The official trailer for the electrifying and compellingly-unique new documentary on the Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, "WHERE'S THE SNOW?!", presented by Don't Panic Films & Sleepless in Reykjavik Productions.

Featuring Performances by Icelandic superstars:
Agent Fresco
Olafur Arnalds
Dikta
Esja
Mammút
Reykjavik!
Retro Stefson
Pall Oskar
Hjaltalin
Retron
Bróðir Svartúlfs
Kimono
Our Lives
Dr. Spock
and MANY more!

ABOUT ICELAND AIRWAVES:
Since the first show held in 1999 (in an airplane hangar), Iceland Airwaves has become one of the premier showcases for new music – Icelandic and otherwise – in the world. It’s been called “the most innovative music festival since CMJ” and is “as responsible for all of Reykjavík’s positive press as Björk herself”.

Some of the world’s most exciting artists - including Suede, The Flaming Lips, The Hives, Fatboy Slim, Thievery Corporation, Bloc Party, and Casio Kids - have made the short hop from Europe or North America to share the stages with Iceland’s finest talents: Sigur Rós, Gus Gus, Minus, Mugison, Jagúar, Dikta, Quarashi, Leaves, Trabant, FM Belfast, Steed Lord and many, MANY more. And when the live bands are finished, top DJs spin across the city until dawn...

"WHERE'S THE SNOW?!" TRAILER PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Directed by Bowen Staines & Gunnar B. Gudbjornsson
Shot by Bowen Staines & Gunnar B. Gudbjornsson
Edited by Bowen Staines

Music by Olafur Arnalds
Courtesy of Erased Tapes Records
erasedtapes.com

DontPanicIceland.com
SIR.is
IcelandAirwaves.is

Don't Panic Films Press Release, 1.17.12
From directors Bowen Staines (DontPanicIceland.com) & Gunnar B. Guðbjörnsson (SIR.is), comes a new project for Iceland’s masters of psychedelic metal, Sólstafir. The video is for the song, “Fjara”, off Sólstafir’s chart-topping double album, 'Svartir Sandar'.

The conceptualization for the video began back in July of 2011, and started production in late-September. The story follows a young woman who bears a difficult and woeful burden, obsessively dragging behind her a large, timber coffin. Her intentions are uncertain, as she encounters Four Spirits along the way - the Earth, the Desert, the Enlightened, and the Devoted - like lighthouses guiding her path. The ultimate purpose of her journey is slowly revealed through her encounters with these Spirits.

The lead role was gladly given to Rebekka Kolbeinsdóttir, an exceptionally talented actress and versatile musician. Rebekka’s enthusiasm and commitment to the project was immediately evident, and there is no doubt that “Fjara” would be a completely different video had she not been involved. Wearing a thin wedding dress in the middle of November, barefooted, pulling a coffin nearly twice one’s weight through the Icelandic wilderness is not an easy task.

The original intent was to have the video shot and completed before “Svartir Sandar” was released on October 14th, but due to increasing complexity of the latter scenes, the considerable time needed for postproduction, and some of the most awful, unpleasant weather so far that month, “Fjara” was not completed until the beginning of January. Thankfully, we had the privilege of working with the extremely enthusiastic members of Sólstafir, who always stayed several steps ahead to insure production went smoothly. Kolla Jónsdóttir generously lent her time and expertise in designing the costumes and doing make-up, and Jakob Veigar Sigurðsson assisted in finding great locations and making sure the team had places to stay.

Shooting wrapped at the end of November, on a particularly memorable and unusual Sunday morning. With only the last shot remaining, the crew arrived at the Skógafoss waterfall at sunrise. Over the course of the next hour, the 70kg timber coffin was carried to the top of the waterfall, affixed with floatation and a small ContourHD waterproof camera, and carefully lowered into the rushing water. With only a bungee cord and rope tied around his waist, Sólstafir drummer Guðmundur Óli Pálmason, waded into the water and pulled the coffin to the middle of the stream - mere meters from the edge of the falls. He was quoted at the time, saying “I’m not really nervous about going over, I’m just ready to finally get rid of this thing!”

