Official Selection in Malesco

Smáfuglar (2 Birds) has been selected for The 9th edition of the International shorts festivals MALESCORTO 2008. The Festival is taking place in Malesco in northern Italy from 4th to 9th of August 2008. Smáfuglar(2Birds) will be screened on tuesday the 5th of august at 21.15.

MORO INFO

Official Selection i Kosova

The short Film Smáfuglar (2 birds) has been chosen for Dokufest the International documentary and Short Film Festival that takes place between 4-10 of August in Prizren Kosova.
For info at:
http://dokufest.com

Official Selection at Nordisk Panorama

Smáfuglar (2 birds) has been chosen for Nordisk Panorama that is hosted by the City of Malmö in the south of Sweden between September 26th and October 1st 2008.
Nordisk Panorama celebrates its 19th year on the arena and is the largest short & documentary film festival of the Nordic countries.

More info at:
http://www.nordiskpanorama.com/

Official Selection in Melbourne

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is an iconic Melbourne event. MIFF hosts a feast of cinematic delicacies from over 50 countries for nineteen days each Winter, heavily garnished with a range of parties and special events that cast a celebratory mood over the city. The Festival enjoys annual admissions of more than 182,000, making it one of Melbourne's significant public events.
MIFF shorts is one of the most highly regarded short film competitions in the Asia Pacific region. This Oscar qualifying competition attracts the best short films from around the world. Brief and brilliant, local and international these shorts are a discovery of new voices, stories and talent.

Smáfuglar (2 Birds) will be screened two times at MIFF.

First Thursday the 31st of July at 7:15 PM in Forum.
It will be screened together with the feature film MAGNUS by the director Kadri Kõusaar.
The Second screening will be in the INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 3 (100 min) program that takes place Wednesday the 6th of August at 5:15 PM in Kino.

Further info at
http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au

Awards in London

Smáfuglar (2Birds) was honored with following awards at
The 'Super Shorts International Film Festival 2008 in London

Anthony Mingella Best Director Award

Sasusfaction Best Drama Award

more info at
http://www.supershorts.org.uk/

3 Awards in Capalbio

Smáfuglar (2 Birds) was honored with 3 awards at The 15th Capalbio Cinema International Short Film Festival in Italy.
The director Rúnar Rúnarsson was present to receive the awards

The Young Peoples Award
Awarded by the youth jury

Best Creative Subject
Awarded by the ADCI-The Art Directors Club of Italy

The Nisida Award
Prize awarded by the young people of the Juvenile Prison Nisida in Napoli

Edinburgh Nomination European Film Academy Short Film 2008 - Prix UIP

The Jury at The 62nd Edinburgh International Film Festival has awarded “Smáfuglar” (2 Birds) the Edinburgh Nomination European Film Academy 
Short Film 2008 - Prix UIP.
That means that 2 Birds is nominated to The 2008 European Film Academy Awards that will take place in Copenhagen the 6. Of December this year.

http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/

CANAL+ AWARD IN VALENCIA

Tonight Smáfuglar (2 Birds) was given the Canal+ award at The 23rd Cinema Jove Internacional Festival in Valencia.

http://www.cinemajovefilmfest.com/

Best Fiction in St Petersburg

The Jury at The XVIII MESSAGE TO MAN International Films Festival has given The “Centaur” to 2 birds by Rúnar Rúnarsson For Best Fiction Film.

The festival took place in St Petersburg, Russia June 15-22, 2008. The Message to Man International Film Festival is accredited in the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF, France). Festival is organized with the support of The Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation, St Petersburg City Administration, St Petersburg Culture Committee, Russian Filmmakers’ Union.

The festival was founded by the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Ministry of Culture of the USSR, Goskino of the USSR, the USSR Union of Filmmakers, Gosteleradio USSR, and the Executive Committee of the Lensoviet in December of 1988.

Festival Homepage

OFFICIAL SELECTION

‘Smáfuglar (Two Birds)’ has been selected for the official competition at the Super Shorts International Film Festival 2008.

The festival runs between 1st – 6th July in Central London. The awards ceremony will be on the afternoon of Sunday 6th July at the Covent Garden Odeon. Entry is free for all
All shortlisted films are in the running for the following awards....

· Best Film
· Best Direction
· Best Editing
· Best Comedy
· Best Drama
· Best Documentary
· Best Cinematography

www.supershorts.org.uk

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Smáfuglar ( 2 Birds ) has been selected for Official selection at the 15th Capalbio Cinema International Short Film Festival in Italy

http://www.capalbiocinema.com

OFFICIAL SELECTION

The short film “Smáfuglar”(2 Birds) directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson, has been selected to participate in the 23rd Cinema Jove International Film Festival Short Film Competition. The festival will take place in Valencia from June, 21st to 28th, 2008.

http://www.cinemajovefilmfest.com/

OFFICIAL SELECTION

2 Birds is in the Official Selection at Message to Man International Film Festival in Russia that takes place 15-22 of june in St Petersburg.

