Iceland’s ACT4, Germany’s Ulysses join forces for animated journey to Stormy Island

Birkir Blær Ingólfsson, Emely Christians and Anna Gunndís

Icelandic prodco ACT4 is venturing into animation for the first time after partnering with Hamburg-based Ulysses Filmproduktion to make Stormy Island, a children’s film based on an award-winning book.

Written by ACT4 head of development Birkir Blær Ingólfsson, the novel Stormsker (Stormy Island) received the Icelandic Children’s Book Prize in 2018. It is now being adapted for the screen by Anna Gunndís Guðmundardóttir and Sara Gunnarsdóttir.

ACT4 and animation specialists Ulysses have signed a co-development agreement for the film, which tells the story of a young girl who lives on a stormy island and is able to communicate with the wind.

When an international tech mogul starts exploiting the wind to slow the Earth’s rotation and manufacture time, it is up to the girl and her friends to save the wind before the planet is thrown out of orbit.

In the last 20 years, Ulysses has released 15 animated films, including The Amazing Maurice and Niko – Beyond the Northern Lights. It is currently in production on Pirate Mo and the Legend of the Red Ruby, and the sequel The Amazing Maurice: The Waters of Life.

Emely Christians, CEO and producer at Ulysses Filmproduktion, said: “When we read the script for Stormy Island, we were immediately convinced that, together with the fantastic team from ACT4 in Iceland, we wanted to turn it into an animated film with great international potential.

“The story does have universal themes such as friendship, trust, teamwork, determination, courage, and braces topical environmental issues. We can already imagine the film’s visuals on the big screen – and hear the wind howling in theatres worldwide.”

ACT4 is currently awaiting the release of its TV series Reykjavik Fusion, which will premiere on Síminn Premium and Arte later this year. Stormy Island marks its first animation project.

“We are proud and honoured to partner with such great professionals. We have much faith in the story itself, an adventure which speaks to both children and grown-ups. And believe that with Ulysses’ expert guidance and vision we’ll manage to turn it into a wonderful film,” said author Ingólfsson.

Writer Anna Gunndís added: “When I first read Birkir’s story I was so inspired by the world he had created, so adventurous and exotic but also very dangerous.

“We want to inspire kids and let them realize that they can do more than they think.

They can save the planet. But we also want parents to watch this film and remind them to enjoy the little time they have while their kids a little because all of a sudden they are out the door hanging out with their friends most of the time.

“We want to remind both parents and kids to cherish nature, listen to each other and last but not least, listen to the needs of nature and understand that we need to take good care of nature for nature to be able to take care of us, feed us and give us shelter.”