Interview: Sunna Guðnadóttir • Producer, Bjartsýn Films - “In Co-Producing It Is About Establishing a Relationship First, and Hopefully the Partnership Will Turn Into a Long-Term One” - Producers on the Move 2026

Key Takeaways

• Sunna pivoted from project management to producing after eight years
• Bjartsýn Films' slate mixes youth‑focused and auteur projects for global markets
• Iceland’s small market fuels resourceful co‑production skills valued internationally
• Funding cuts threaten Icelandic film growth despite strong recent successes

Pulse Analysis

Sunna Guðnadóttir’s transition from project management to film producing illustrates a growing trend of industry professionals leveraging transferable skills to enter content creation. After a decade in creative‑sector logistics, she completed formal producing studies and immediately set a five‑year milestone to launch a feature under her new banner, Bjartsýn Films. This disciplined timeline, coupled with her multinational upbringing, equips her to navigate the complex financing and talent‑sourcing landscape that defines European co‑production.

Bjartsýn Films’ portfolio reflects a dual strategy: youth‑centric narratives like *True North* that promise broad family appeal, and auteur‑driven projects such as *18 Winters*, which tackle timely themes of displacement across Iceland and Ukraine. By positioning these titles at Cannes, Guðnadóttir aims to secure not only capital but also distribution and sales partners aligned with her creative sensibility. The Icelandic ecosystem, though limited in funding, offers a highly skilled crew and a reputation for striking locations, making it an attractive hub for international shoots and a springboard for exportable stories.

However, the sector faces headwinds. Recent cuts to the Icelandic Film Fund, which have not kept pace with inflation, threaten the momentum built over the past decade. While Nordic and EU co‑production frameworks provide a safety net, sustained government support remains critical to retain talent and continue delivering culturally resonant content. Guðnadóttir’s emphasis on long‑term relationships and multicultural storytelling could help safeguard Iceland’s cinematic growth amid fiscal uncertainty.