about us

Sjónhending is a film production company based in Reykjavík. We specialize in documentaries and promotional films of all kinds.

Sjónhending Inc. and the company’s main mission is to produce documentary films for the Icelandic and foreign markets and to be an exciting forum for critical thinking related to our society and nature.

We are an independent production company providing specialist services in planning and producing promotional, documentary, nature and wildlife films. We help foreigners to find filming locations and film in Iceland.

We provide personal and flexible advice in the preparation of cost/budget and production plans, as well as being an active contact with the scientific and university community and the country’s nature visitor center.

Sjónhending and Gunnlaugur Thór Pálsson, its main Producer/Director, has in recent years produced and directed four documentaries that have focused the spotlight on the current climate crisis:

  • Glacial Land – World of Change (2016)
  • Hoffelssjökull Glacier (2018)
  • The Grand Harmony of the Sands (2021)
  • The Glacier is Constantly New (2023)

Sjónhending and their main companions and colleagues are both pioneers in Iceland in making such films and also that Sjónhending is one of the most experienced film production companies in the country in this field.

Sjónhending has also produced the documentary:

  • Just Like a Painting (2020)

A unique film about the life of the artist Eggert Pétursson (b. 1956)

Sjónhending ehf

Sjónhending ehf

sjonhending@sjonhending.is

kt. 591187-1399 L.Í. 0130-26-005911
Vsk. 14315
Snekkjuvogi 9. 104 Reykjavík
+354 553 3352

Gunnlaugur Þór Pálsson

Gunnlaugur Þór Pálsson

gunnlaugur@sjonhending.is

Owner, CEO, Director, Screenwriter and Editor.
Snekkjuvogi 9. 104 Reykjavík
+354 847 4549

Kristín Björg Þorsteinsdóttir

Kristín Björg Þorsteinsdóttir

kristin@sjonhending.is

Owner, Producer, Marketing Director, Screenwriter and Editor.
Snekkjuvogi 9. 104 Reykjavík
+354 897 9294

Gunnlaugur Þór Pálsson - CV

Name
Gunnlaugur Þór Pálsson
Date of birth
August 19th 1957
Address
Snekkjuvogi 9, 104 Reykjavík
Email:
gunnlaugur@sjonhending.is
Phone
+354 847 4549 / +354 553 3352
Family
I am married to Kristín Björg Thorsteinsdóttir and we have two daughters born in 1993 and 1995.

Education

1972-1975
MS College/Reykjavík

1979 -1980
(2 semesters) Filmmaking from The Gray Film Atelier Ltd. Hoosick Falls, NY, USA.

1982-1984
(6 semesters) MA from The London International Film School, UK.

Career

2017-2024
Sjónhending Inc./Sjónfilm Inc. Producer/Program Director

2012-2017
Sjónhending/Profilm, Producer/Program Director

2010-2012
Sjónhending Inc., Producer/Executive Director

1988-2010

The Program Director manages all the recordings and broadcasts by RÚV’s production departments and is responsible for their implementation and organizes programming in consultation with the Head of Sport. Responsible for human resources and financial expenses, technical implementations as well as planning and analyzing the need for contractor and freelance work done outside the walls of RÚV.

I have been through the entire technological revolution in imaging and telecommunications ie. from „analogue to digital“ in the last 2-3 decades through my work at RÚV. I have organized and overseen the main major events on Icelandic Television (e.g. World Cup 1995 in Team-Handball, RÚV’s Election 2007 -as well as all major events in the field of Sports in the last 2-3 decades). I have extensive knowledge and experience in the preparation of reports, budgets, events analyses, instructions, data processing and extracting from them as well as the preparation of business plans etc. etc.

Television Program Production, and working as Producer/Director, has been my field of work, but that work is almost always project-related, ie. managing and overseeing projects large and small, especially co-ordinating technical implementation, assigning tasks, organizing content, cutting and finalizing inserts and other additional content, designing layouts and organizing electronic communication channels, e.g. live brodcast, internet, microwave, optical fiber, ftp transmission lines, etc.

I have always tried to show initiative and suggest new solutions if it turns out not to be feasible, e.g. due to cost or other factors. Find a new approach and harness the drive of others. Coordinating and getting the best out of teamwork and leading the projects so that everyone has a part in it. I am interested in working around people and I am good at communicating information. I feel good in a group and I think it’s easy to work with them. I enjoy learning new things and methods related to my work.

