Icelandic Thriller Lands Scandi Pre-Buys

Sagafilm’s adaptation of Viktor Arnar Ingolfsson’s The Flatey Enigma for RÚV has lined up Scandi pubcasters YLE, SVT, NRK and DR as broadcast partners.

Iceland’s Sagafilm is producing the 4×52-minute drama with Reykjavik Films. The script, penned by Margrét Örnólfsdóttir, is based on Ingolfsson’s best seller, set in 1970, about a professor who is accused of murder and must exonerate herself by solving a riddle in a medieval manuscript.

“We are thrilled to have all Scandinavian public broadcasters buying into this project,” said Hilmar Sigurdsson, CEO of Sagafilm. “It shows the tremendous appetite for Icelandic TV drama internationally.”

“The Flatey Enigma is the third project in a row from RÚV that gets a full house of Scandinavian broadcasters on board,” added Skarphédinn Gudmundsson, commissioner at RÚV. “The quality of Icelandic content has risen to record highs and RÚV is proud to support the ever growing industry in Iceland.”