SXSW

UK, Monday 19th February 2024 – Bjartsýn films are thrilled to announce that the Icelandic thriller Natatorium by first-time feature director Helena Stefánsdóttir will have its North American Premiere at SXSW on 8th March.

Natatorium is directed and written by Helena Stefánsdóttir produced by Sunna Gudnadóttir for Bjarstýn films and financed with support from the Icelandic Film Center and the Finnish Film Foundation. 

Natatorium follows eighteen-year-old Lilja who visits Áróra and Grímur, her estranged grandparents, in the city as she undergoes auditions for an international art performance group. When her father, Magnús and his younger sister Vala, two of Áróra's and Grimur's four children, find out about Lilja’s stay in the family house, a sense of panic arises. When the family gathers in the home to celebrate Lilja’s acceptance into the art group, a dark secret emerges, and soon a seemingly normal family celebration turns into a horrifying tragedy that nobody could have foreseen.

Director Helena Stefánsdóttir said: "To premiere Natatorium at SXSW is a great pleasure and a real honour. It's such a good feeling when one's work touches people in the way that the Natatorium seems to have touched SXSW, and I hope that the audience will also be equally as impressed.”

SXSW 8-16 March 2024

UK, Monday 19th February 2024 – Bjartsýn films are thrilled to announce that the Icelandic thriller Natatorium by first-time feature director Helena Stefánsdóttir will have its North American Premiere at SXSW on 8th March.

Natatorium is directed and written by Helena Stefánsdóttir produced by Sunna Gudnadóttir for Bjarstýn films and financed with support from the Icelandic Film Center and the Finnish Film Foundation. 

Natatorium follows eighteen-year-old Lilja who visits Áróra and Grímur, her estranged grandparents, in the city as she undergoes auditions for an international art performance group. When her father, Magnús and his younger sister Vala, two of Áróra's and Grimur's four children, find out about Lilja’s stay in the family house, a sense of panic arises. When the family gathers in the home to celebrate Lilja’s acceptance into the art group, a dark secret emerges, and soon a seemingly normal family celebration turns into a horrifying tragedy that nobody could have foreseen.

Director Helena Stefánsdóttir said: "To premiere Natatorium at SXSW is a great pleasure and a real honour. It's such a good feeling when one's work touches people in the way that the Natatorium seems to have touched SXSW, and I hope that the audience will also be equally as impressed.”

SXSW 8-16 March 2024