Major Projects

Producer, screenwriter and director:

  • The Glacier is Constantly New (2023)
  • The Grand Harmony of ths Sands (2021)
  • Just Like a Painting by Eggert Pétursson (2020)
  • Hoffellsjökull Glacier (2018)
  • Glacial LAnd – World of Change (2016)
  • Production of advertising, promotional material, script and marketing consultant (2009-2024)
  • RÚV´s Chief Producer of the Parliamentary Elections 2007: Comprehensive installation of the implementation of the 2007 TV Election coverage together with the election vigil, etc.
  • World Cup ´95 in Team-Handball: Head Producer of the project. All preparation, design of computer graphics, training process, coordination and supervision of the recording crew/OB cars for TV2, DR (Denmark) and RÚV. Producer/Director at all matches in Laugardalshöll and Kaplakriki. The Head of the broadcast and Producer/Director of the Gold Medal Match.
  • EBU (European Broadcasting Union) Program Editor: The Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, Athens 2004 and Atlanta 1996.
  • Solo Programme-Maker + (DoP/Editor): Games of the Small States of Europe in Andorra 2005 and Malta 2003, The Olympic Games in Sydney 2000, the UMFÍ National Championships in Saudárkrókur 2005 and Egilsstadir 2002, the Icelandic Ski Championships in Dalvík/Ólafsfjördur 2002.
  • Main programs 1988 – 2008: Silver Team from Beijing 2008, Karen and Adam, Honor Dance 2005, Sportid, 14-2, Helgarsportid, Handball Night, Sports Night, Formula Night, Football Night, Rain of Goals (German and English football), „Half Past Eight“ Syrpan, The Sports Corner. Also programming of/EURO 2008, 2004, 2000, 1996, 1992, 1988 also/World Cup 1998, 1994, 1990, also/World Cup and EC in handball 1988 – 2009 also/OL 2006, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1994, 1992, 1990 and 1988. The Games of the Small States of Europe in Iceland 1997 and so on. Outdoor/Indoor Athletics Championships: 1988 – 2009. Athlete of the Year Award 1988 – 2008. Annals and other Summaries: 1988 – 2009. World’s Strongest Man 2006 & 1993 etc. etc.
  • Main broadcasts 1988 – 2009: Major matches of the Icelandic men’s and women’s national football teams, Icelandic men’s national handball matches, broadcasts from cup and final matches of KSÍ, HSÍ, KKÍ, BSÍ etc. Formula 1, International Athletics Tournament, German/English football, the Icelandic Tournament in men’s & women’s Handball, Chess, Bridge, etc etc.

    1987-1988

    • Myndbandagerd Reykjavík Inc.; Film, commercial, music  doc. production

    1986-1987

    • RÚV´s Main Evening News; Producer/Director (program-maker) Management and broadcasting of the News Department, Late Night News as well as other occasional News Programs, (including the Summit Regan/Gorbatsjov 1986).

    1980-1986

    • Íslenska Kvikmyndasamsteypan Inc. and Sýn Inc.; Films, commercials and documentaries. Filmusmidjan Inc.; Executive Director (the documentary: „History of Military Base Keflavík, in a military-free country“ as well as other advertising projects).

    Other Knowledge

      Computers

      I have a lot of experience using editing devices such as Avid Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro CC, EVS Clean, Q Cut as well as Excel, Power Point, Word, Photoshop, etc.

      Languages

      Write and speak English very well. Swedish, Danish and Norwegian fairly well.

      Interests

      I am very interested among other things in sports, movies and angling. I listen to a lot of music, enjoy reading/listen and watch good TV. I am very interested in everything related to News, Glaciers and Climate issues and am interested in politics etc.

      Recommendations

      • Ingólfur Hannesson, EBU Project Manager, phone +41 796470738, 860 4070
      • Bogi Ágússon, RÚV´s Head News Anchor, phone 515 3030, 561 1143
      • Kristófer Dignus, Producer/Director, phone 898 5321
      • Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, Film Producer/Director, phone 896-2464

      Collaborators

       

      Sunna Ástþórsdóttir

      „Documentary films of this kind are incredibly valuable“ says Sunna Ástþórsdóttir, filmcritic about the film Like a painting by Eggert Pétursson by Gunnlaugur Þór Pálsson. Read more »

      Jón Atli Benediktsson, Director at the University of Iceland

      The film Glacial Land – World of Change. „For me, this film is purely and simply a work of art, and I sincerely hope it inspires us humans to turn away from the omnious path we have been treading for the past 80 years“ Read more»

      Þorvarður Árnason

      „The sand as a whole is a kind of living classroom, showcasing the landforms shaped by the melting glacier. These formations collectively preserve the story of this active land-shaping process over the past 120-130 years—a story that can be read from the landscape if one knows how to view it from the right perspective. In other words, there is much, much more to Breiðamerkursandur than one might initially assume, and another key focus of the film is to shed light on its richness and diversity. Although Breiðamerkursandur, in its current form, is young in age, it is by no means a desert.“ Read more »

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