The Messenger
Rakel Gardarsdottir & Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Vesturport
Language: English
Based On: Original Screenplay
Project Type: Feature Film (Scripted)
Genre: Thriller
Stage of Development: Script ready. Financing ongoing.
Estimated Length (minutes): 100
Director: Björn Hlynur Haraldsson
Director Bio:
Björn Hlynur is a director, writer, actor, and producer. As co-founder of Vesturport, one of Europe's most innovative film, TV, and theatre groups, he has established himself as a multifaceted creative force in the industry. Björn Hlynur wrote and directed the acclaimed TV series "Blackport," which won the top prize at Series Mania. His latest project, the series "Vigdis," has become a major hit in Iceland and was selected for the European Film Market at Berlinale 2025. Currently in development is his newest directorial venture—an English language feature film starring Kristin Scott Thomas. With a prolific acting career alongside his directorial work, Björn Hlynur has appeared in Netflix's "The Witcher" and Neil Jordan's "The Borgias" for Showtime. One of his recent notable acting roles was in the feature film "LAMB," which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021.
Proposed or Confirmed Talent: Sjón the writer. Pilou Asbæk actor.
Total Budget: 4.000.000 euros
Percent Confirmed: 15 %
Currency: € EUR
What is this project seeking?
Financing, Distribution, Sales Agent
Logline:
Set in wartime Iceland, The Messenger is a brooding noir thriller in which a grieving detective, drawn into a séance medium's web of seduction, must untangle a prostitution conspiracy — and confront the blurred line between faith and deception.
Synopsis:
Reykjavík, wartime. Detective Jóhann and his wife Júlía share a private pact: whoever dies first will try to make contact from beyond. When Júlía is killed in a shooting accident involving a British soldier, Jóhann is shattered. He is drawn to Klara, Iceland's celebrated séance medium — magnetic, mysterious, and trapped in an abusive relationship. Meanwhile, Jóhann investigates the disappearance of a prominent man's daughter, uncovering a prostitution ring preying on vulnerable young women. As he falls deeper into Klara's web of seduction and deception, his grief blurs the line between truth and illusion — until he must choose between faith and justice.
Contact Information: rakel@vesturport.com
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4962384/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_8_in_0_q_rakel%20gar
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1155349/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_3_in_0_q_bj%C3%B6rn%20hlynur
