Sagafilm, the leading independent production company in Iceland since 1978, will join forces with GunHil, a film production company that work includes some of the most expensive and cultivating animations in Icelandic history. Guðný Guðjónsdóttir will resign from her CEO position to pursue personal endeavors and will hand the reigns over to Hilmar Sigurðsson, who is currently the CEO of GunHil.
Sagafilm will acquire all outstanding shares in GunHil which shareholders join the shareholders roaster of Sagafilm. Árni Geir Pálsson, the Chairman of the Board of GunHil, will join the Board of Directors of Sagafilm.
The goal with the agreement is to strengthen and empower own film production and advancing Sagafilm’s international presence. Project coming from GunHil fit perfectly with the large slate of projects at Sagafilm. The company will have around 40 employees after the merger is fully carried through, estimated in Q2, 2017
Icelandic film production has been extremely successful in later years in both film and TV. Sagafilm’s own production CASE is up for the Best non-English-language drama series at The International Drama Awards, which will be handed out in London next week. The Series is now available to over 50 million subscribers as Netflix Original. Sagafilm has previously produced a long line of successful TV series, films and documentaries, as well as being a leader in commercial and production services.
GunHil is premiering the animated feature film ‘PLOEY – You Never Fly Alone at Christmas 2017. The film is a co-production with Cyborn of Belgium and ARRI Media handles international sales with over 40 countries already sold, including Russia CIS, S-Korea, China, Baltics, Poland and Turkey to name some.
GunHil will continue to operate as an independent company under the umbrella of Sagafilm and no immediate changes are in the plans. GunHil will continue to operate at its current location in Thverholt in Reykjavik and Lund, Sweden with Hilmar still serving as the Managing Director.
