Premiere of Dreamland - the movie

DREAMLAND - What do you own when you have sold everything?

Dreamland is a truly epic film about a nation standing at cross-roads. Leading up to the country’s greatest economic crisis, the government started the largest mega project in the history of Iceland, to build the biggest dam in Europe to provide Alcoa cheap electricity for an aluminum smelter in the rugged east fjords of Iceland. The mantra was economic growth. Today Iceland is left holding a huge dept and an uncertain future.

Dreamland is a film about exploitation of natural resources and as Icelanders have learned clean energy does not come without consequence. Iceland is a country blessed with an abundance of clean, renewable, hydro-electric and geothermal energy. Clean energy brings in polluting industry and international corporations.

Dreamland tells the story of a nation with abundance of choices gradually becoming caught up in a plan to turn its wilderness and beautiful nature into a massive system of hydro-electric and geothermal power plants with dams and reservoirs, built to power the increasing heavy industry that will soon make Iceland the largest aluminum smelter in the world.

This highly controversial matter goes largely unnoticed by the public until the plans are already in action and the industrial machine has been turned on. Although most Icelanders are against the idea of turning Iceland into the world’s biggest smelter of aluminum the locals where the smelters are meant to be built, celebrate the idea of increasing investment in their region and more jobs. For decades they have been getting desperate, facing depopulation as the young generation finds education and better jobs in the capital.

This multilayered story is also the story of a small nation’s continuing struggle for its independence, and today from multinational companies roaming the world. We try to grasp peoples fear for the future. The insecurity created by the constant news of looming economic slowdown, and uncertain future.

The question remains, how much unspoiled nature should we preserve and what do we sacrifice for clean, renewable energy? Dreamland gradually turns into a disturbing picture of corporate power taking over nature and small communities. It’s the dark side of green energy.

About the directors

Andri Snær Magnason is one of Iceland’s most celebrated young writers. In 2006 he published the non-fiction book Dreamland: A Self-help for a Frightened Nation which became a national hit overnight. The book won the Icelandic Literary Award, has now been translated to English and became the basis for the documentary Dreamland. Andri Snær has written novels, short stories, plays, poetry and essays. For the first time he teams up with Iceland’s most acclaimed documentary film maker Þorfinnur Guðnason of genuine talent. Þorfinnur has made award-winning documentaries sold to tv-channels around Europe and the US. His 1997 Woodmouse-life on the run was broadcasted on the National Geographic channels, TBS, ARTE, ZDF, NRK, TVP, RUV and Discovery Europe. In 2002 he won the Edda, the Icelandic Academy Award for Lalli Johns.

About the producer

Sigurður Gísli Pálmason is an established entrepreneur who in 2006 founded the production company Ground Control Productions. Dreamland is Ground Control’s first production, with several other documentaries in development. Also co-produced Dieter Roth Puzzle (2008) and At the Edge of the World (2007). Ground Control Production’s aim is to produce high quality documentaries with a social agenda for local and international market.

About the co-producers

Zik Zak Filmworks was founded in 1995 by Skúli Malmquist and Þórir Snær Sigurjónsson. The company is leading in Icelandic film production, its films have been sold worldwide and been selected to prestigious international film festivals receiving numerous awards and special mentions, including an Academy Award for the short film, The Last Farm. TC Films was established in 2002 by producer Hrönn Kristinsdóttir and director Valdimar Jóhannsson. The company produces documentaries, shorts and features.

English title: Dreamland
Original title: Draumalandið
Directors: Þorfinnur Guðnason & Andri Snær Magnason
Production Company: Ground Control Productions
Co-Production Companies: TC Films, Zik Zak Filmworks
Producer: Sigurður Gísli Pálmason
Co-Producers: Hanna Björk Valsdóttir, Hrönn Kristinsdóttir, Þórir Snær Sigurjónsson, Hlín Jóhannesdóttir
Directors of Photography: Þorfinnur Guðnason, Guðmundur Bjartmarsson, Hjalti Stefánsson, Bergsteinn Björgúlfsson
Editor: Eva Lind Höskuldsdóttir
Sound Design: Kjartan Kjartansson
Music: Valgeir Sigurðsson
Length: 90 min.
Format: 35 mm.
Iceland Cinema Release: April 8th 2009 

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