Sigurjón Sighvatsson
Encyclopedia
Sigurjón Sighvatsson also known as Joni Sighvatsson, is a veteran
Hollywood film producer
and businessman. Currently he is the principal of Palomar Pictures, an independent film production company in Los Angeles. Palomar's current project Killer Elite was released September 23rd, 2011. Sighvatsson, under the Palomar banner, produced Brothers, Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, Screaming Masterpiece, A Little Trip to Heaven, K-19: The Widowmaker and The Weight of Water. He has also executive produced films such as The Good Heart, The Last Winter, Destricted and Pretty Persuasion. Additionally, Sighvatsson serves as chairman of Scanbox Entertainment, a major Scandinavian film distribution and production company through which he executive produced Valhalla Rising.
Prior to his time at Palomar, Sighvatsson served as the first president of Lakeshore Entertainment where he oversaw and/or executive produced such films as Arlington Road, Runaway Bride, The Mothman Prophecies, 200 Cigarettes, Homegrown and Polish Wedding. Sighvatsson began his professional film career as a co-founder of Propaganda Films which revolutionized the commercial and music video industries before moving into feature film production. While at Propaganda, Sighvatsson worked with future directing stars such as David Fincher, Michael Bay and Spike Jonze and produced such films as David Lynch's Wild at Heart, Madonna: Truth or Dare, Kalifornia, Basquiat, Candyman, Red Rock West and A Thousand Acres. Additionally, Sighvatsson produced the modern television classic David Lynch's Twin Peaks and was one of the original producers on the original Beverly Hills 90210 series.
Sigurjón was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, the son of Sigurborg Sigurjonsdottir and Sighvatur Karlsson. He immigrated to the United States in 1978. Sighvatsson graduated with BA
in English and literature from the University of Iceland
and MFA
from the University of Southern California
in Los Angeles.
Sigurjón is the Iceland
ic Consul General in Los Angeles
(honorary). He owns clothing manufacturer 66°North.
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
Hollywood film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and businessman. Currently he is the principal of Palomar Pictures, an independent film production company in Los Angeles. Palomar's current project Killer Elite was released September 23rd, 2011. Sighvatsson, under the Palomar banner, produced Brothers, Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, Screaming Masterpiece, A Little Trip to Heaven, K-19: The Widowmaker and The Weight of Water. He has also executive produced films such as The Good Heart, The Last Winter, Destricted and Pretty Persuasion. Additionally, Sighvatsson serves as chairman of Scanbox Entertainment, a major Scandinavian film distribution and production company through which he executive produced Valhalla Rising.
Prior to his time at Palomar, Sighvatsson served as the first president of Lakeshore Entertainment where he oversaw and/or executive produced such films as Arlington Road, Runaway Bride, The Mothman Prophecies, 200 Cigarettes, Homegrown and Polish Wedding. Sighvatsson began his professional film career as a co-founder of Propaganda Films which revolutionized the commercial and music video industries before moving into feature film production. While at Propaganda, Sighvatsson worked with future directing stars such as David Fincher, Michael Bay and Spike Jonze and produced such films as David Lynch's Wild at Heart, Madonna: Truth or Dare, Kalifornia, Basquiat, Candyman, Red Rock West and A Thousand Acres. Additionally, Sighvatsson produced the modern television classic David Lynch's Twin Peaks and was one of the original producers on the original Beverly Hills 90210 series.
Sigurjón was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, the son of Sigurborg Sigurjonsdottir and Sighvatur Karlsson. He immigrated to the United States in 1978. Sighvatsson graduated with BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English and literature from the University of Iceland
University of Iceland
The University of Iceland is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about...
and MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in Los Angeles.
Sigurjón is the Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic Consul General in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
(honorary). He owns clothing manufacturer 66°North.
Producer selected filmography
- A Little Trip to HeavenA Little Trip to HeavenA Little Trip to Heaven is an Icelandic/United States noir-inspired drama and thriller film from 2005, directed by Icelandic director of The Sea, Baltasar Kormákur. The film is set in the U.S. in 1985 but almost entirely shot in Iceland...
(2005), starring Julia StilesJulia StilesJulia O'Hara Stiles is an American actress.After beginning her career in small parts in a New York City theatre troupe, she has moved on to leading roles in plays by writers as diverse as William Shakespeare and David Mamet...
and Forest WhitakerForest WhitakerForest Steven Whitaker is an American actor, producer, and director. He has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Bird and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and for his recurring role as ex-LAPD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh on the gritty, award-winning television...
