AGP Executive Report

Icelandic Film: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson’s 2023 comedy Northern Comfort, starring Timothy Spall and Lydia Leonard, is now streaming free on Channel 4. The film strands a group of nervous flyers in Iceland after an in-flight emergency. Live Music: Queens of the Stone Age brought their tour to Reykjavík’s Laugardalshöll on October 24. Another Iceland link: jam supergroup Rainbow Body recorded part of its debut album at remote Flóki Studios in northern Iceland. Icelandic Screen Projects: Crime drama Vigilant, starring Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and directed by Kari Skogland, is in development with Icelandic production company Glassriver. Art Meets Rock: Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson joined The National onstage in Spain, revisiting their six-hour A Lot of Sorrow performance with two consecutive renditions of “Sorrow.”

Live Music: Queens of the Stone Age bring their tour to Reykjavík’s Laugardalshöll on October 24, ahead of their new album, Perfecth, arriving October 30. Iceland Sessions: New supergroup Rainbow Body’s debut album grew from sessions at Flóki Studios in northern Iceland, where members of Goose, Dawes and Soulive drew inspiration from the stark surroundings. Film in Iceland: Christopher Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey was filmed across six countries, including Iceland. Icelandic Drama: Crime series Vigilant, starring Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and directed by Kari Skogland, is moving into production.

Reykjavík Live: Queens of the Stone Age play Laugardalshöll today, October 24, on a tour stop reported sold out. Icelandic Sound: New supergroup Rainbow Body has released its debut album, shaped in part by sessions at Flóki Studios in Northern Iceland. Icelandic Talent Abroad: Artist Ragnar Kjartansson joined The National in Spain for two performances of “Sorrow,” recalling their six-hour art project. On Set in Iceland: Christopher Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey was filmed across six countries, including Iceland. Local Screen: Glassriver’s Icelandic crime drama Vigilant is moving ahead, with Kari Skogland directing and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson attached.

Live Music: Queens of the Stone Age play Reykjavík’s Laugardalshöll on Oct. 24; the show is reported sold out. Their new album, Perfecth, arrives Oct. 30. Icelandic Screen: Glassriver’s debut feature Dark Ocean has added The White Lotus breakout Adam DiMarco, joining Baltasar Kormákur and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson in a story set aboard a North Atlantic fishing trawler. Ólafsson is also attached to Icelandic crime drama Vigilant, directed by Kari Skogland. Studio Sessions: Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith says the new collective Rainbow Body recorded its album at Flóki Studios in northern Iceland, with musicians from Dawes, Goose and Lettuce. Fashion Heritage: 66°North marks its centenary with a 10-piece collection reimagining a century of Icelandic outerwear, from fishermen’s gear to technical shells.

Live Music: Queens of the Stone Age play Reykjavík’s Laugardalshöll tomorrow, ahead of their new album Perfecth on Oct. 30. The band has also announced a 2027 North American tour with Pixies and Wheelchair Sports Camp. Icelandic Screen: Production on Vigilant, a six-part crime drama adapted by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, begins in Iceland on Oct. 29. Adam DiMarco is set to star with Baltasar Kormákur and Ólafsson in Dark Ocean, Glassriver’s first feature, about a young man joining a North Atlantic fishing crew. Fashion: 66°North marks its centenary with a 10-piece collection reworking garments from its archives, from a fisherman’s anorak to a technical shell. Art Meets Music: Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson joined The National in Spain for two performances of “Sorrow,” recalling their six-hour art project built around the song.

Live Music: Queens of the Stone Age play Reykjavík’s Laugardalshöll on October 24, with the show reported sold out. The band also debuted “Where the Goth Girls At?” on The Tonight Show and will release its new album, Perfecth, on October 30. Icelandic Artists Abroad: Ragnar Kjartansson joined The National at a San Sebastián celebration of Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s 50th birthdays. The band performed “Sorrow” twice, recalling its six-hour collaboration with Kjartansson. Film: Iceland is among six countries where Christopher Nolan filmed The Odyssey, building practical sets for the epic. Icelandic Productions: ZDF and Iceland’s ACT4 have greenlit crime drama Vigilant, starring and co-written by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, with filming due to start in Iceland on October 29. Glassriver is also developing its first feature, Dark Ocean, starring Adam DiMarco alongside Baltasar Kormákur and Ólafsson.

Icelandic Film: Adam DiMarco has joined Dark Ocean, Glassriver’s first feature, alongside Icelandic actors Baltasar Kormákur and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson. The drama follows a young Icelander on a punishing North Atlantic fishing voyage. TV Drama: ZDF and Iceland’s ACT4 have greenlit Vigilant, a six-part crime series adapted by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson from Skúli Sigurðsson’s novel. Kari Skogland will direct, with filming set to begin in Iceland on October 29. Literature: Nobel laureate Anne Carson was in Reykjavík when she learned she had won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. Music: Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has released “In Gray,” ahead of her forthcoming album This Will Be Us.