Message to Man was established by State Committee of Cinematography of the USSR, Filmmakers' Union of USSR, State Television and Radio Committee of USSR and the Executive Committee of the Leningrad City Council in December 1988.

The Film Festival is accredited in the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF, France). Festival is organized with the support of The Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation, St Petersburg City Administration, St Petersburg Culture Committee, Russian Filmmakers’ Union.

http://www.message-to-man.spb.ru

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Smáfuglar (2 Birds) has been selected for The Official Selection of the Short film competition of the 62nd Edinburgh International Film Festival.

The festival takes place between the 18th -29th of June and 2 Birds will be screened Thursday the 19th at 22:15 at FIlmhouse 2, and the Friday 20th at 15:30 at Filmhouse 2.

Rúnar Rúnarsson the director of the film is not unfamiliar with the Edinburgh festival for it was the venue for the world premier for his award winning and Oscar nominated short film The Last Farm. Now the festival will host the UK premier of 2 Birds.

Started in 1947, the EIFF is one of the true homes of innovative and exciting cinema. For over half-a-century, the Festival has presented some of cinema's most important and exciting moments and played host to the world's greatest filmmakers.
The longest continually running film festival in the world,
The last ten years have seen a strengthening of the critical fortunes of the Festival through the strong artistic direction of Mark Cousins, Lizzie Francke, Shane Danielsen and currently Hannah McGill, all of whom have exhibited not only a continuity of passion and commitment to excellent cinema from home and abroad but the very necessary evaluative perspective that skilled curation brings.

The 62nd Edinburgh International Film Festival.

2 BIRDS COMPETING FOR THE PALME D’OR

Zik Zak Filmworks is proud to announce that Runar Runarsson’s Smáfuglar (2 Birds english titel) has been selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Only 9 out of approximately 5000 short films made it to the competition.

The Official selection can be seen here

The short is an unflinching look at the painful transition from childhood to the stark reality of adulthood. The story is simple in itself about a group of kids looking for some escapism, which has some terrible repercussions. Runar’s writing is filled with great observations and under his direction the teenagers turn out to be real characters, and not saturated by the nostalgic reminences of adulthood, as so often is the case. They drink, they long, they curse, have a rich and complicated inner life, yet they lack experience and the maturity to be fully independent individuals. Relatively inexperienced actors cast the main roles, but their portrayals are so emotionally mature and delicately nuanced in every longing glance and nervous tick, that watching them in their fragile roles transcends the experience of watching professional actors do the same.

Although the surroundings and story are completely different, thematically it is a companion piece to Runar’s award winning and Oscar nominated short, The Last Farm, where the main protagonist makes the ultimate sacrifice out of love. In that way, 2 Birds is a logical next step in the prolific collaboration between Runar and Zik Zak Filmworks and the second film in their Crossroad Trilogy.

Info sheet for 2 Birds

Original Title: Smáfuglar
English title: 2 Birds
Original language: Icelandic
Sub titled version: English
Type of film : Short
Genre : Drama
Year of production: 2008
Date of theatrical release in Iceland : 3. october 2008
Int. release: Official Selection Cannes 2008

