Mikael Torfason (born 8 August 1974) is an
Icelandic novelist, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and director.
He has written seven novels, published in
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its ...
,
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark
, establishe ...
,
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bo ...
,
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...
and
Lithuania. He has also written for film and theatre. In 2002 he directed his first feature film and he has also been
editor-in-chief
An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies.
The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...
of Iceland's biggest newspapers.
About
Mikael was born in
Reykjavik in 1974. He started is journalist career in 1996 as a columnist at Helgarpósturinn. He was as a journalist at
Dagblaðið Vísir
''DV'' (''Dagblaðið Vísir'') is an online newspaper in Iceland published by Torg ehf. It came into existence as a daily newspaper in 1981 when two formerly independent newspapers, Vísir and Dagblaðið, merged.
Early on it was one of the ...
(DV) and later its editor. Following his stay at DV, he was editor-in-chief at Birtingur and
Fréttablaðið
''Fréttablaðið'' ( en, The Newspaper) is a free Icelandic newspaper. It is distributed five days per week.
History and profile
''Fréttablaðið'' was established in 2001. It was originally owned primarily by the media group ''365''. The paper ...
.
He has written several novels, all published in Iceland and some have traveled in Europe; translated into Germany, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Lithuanian. Mikael also wrote and directed the feature film Made in Iceland (Gemsar). The film was very well received in Iceland, and traveled the film festival, and got nominated as Best Picture in Scandinavia in 2002.
''
Lost in Paradise'' (''Týnd í Paradís'') is Mikael's latest book. His fourth novel, Samuel, was nominated for The
Icelandic Literature Prize The Icelandic Literary Prize ( Icelandic: ''Íslensku bókmenntaverðlaunin''), or Icelandic Literary Award, is an award which is given to three books each year by the Icelandic Publishers Association. The prize was founded on the association's cent ...
and his third novel,
The Worlds Stupidest Dad
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...
, was nominated for The
Nordic Literature Prize in Scandinavia as well as the
DV Literature Prize
DV refers to a family of codecs and videotape, tape formats used for storing digital video, launched in 1995 by a consortium of camcorder, video camera manufacturers led by Sony and Panasonic. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, DV was strongly ...
.
Mikael has also written for theatre, and his plays have had great success in Iceland, Norway, Germany and the US. As a journalist he has worked in radio, TV, and been editor-in-chief for two of the three big newspapers in Iceland, as well as being
executive director
Executive director is commonly the title of the chief executive officer of a non-profit organization, government agency or international organization.
The title is widely used in North American and European not-for-profit organizations, thoug ...
for the largest magazine
media company
Mass media refers to a diverse array of media technologies that reach a large audience via mass communication. The technologies through which this communication takes place include a variety of outlets.
Broadcast media transmit information e ...
in Iceland.
In 2013, the film Falskur fugl, based on Mikael's first book, premiered in
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its ...
. He was one of the writers of the
drama
Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...
miniseries
A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format ...
Blackport, along with
Gísli Örn Garðarsson
Gísli Örn Garðarsson (born 15 December 1973) is an Icelandic actor and director. He is one of the founders of Vesturport, a theatre and film company based in Reykjavík, and is also sometimes a scriptwriter and producer. Before focusing on ac ...
and
Björn Hlynur Haraldsson
Björn Hlynur Haraldsson (born 8 December 1974) is an Icelandic actor and director. Björn was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, and graduated from the Icelandic Arts Academy in 2001. He co-founded the theatre company Vesturport the same year. In spri ...
.
Bibliography
*BRÉF TIL MÖMMU (A LETTER TO MY MOTHER) Memoir – 2019
*SYNDAFALLIÐ (FALL OF MANKIND) Memoir – 2017
*TÝND Í PARADÍS (LOST IN PARADISE) Memoir – 2015
*VORMENN ÍSLANDS (MADE IN ICELAND) Novel – 2009
*SAMÚEL (SAMUEL) Novel – 2002
*HEIMSINS HEIMSKASTI PABBI (WORLD'S DUMBEST DAD) Novel – 2000
*SAGA AF STÚLKU (STORY OF A GIRL) Novel – 1998
*FALSKUR FUGL (BLACK BIRD) Novel – 1997
Plays
*''DIE EDDA''* (THE EDDA) - City Theater in Hannover 2018
*''GUÐ BLESSI ÍSLAND''* (GOD BLESS ICELAND) - City Theater 2017
*''ENEMY OF THE DUCK''* National Theatre in Oslo 2016
*''NJÁLA''* (THE STORY OF BURNT NJAL) - City Theater 2015
*''SÍÐUSTU DAGAR KJARVALS'' (KJARVAL’S LAST DAYS) – Radio Theater 2015
*''HARMSAGA'' (TRAGEDY) – Icelandic National Theater 2013
*''HINN FULLKOMNI MAÐUR'' (THE PERFECT MAN) – City Theater 2002
*(written in collaboration with director Thorleifur Orn Arnarsson)
Films
*Falskur fugl – 2013
*Gemsar – 2002
Series
*
Blackport - 2021-2022 (script)
Journalism
*Editor-in-chief (director of 365 News) – 2013–2014
*Editor-in-chief at ''
Fréttatíminn''. A national newspaper in Iceland – 2012
*Editor-in-chief at Birtingur publishing house – 2006–2007
*Project manager at 365 Media Denmark. Starting a new newspaper (Nyhedsavisen) – 2006
*Editor-in-chief at ''Dagbladid'', a national newspaper in Iceland – 2003–2006
*Editor-in-chief of ''Focus'', a cultural weekly in Iceland – 1998–2000
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torfason, Mikael
1974 births
Living people
Mikael Torfason
Mikael Torfason