Icelandic Screen: Production on Vigilant, a six-part crime drama adapted by and starring Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, is due to begin in Iceland on October 29. Kari Skogland will direct the ZDF and ACT4 co-production, about a journalist investigating a vigilante targeting sexual predators. Literature: Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature while staying in Reykjavík, where she said she was “listening to the wind.” Icelandic Music: Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has released “In Gray” ahead of her album This Will Be Us, while a new QUOIA musical collaboration draws inspiration from Iceland’s landscapes.

Icelandic TV: Director Kari Skogland will helm Vigilant, a crime thriller adapted by Severance actor Ólafur Darri Ólafsson from Skúli Sigurðsson’s novel. Iceland’s ACT4 is co-producing with Germany’s ZDF and Síminn, with an Icelandic writing team. Literature: Nobel laureate Anne Carson was in Reykjavík when she learned she had won the 2026 prize. The Canadian poet and classicist, known for blending ancient Greek scholarship with poetry and prose, told Icelandic broadcaster RÚV she was stunned. Icelandic filmmaker: Thórður Pálsson is set to direct Blumhouse’s Dead by Daylight film, based on the popular horror game. અભિને

Literature: Anne Carson learned she had won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature while in Iceland, “listening to the wind.” The Canadian poet told RÚV she was stunned by the news. Film: Icelandic filmmaker Thordur Palsson will direct Blumhouse’s upcoming Dead by Daylight adaptation; actor Callina Liang says she hopes to audition for the horror film. Music: Iceland-inspired project QUOIA has launched with an all-star collaboration, while Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has released “In Gray,” ahead of her album This Will Be Us.

Film: Icelandic director Thordur Pálsson is set to direct Blumhouse’s Dead by Daylight movie. Street Fighter actor Callina Liang says she hopes to audition, after spending 100 hours playing the horror game. Icelandic Music: Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has released “In Gray,” ahead of her upcoming project This Will Be Us. QUOIA’s new musical collaboration also takes inspiration from Iceland’s wild landscapes. Books & Music: Canadian poet Anne Carson won the Nobel Prize for Literature while in Iceland, where she was listening to the wind. Icelandic composer Anna Þorvaldsdóttir’s work also featured in a concert celebrating music inspired by the northern lights.

Film: Icelandic director Þórður Pálsson is set to helm Blumhouse’s Dead by Daylight adaptation. Actor Callina Liang says she hopes to audition for the horror film. Icelandic Music: Hildur Guðnadóttir has released “In Gray,” a preview of her upcoming album This Will Be Us. Music & Landscape: QUOIA has launched with an all-star collaboration inspired by Iceland’s wild landscapes.

Literature: Canadian poet Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize for Literature. She was in Iceland, listening to the wind, when she heard the news. Icelandic Composition: Icelandic composer Anna Þorvaldsdóttir’s “Hear Us in Heaven” featured in Oriana Chorale’s Aurora concert, inspired by the northern lights. Music: Hildur Guðnadóttir has released “In Gray,” ahead of her upcoming album This Will Be Us. Icelandic Arts: Visual and sound artist Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson brought his work to San Francisco performances.

Literature: Reykjavík-based poet and writer Anne Carson’s Nobel Prize has brought fresh attention to her boundary-crossing work; those who know her describe the same quiet, erudite voice found on the page. Film & TV: Iceland-linked film Brace Your Heart made the European Film Awards shortlist, while Sagafilm’s Nordic crime drama Hildur has sold across Europe and Australia. Icelandic Music: Hildur Guðnadóttir has released “In Gray” ahead of her album This Will Be Us, and a new musical collaboration, QUOIA, draws inspiration from Iceland’s landscapes. Media: Iceland is one of just two European countries cited as allowing serving politicians to present news or current-affairs programmes on TV.

Literature: Nobel laureate Anne Carson, who lives in Reykjavík, remains characteristically elusive: she told the prize organizers she planned to celebrate with a quiet retreat in the woods. Music: Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has reimagined “In Gray,” from her 2006 debut, for orchestra on her forthcoming album This Will Be Us. Sound artist Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson also brought his experimental work to San Francisco performances. Screen: Icelandic crime drama Hildur, produced by Sagafilm, has sold to broadcasters in Europe and Australia. Icelandic co-production Brace Your Heart is among the European Film Awards’ shortlisted films.

Icelandic Experimental Music: Reykjavík artist Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson brought his sound-art work to San Francisco concerts this weekend, continuing a career spanning Stilluppsteypa, solo releases and collaborations. Hildur Guðnadóttir: The composer has reimagined “In Gray,” from her 2006 debut, for orchestra ahead of her new album This Will Be Us. Iceland in Film: The co-production Brace Your Heart—directed by Amanda Kernell and made with Icelandic partners—is among the films shortlisted for the 2027 European Film Awards. Literary Spotlight: Nobel laureate Anne Carson is celebrating the prize quietly in Reykjavík, where she says she plans to retreat to the woods and listen to the quiet. Music Inspired by Iceland: QUOIA has launched with an all-star collaboration drawing inspiration from the country’s wild landscapes.