Þráinn Bertelsson
Encyclopedia
Þráinn Bertelsson is an Iceland
ic film director
, writer
, politician
, journalist
and newspaper editor. He moved into politics in the wake of the financial crisis in 2008, and was elected a member of the Althing
in 2009, initially for the Citizens' Movement
. He later left the party to become an independent MP
, before joining the Left-Green Movement
, which he currently represents.
. His 1989 film Magnús was nominated for two European Film Awards, for best picture and best script, and received the 1990 DV Cultural Prize in Iceland.
He was the first filmmaker to be granted a lifetime award by the Althing
.
He was a co-founder of Norðan 8 and in 1982 founded his own film company, Nýtt líf (New Life Ltd.). He served a year as chairman of The Association of Icelandic Film Directors.
, and his autobiographical Einhvers konar ég (Some Kind of Me) sold more than 20,000 copies in Iceland. In 1987-1988, Þráinn was the editor of the newspaper Þjóðviljinn, and in 1990 of the magazine Hesturinn okkar.
His 1984 book Hundrað ára afmælið won the Children's Literature Prize of the Reykjavík Board of Education.
He has also written two darkly comic crime novels, Dauðans óvissi tími (Death's Uncertain Hour, 2004) and Valkyrjur (Valkyries, 2005), about Iceland's "new Vikings", the unscrupulous Icelandic businessmen at home and in the international community.
From 1192 to 1994, he was chairman of The Writer’s Union of Iceland.
party. On 14 August 2009 he left the party, choosing to sit as an independent. He is now sitting with the Left Green Party.
.
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 film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and newspaper editor. He moved into politics in the wake of the financial crisis in 2008, and was elected a member of the Althing
Althing
The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant...
in 2009, initially for the Citizens' Movement
Citizens' Movement (Iceland)
The Citizens' Movement is a political party in Iceland, founded by a number of grassroots movements in the lead up to the 2009 election during the Global Recession, which hit Iceland particularly hard....
. He later left the party to become an independent MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, before joining the Left-Green Movement
Left-Green Movement
The Left-Green Movement is a left-wing political party in Iceland.It was founded in 1999 by a few members of Alþingi who did not approve of the planned merger of the left parties in Iceland that resulted in the founding of the Social Democratic Alliance...
, which he currently represents.
Film production
Þráinn has written, directed and produced seven feature films. His 1981 film Jón Oddur & Jón Bjarni (English title: The Twins) won a Silver Award at the 1982 Giffoni Film FestivalGiffoni Film Festival
The Giffoni International Film Festival is the largest children’s film festival in Europe, and possibly the World. It takes place in the little Italian town of Giffoni Valle Piana in Southern Italy, close to Salerno. Over 2,000 children attend the festival from 39 countries around the world...
. His 1989 film Magnús was nominated for two European Film Awards, for best picture and best script, and received the 1990 DV Cultural Prize in Iceland.
He was the first filmmaker to be granted a lifetime award by the Althing
Althing
The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant...
.
He was a co-founder of Norðan 8 and in 1982 founded his own film company, Nýtt líf (New Life Ltd.). He served a year as chairman of The Association of Icelandic Film Directors.
Writing
Þráinn has written columns for Iceland's largest newspaper, FréttablaðiðFréttablaðið
Fréttablaðið is the Icelandic newspaper with the largest circulation. Fréttablaðið is in Icelandic and is distributed free of charge to homes in parts of the country.It is published by the media group 365 prentmiðlar....
, and his autobiographical Einhvers konar ég (Some Kind of Me) sold more than 20,000 copies in Iceland. In 1987-1988, Þráinn was the editor of the newspaper Þjóðviljinn, and in 1990 of the magazine Hesturinn okkar.
His 1984 book Hundrað ára afmælið won the Children's Literature Prize of the Reykjavík Board of Education.
He has also written two darkly comic crime novels, Dauðans óvissi tími (Death's Uncertain Hour, 2004) and Valkyrjur (Valkyries, 2005), about Iceland's "new Vikings", the unscrupulous Icelandic businessmen at home and in the international community.
From 1192 to 1994, he was chairman of The Writer’s Union of Iceland.
Politics
Þráinn has been a member of the Althing since 2009, initially representing the Citizens' MovementCitizens' Movement (Iceland)
The Citizens' Movement is a political party in Iceland, founded by a number of grassroots movements in the lead up to the 2009 election during the Global Recession, which hit Iceland particularly hard....
party. On 14 August 2009 he left the party, choosing to sit as an independent. He is now sitting with the Left Green Party.
Personal
He is married to Sólveig Eggertsdóttir, an artist who heads a department at the Iceland Art Academy. They have two children and live in ReykjavíkReykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
.
Filmography
- Jón Oddur & Jón Bjarni; English title: The Twins(1981)
- Ég mundi segja hó (TV movie) (1982)
- Nýtt lífNýtt LífNýtt Líf is a film directed by Þráinn Bertelsson and released in 1983. The film is a comedy shot in the Westman Islands and stars Eggert Þorleifsson and Karl Ágúst Úlfsson, among others. The music features several musicians including the band Tappi Tíkarrass , which contributed the songs...
(1983) - Dalalíf (1984)
- Skammdegi (1985)
- Löggulíf (1985)
- MagnúsMagnusMagnus, meaning "Great" in Latin, was sometimes used as a first name among Romans but was not particularly common among them. The best-known Roman bearing the name was the third-century usurper. The name gained wider popularity in the Middle Ages, various European peoples, and their royal houses,...
(1989) - Einkalíf (1995)
- Sigla himinfleySigla himinfleySigla himinfley is an Icelandic drama miniseries created by Þráinn Bertelsson. The series takes place in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, and follows the lives of an influential family in the fishing industry....
(TV miniseries) (1996)