© Join Motion Pictures_Sturla_Brandth_Groevlen
Sceneggiatura / Screenplay: Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
Fotografia / Photography: Sturla Brandth Grøvlen
Montaggio / Editing: Andri Steinn Guðjónsson, Anders Skov
Musica / Music: Kristian Eidnes Andersen
Suono / Sound: Jan Schermer
Scenografia / Art Director: Hulda Helgadóttir
Costumi / Costume Designer: Helga Rós Hannam
Interpreti / Cast: Birgir Dagur Bjarkason, Áskell Einar Pálmason, Viktor Benóný Benediktsson, Snorri Rafn Frímannsson, Aníta Briem, Ísgerður Gunnarsdóttir, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
Produzione / Produced by: Join Motion Pictures
Coproduzione / Co-produced by: Motor Productions, Hobab and Film I Väst, Bastide Films, Negativ
Con il sostegno di / Supported by: Icelandic Film Centre, Iceland’s Ministry of Industries and Innovation, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV, Sena, Danish Film Institute, DR, Scanbox, Swedish Film Institute, Film i Väst, Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, Czech Film Fund, Nordisk Film & TV fond, Eurimages
Distribuzione internazionale / World Sales: New Europe Film Sales
Addi, a boy raised by a clairvoyant mother, decides to adopt a bullied misfit into his gang of outsiders. Left to their own devices, the boys explore aggression and violence but also learn about loyalty and love. As their behavior escalates towards life-threatening situations, Addi begins to experience a series of dreamlike visions. Can his newfound intuition guide him and his friends back to a safer path, or will they dive irrevocably into further violence? Beautiful Beings premiered at Berlinale in 2022 and then was successfully presented at many international festivals including Karlovy Vary, Thessaloniki and Tallinn.
“As I was exploring stories to write for my second feature film, certain dreams haunted me and did not stop until I started writing this story. Me and my childhood friends come from normal working-class families. At the same time our world felt unique. The sarcastic humor, violent behavior, and parents who didn’t really seem to have their own lives together. On top of that, in my family, the belief in meaningful dreams and supernatural senses. Beautiful Beings brings these elements together. It is a story about friendship that is full of youthful energy, hope and confused feelings. About a group of boys that feel somewhat unwelcome but find support in one another … I went into filmmaking because I aspired to move people and enrich their senses, like many great films have done for me. I hope that Beautiful Beings also does that for some, with a story about friendship, the importance of role models, self-acceptance and intuition.” (G. Arnar Guðmundsson)
Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
Film director and screenwriter Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson was born in 1982 in Reykjavík. He graduated in Fine Art and studied screenwriting. His debut feature Heartstone premiered at the 2016 Giornate degli Autori competition in Venice and ended up collecting over 50 awards worldwide.
2005 Þröng sýn cm / sf 2009 Jeffrey & Beth cm / sf 2013 Hvalfjörður (Whale Valley) cm / sf; Premi / Awards: Cannes FF – Menzione speciale / Special Mention 2014 Ártún cm / sf; Premi / Awards: Chicago IFF – Migliore cortometraggio di finzione / Best Narrative Short Film 2016 Hjartasteinn (Heartstone); Premi / Awards: European Film Awards – Premio per il film universitario europeo / European University Film Award; Venezia, Mostra del cinema – Leone Queer / Venice FF – Queer Lion; Warsaw IFF – Miglior regista / Best Director 2022 Berdreymi (Beautiful Beings); Premi / Awards: Berlinale – Label Europa Cinemas; Thessaloniki FF – Premio del pubblico Open Horizons / Open Horizons Audience Award
