
The 90-minute creative documentary, also produced by SKAK biofilm, follows Elías Kristinsson, an ageing sailor from Iceland’s Westfjords, as he embarks on a long-delayed voyage south, guided by migratory birds from Arctic shores to Senegal’s coast. Against the backdrop of ecological decline and industrial fishing, Howl! becomes an ode to movement, memory and the silent kinship shared by coastal communities shaped by the sea. “As with our last film, Half Elf [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] [2020], Howl! plays on the observational form – grounded in presence, yet open to collaboration and poetic detours,” says the team. Currently in production, the pic has received support from the Icelandic Film Centre and is seeking additional backers to follow Elías’s journey to Senegal and complete this deeply resonant reflection on migration, fragility and interconnectedness. Key creatives include editor Sigurður Eyþórsson and dramaturg Veronika Janatková.

Hallgrímur by Ísak Hinriksson

Hallgrímur - Ísak Hinriksson (Iceland)
Produced by Undirheimar, Hallgrímur is a feature-length documentary offering an intimate portrait of artist and writer Hallgrímur Helgason. Currently midway through production, the film follows Helgason’s creative process and daily life, capturing the complexity of his voice across mediums. “Presenting excerpts at Skjaldborg’s Works in Progress helps us shape the film’s tone and foster dialogue with viewers,” Hinriksson tells Cineuropa. With Tómas Sturluson serving as both editor and DoP, the team continues filming while refining this evolving reflection on art, identity and expression.

New Heights by Björn Leó Brynjarsson, Grímur Jón Sigurðsson and Helgi Hrafn Guðmundsson

New Heights - Björn Leó Brynjarsson, Grímur Jón Sigurðsson, Helgi Hrafn Guðmundsson (Iceland)
Produced by Sagafilm with development backing from the Icelandic Film Centre, this 85-minute documentary explores the extraordinary life of Helgi Óskarsson, a 56-year-old taxi driver preparing for his final rally while reflecting on a chapter that once captivated an entire nation. In the 1980s, Helgi underwent a series of limb-lengthening operations in Soviet Siberia, spending over five years in Kurgan from the age of 13.

“Most Icelanders over 50 remember Helgi Óskarsson’s story, but for younger generations, it’s unknown territory,” the team tells us. “In the 1980s, the nation followed his journey as he underwent his surgery. At just 13, he travelled to Siberia, where he spent over five years – far behind the Iron Curtain. Though the story has faded from public memory, we believe this documentary offers a meaningful chance to revisit it. It’s a powerful personal journey, but also a broader reflection on disability, identity and acceptance.”