Apausalypse
Apausalypse is a 52-minute documentary film by Anni Ólafsdóttir and Andri Snær Magnason that explores the deeper meaning of the “great pause,” when the world came to a standstill during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the premiere of their earlier film, The Hero’s Journey to the Third Pole, was cancelled during Iceland’s first lockdown, they set out with a camera to capture and reflect on what was happening. The result is Apausalypse.
Apausalypse features contributions from many prominent Icelandic artists and thinkers, including: Anna Rún Tryggvadóttir, Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir, Auður Eir Vilhjálmsdóttir, Ernesto Camilo Aldazábal Valdés, Fríða Ísberg, Guðrún Eva Mínervudóttir, Gunnar Kvaran, Halldór Laxness Halldórsson, Hallgrímur Helgason, Haraldur Jónsson, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Ragnar Axelsson, Sigríður Dögg Arnardóttir, Sigríður Þorgeirsdóttir, Þorleifur Örn Arnarsson, Tryggvi Þorleifsson, and Unnur Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir.
Apausalypse was nominated for the EDDA Awards 2021 in two categories: Best Documentary and Best Cinematography.
Art always finds a way, even when everything has been put on pause. Journey with dancers, musicians, and philosophers across Iceland during the lockdown and explore the question: What is the meaning of the great stop, the Apausalypse?
A moment in history is captured and empty spaces are filled with art when all other stages are closed.
DIRECTORS: Andri Snær Magnason, Anní Ólafsdóttir
PRODUCERS: Andri Snær Magnason, Halldóra Jóhanna Þorláksdóttir, Hlín Jóhannesdóttir, Anní Ólafsdóttir, Eva Lind Höskuldsdóttir
SCREENWRITERS: Andri Snær Magnason, Anní Ólafsdóttir
EDITORS: Eva Lind Höskuldsdóttir, Anní Ólafsdóttir, Sighvatur Haraldsson
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Andri Haraldsson
MUSIC: Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir, Ryiuichi Sakamoto
SOUND DESIGN: Björn Viktorsson
RUNTIME: 52 min
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Iceland
WORLD PREMIERE: 21st May, 2021, Stockfish Film Festival
LANGUAGES: Icelandic
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Elsku Rut, Lokaútgáfan in association with Ground Control Productions, Ursus Parvus
IMDb
Watch Apausalypse, the full documentary, at Emergence Magazine
Read an essay about Apausalypse, featured in Emergence Magazine
„ … you don’t want to be missing out on that … A really interesting a document of a very specific period of time … So fascinating to hear from everyone, hear their thoughts, and also see the country in a state of downtime.”
– Kvikmyndapod: An Icelandic Cinema Podcast„An interesting and well-made work that speaks directly to the present times … and the film will prove to be the equivalent of a time capsule in a few years.” – G.R., Morgunblaðið
„An important documentation of an unusual situation in world history … the film’s value lies in some pretty amazing images of a deserted world.” – Ásgeir H. Ingólfsson, Independent film critic