Awards & Nominations
*Nominated for PALM D´OR at The Cannes Film Festival 2008
*Nominated for Best Short Film at The European Film Academy Award 6.des. 2008
*Best Fiction Film at XVIII MESSAGE TO MAN International Films Festival
*Canal+ award at The 23rd Cinema Jove Internacional Festival
*Prix UIP at The 62nd Edinburgh International Film Festival
*The Nisida Award at 15th Capalbio Cinema International Short Film Festival
*The Young Peoples Award at 15th Capalbio Cinema International Short Film Festival
*Best Creative Subject at 15th Capalbio Cinema International Short Film Festival
*Anthony Mingella Best Director Award
at SUPER SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2008
*Sasusfaction Best Drama Award
at SUPER SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2008
*Best Fiction at The Melbourne International Film Festival 2008
*The Best Short Film at DOKUFEST The 7th International Documentary and Short Film Festival In Kosova
*The Best International Film Award atThe 3rd Noci International Short Film Festival
*The Award of the Puglia Region at The 3rd Noci International Short Film Festival
*Second Prize of The 7th International Best of Short Film Festival 2008
*The Best Short Film at The 13th Milano Film Festival.
*Best Short Film at The 24th Warsaw Film Festival
*The Best International Short Film at The Cork Film Festival
*The Best International Fiction at
The 5th Curtocircuito Int. Film Festival at Santiago De Compostela
*Grand Prix du Conseil général de l’Essonne au court métrage at
10th Festival du cinéma européen en Essonne
*The Best Short Film at The Edda Awards 2008
The annual Icelandic film Academy awards.
*Prix du Jury Jeune at 23rd Brest European Short Film Festival
*Prix Européen France 2 at 23rd Brest European Short Film Festival
*Mention spéciale Prix Européen du Conseil Régional de Bretagne at 23rd Brest European Short Film Festival
*The Grand Prix for the Best Film at The 13th Siena International Short Film Festival
*The ‘Cecilio Paniagua’ award for The Best Photography at The Almería en Corto International Film Festival
*The Menzione Speciale CortoPress for Foreign Films at The Festival Pontino Del Cortometraggio
*Best International Short Film at The 25th Festival International du Film d'Amour de Mons
*Nominated For Menningar Verðlaun DV 2008
*The Second prize for The Best European Short Film at The Festival Europeu de Curtmetratges FEC Cambrils-Reus
*The Best Short Film at The The Northern Wave International Film Festival
*The NIFA Best Fiction at The 21st Minimalen Film Festival
*Grand Prix of The Jury at The Festival du Cinéma Européen de Lille
*The Grand Prize at The 13th REGARD –Saguenay International Short Film Festival
*The Best International Film at The 7th Wood Green International Short Film Festiva
*The Jury Award at The 18th Mamers en Mars European Film Festival
*The Youth Jury Prize-Caisse d'Epargne. at The 18th Mamers en Mars European Film Festival
*The Grand Prix de la meilleure création sonore at The Aubagne International Film Festival
*The “CRISTIAN NEMESCU“ BEST DIRECTING AWARD at The NexT Filmfestival 2009
*The Audience Award at The 9th Nice Film Festival
*The Student Jury Award at The 9th Nice Film Festival
*The Special Mention of The Press Jury at The 9th Nice Film Festival
*The Youth Jury´s Special Mention at The 21st Filmfest Dresden
*The Golden Horseman for The Klangmusikpreis at The 21st Filmfest Dresden
* The Prémio RTP2 Onda Curta at The Festival Internacional de Cinema Independente de Lisboa
*Grand Prix of The 12th Brussels Short Film Festival
*Best Director at The 6th Naoussa International Film Festival
*The Grand Prix, Tralci di Trevignano at The 15th La Cittadella del Corto
*BEST WORLD FILM at AsterFest 2009
* Best Director Award for at the Festival du Film de Cabourg 2009
Best Short Film at 17th edition of ARCIPELAGO - International Festival of Short Films and New Images
*Best Director Award at The TOFIFEST International Film Festival
*Best Short Film at The 10th Maremetraggio Short Film Festival
*Grand Prix of the 7th International Festival Signes de Nuit
*Best Film at The Mas Sorrir 4th International Festival of Short Films
*Best Actor Award at The 12th Festival Inventa un Film Lenola
*Best Director Award at The 12th Festival Inventa un Film Lenola
*Best International Fiction at The 10th Lucania Film Festival
*Audience Award at 5th Kinemastik Short Film Fest
*Off International - Volvo Grand Award at THE 10TH CIRCUITO OFF Venice International Short Film Festival
*Best film in the "Short Film Centering around Sexuality" category at The Festival of Short Minimalist Films Kota 2023
*Best Actor at The 4th Sapporo International Short Film Festival
*Best Director at The 4th Sapporo International Short Film Festival
*Best Fiction at The 1st Festival International du Film Court Persona - Evreux
*Grand Prix of The fifth Prague Short Film Festival

Director: Runar Runarsson
Script Writer: Runar Runarsson
Director of Photography: Sophia Olsson
Production Design: Haukur Karlsson
Orginal Score: Kjartan Sveinsson
Sound Design: Sylvester Holm
Editor: Jacob Schulsinger
Costumes: Hrafnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir
Producer: Thor S. Sigurjonsson, Skuli Fr. Malmquist. Hlin Johannesdottir,
Co.Producers: Grimar Jonsson , Caroline Schlüter
Production company: Zik Zak Filmworks
Tel: +354 5112019, Fax: +354 5113019
Production supported by: Icelandic Film Centre

Synopsis:
2 Birds takes place during one bright summer night and follows a group of young teenagers on a journey from innocence to adulthood. The main character is a timid boy who has a typical schoolboy crush on a girl his age, who happens to be a friend of his mate.
2 Birds are the second film of Runarsson’s Crossroad trilogy. The first one is the award winning and Oscar nominated short film The Last Farm.

Directors statement for 2 Birds

People at crossroads in their live interests me.
The questions they are confronted with , in balance with the choices they have.
I wanted to make a film about adolescents and love , a boy becoming a man.

Main Cast:
Atli Óskar Fjalarsson , Hera Hilmarsdóttir , Sigurður Jakob Helgason , Þórunn Jakobsdóttir
Theater print: 35mm
Running time: 15 minutes
Number of Reels: 1
Film Gauge: 1:1.85
Sound: Dolby SR

World Sales:
PREMIUM FILMS
130 rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris, France.
Ph: +33 1 42 770631. Fax: +33 1 44 540502.
Email: fred.joubaud@premium-films.com

Smáfuglar

Smáfuglar aka 2 Birds is a icelandic short film by the Oscar nominee Rúnar Rúnarsson that is in post production at the moment. Smáfuglar is produced by ZikZak Films.

Earlier cooperation between Rúnarsson and Zik Zak resulted in the award winning short film Síðasti bærinn aka The Last Farm.

Link to the films web page

More info will follow soon