, directed by Baltasar KormákurBaltasar KormákurBaltasar Kormákur is an Icelandic actor, theater and film director, and film producer. He is best known for directing the films 101 Reykjavík, Hafið, A Little Trip to Heaven , and a film based on the book Mýrin by Arnaldur Indriðason... - K-19: The WidowmakerK-19: The WidowmakerK-19: The Widowmaker is a movie released on July 19, 2002, about the first of many disasters that befell the Soviet submarine of the same name. The film was directed by Kathryn Bigelow...
(2002), starring Harrison FordHarrison FordHarrison Ford is an American film actor and producer. He is famous for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series. Ford is also known for his roles as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, John Book in Witness and Jack Ryan in... - 200 Cigarettes200 Cigarettes200 Cigarettes is a 1999 comedy-drama film starring Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Dave Chappelle, Guillermo Díaz, Angela Featherstone, Janeane Garofalo, Gaby Hoffman, Kate Hudson, Courtney Love, Jay Mohr, Martha Plimpton, Christina Ricci and Paul Rudd. The film also features paintings by Sally...
(1999), starring Ben AffleckBen AffleckBenjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt , better known as Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer. He became known with his performances in Kevin Smith's films such as Mallrats and Chasing Amy...
, Kate HudsonKate HudsonKate Garry Hudson is an American actress. She came to prominence in 2001 after winning a Golden Globe and receiving several nominations, including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Almost Famous. She then starred in the hit film How to Lose a Guy in 10...
, Courtney LoveCourtney LoveCourtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
and Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader... - Arlington RoadArlington RoadArlington Road is a 1999 American drama/mystery film, which tells the story of a widowed George Washington University professor who suspects his new neighbors are involved in terrorism and becomes obsessed with foiling their terrorist plot. The film stars Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, and...
(1999), starring Jeff BridgesJeff BridgesJeffrey Leon "Jeff" Bridges is an American actor and musician. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart....
, Tim RobbinsTim RobbinsTimothy Francis "Tim" Robbins is an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, activist and musician. He is the former longtime partner of actress Susan Sarandon...
and Joan CusackJoan CusackJoan Mary Cusack is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions.... - Going All the WayGoing All the WayGoing All the Way is a 1997 film directed by Mark Pellington. The film was written by Dan Wakefield, based on his 1970 novel. It won an award at the Sundance Film Festival.-Plot:...
(1997), starring Ben AffleckBen AffleckBenjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt , better known as Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer. He became known with his performances in Kevin Smith's films such as Mallrats and Chasing Amy...
and Jeremy DaviesJeremy DaviesFather Jeremy Davies , an English Roman Catholic priest whose parish is based around Old Hall Green, is a former doctor and also a leading exorcist.... - KaliforniaKaliforniaKalifornia is an American thriller/road film, directed by Dominic Sena and starring Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, David Duchovny, and Michelle Forbes. The film focuses on an aspiring writer and his photographer girlfriend who are traveling cross-country to research serial killers...
(1993), starring Brad PittBrad PittWilliam Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
, Juliette LewisJuliette LewisJuliette Lewis is an American actress and musician. She gained international fame for her role in the 1991 thriller Cape Fear for which she was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress...
, David DuchovnyDavid DuchovnyDavid William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
and Michelle ForbesMichelle ForbesMichelle Renee Forbes Guajardo , known professionally as Michelle Forbes, is an American actress who has built a career of work in television and independent film and has acted in productions in both the United States and in the United Kingdom... - Red Rock WestRed Rock WestRed Rock West is a neo-noir film directed by John Dahl. The film, written by Dahl and his brother Rick, was shot in Montana and Willcox, Arizona. The film was well received at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival, but deemed a cable and direct-to-video product by Columbia Tri-Star, which owned...
(1992), starring Nicolas CageNicolas CageNicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and... - Wild at HeartWild at Heart (film)Wild at Heart is a 1990 American film written and directed by David Lynch, and based on Barry Gifford's 1989 novel Wild at Heart: The Story of Sailor and Lula. Both the book and the film revolve around Sailor Ripley and Lula Pace Fortune , a young couple from Cape Fear, North Carolina who go on...
(1990), directed by David LynchDavid LynchDavid Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
, starring Nicolas CageNicolas CageNicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
, Laura DernLaura DernLaura Elizabeth Dern is an American actress, film director and producer. Dern has acted in such films as Smooth Talk , Blue Velvet , Fat Man and Little Boy , Wild at Heart , Jurassic Park and October Sky...
and Willem DafoeWillem DafoeWillem Dafoe is an American film, stage, and voice actor, and a founding member of the experimental theatre company The Wooster Group...