After nearly another hour of preparation and careful adjustments mid-stream, the coffin finally coasted to the edge of Skógafoss, and plummeted spectacularly downwards to its explosive end. To everyone’s surprise, the camera we had attached to the coffin was successfully recovered, and is the last shot to appear in the video.

The directors and band wish to thank everyone who was involved in the production of “Fjara”, and hope you will enjoy it!


PRODUCTION DETAILS
Presented by DON'T PANIC FILMS & SEASON OF MIST
Produced by Guðmundur Óli Pálmason & SÓLSTAFIR
Directed by Bowen Staines & Gunnar B. Guðbjörnsson
Filmed by Bowen Staines & Gunnar B. Guðbjörnsson
Edited by Bowen Staines

Starring Rebekka Kolbeinsdóttir

FULL CAST, CREW LISTING, & SPECIAL THANKS AT END OF VIDEO

DontPanicIceland.com
SIR.is
Solstafir.net

Reykjavík hosts the biggest party in the northern hemisphere every October during the critically acclaimed music festival Iceland Airwaves. Acts like Florence & The Machine, Keane, Hot Chip and The Flaming Lips have performed at the festival alongside the créme de la créme of the Icelandic music scene.

Produced by Sagafilm for Icelandair.

Official trailer for the newly-released CD/DVD from Ólafur Arnalds, entitled "Living Room Songs".

Icelandic contemporary composer Ólafur Arnalds created and released a new song, one per day, for a whole week during the month of October 2011. The songs were recorded and filmed live in the living room of his Reykjavik apartment, and released instantly for free as streamed videos and mp3 downloads.

Living Room Songs has now also be released on CD, Vinyl, Special Edition CD/DVD (including a film about the whole week) and as High Quality Downloads via Erased Tapes Records.

PRODUCTION DETAILS
Produced by Ólafur Arnalds & Erased Tapes Records
Directed by Bowen Staines
Shot & Edited by Gunnar B. Guðbjörnsson & Bowen Staines

OlafurArnalds.com
ErasedTapes.com
DontPanicIceland.com
SIR.is

The third episode of DontPanicTV is finally here, featuring interviews and performances from Toronto-based extreme violinist Dr. Draw and his eclectic band of collaborators: cellist Eugene Fedorichine, drummer Jeff Cote, and free-style painter Jessica Gorlicky, with a special appearance by classical violinist David Visentin.

Often referred to as the "Jimi Hendrix of the violin", Eugene Draw has opened for A-list acts like Bette Midler, shared the stage with the world-renowned Seal, and played for the Prime Minister of Singapore.

Performing in such frenetic locales energizes Draw and his band "The Academy of The Martian Arts", allowing them to “creatively interact with cultures all across the world.” The result is a constantly evolving musical style that brings together the seemingly disparate elements of classical violin, jazz-rock fusion, folk and pop into a riveting fever that feeds the soul and invigorates audiences.

Born in Moscow to a family immersed in classical music, Draw practiced his violin sometimes up to six hours a day, hardly willing to stop for breaks. When Eugene’s parents moved to Canada, he was enrolled at the prestigious Royal Conservatory of Music. Ultimately constrained by the school’s formal approach to music, Eugene left the institution in favour of the street where he was free to improvise and experiment.

Dr. Draw made indie music history in Toronto in 2007, as all three of his albums charted on the official Top 30 Nielsen Soundscan sales chart. In August of 2007, his album "Adagio" placed at #3 on Canadian charts, and #70 nationally. He’s also charted at #25 in Toronto for his 2005 album, "Train 64", and at #26 for his debut, "The City". The same triple play happened in Edmonton and Calgary as well, where he continues to have an enormous fan base.

Dr. Draw on MySpace:
Myspace.com/DoctorDraw

Order Dr. Draw's albums online at:
AlchemyEntertainment.ca



PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by DON'T PANIC FILMS
in association with Sleepless In Reykjavik Productions
Directed, Shot, & Edited by Bowen Staines
Full cast & crew listing at the end of the video.

DontPanicIceland.com
SIR.is