Guðni Líndal Benediktsson

Writer/Director

AGENT

Christina Pickworth
+44(0)7876 685515

Guðni is a London-based Writer/Director from Iceland.

Along with having an unpronounceable name, he has created several short films and published nine books for children in Iceland. His feature screenplay FABLED, along with the TV series ICELAND, WORST OF ALL, have been optioned by Zik Zak Filmworks and are currently in various states of development.

Guðni is an experienced writer for children but has a deep passion for horror and fantasy. Dark, Scandinavian humour is never far away in his screenplays, the kind that makes you wonder if you should be laughing or not.

Guðni has taken part in Reykjavik International Film Festival Talent Lab, Cinekid Script Lab and Cinekid Co-production Market. Recently, he received development funding for a feature titled STUCK from Screen Scotland, production funding for a short film titled VESTIGE from BFI and development funding for a feature titled FABLED from The Icelandic Film Centre.

In the last year, Guðni has developed several features, two short films and a TV series.

IN DEVELOPMENT

ICELAND, WORST OF ALL
(writer)
Dark comedy, 30 min episodes. A series following Eiríkur, a peasant in 17th century Iceland, and his attempts to use forbidden magic to improve his miserable life while being trodden upon by the government, the church and the country itself.

UNDERCURRENT
(writer)
Sci-fi horror. 90mins. Directed by Joseph Simmons. Following the disappearance of his father, a troubled teenage is sent to visit his grandfather on a remote island. But after discovering a mysterious fossil on the beach, the family are dragged into a twisted search to reveal the island’s true secrets in order to save themselves.

STUCK
(writer)
Family adventure/mystery feature film. In development with Pirate Productions and Screen Scotland.

FABLED
(writer)
Adventure feature film about Icelandic folklore and magic. In development with Zik Zak Productions.

TROLL
(writer)
Sci-fi horror feature film about trolls in the Icelandic highlands.

HERALD
(writer)
Sci-fi horror. Short film to be directed by Joseph Simmons. In a distant future, Mars is mined for its resources by humans. When an astronaut stumbles upon a cave full of living ore, his mind and body are changed forever. His discovery must be shared with the rest of humanity, by any means necessary.

GHILLIE DHU
(writer)
Dark comedy to be directed by Neill Prentice. Ghillie Dhu is a surreal dead-pan comedy set in the Scottish highlands, about a young man who must find and kill a mythical creature if he is to marry the girl he loves.


SHORT FILM

KRAMPUSS
(writer/director)
Horror for kids. 8 mins. On Christmas Eve, an Icelandic family comes face to face with the Yule Cat, a ravenous creature of folklore hungry for those who didn’t get clothes for Christmas. The film has played at over 20 festivals including Screamfest, Nordisk Panorama and Days of the Dead.
*WINNER Best Screenplay, Children Cinema Awards
*WINNER Best Screenplay, Kids International Family Film Festival
*WINNER Best Thriller, European Short Film Festival
*WINNER Best Horror, The Fantasy Film Festival
*WINNER Incredible Cinematography, Screen It International Film Festival
*WINNER Best Stunts, Days of the Dead International Film Festival Indianapolis
*WINNER Best Overall Film, Fallbrook Bonsall International Film Festival
*WINNER Best Big Cat Film, Fortean Film Festival

VESTIGE
(writer)
Sci-fi horror. Short film funded by BFI and to be directed by Joseph Simmons. A young boy who has lost his father. An old man seeking a connection with his grandson. A supernatural discovery that might provide them both with the answers they crave. The film has played at a number of festivals including Frightfest and FilmQuest.

DONOR
(writer/director)
Thriller, 8 mins. A young woman awakes in an unfamiliar hospital after an unwanted surgery. Terrified and alone, she tries to escape.

SKINNY
(writer)
Dark comedy, 6 mins. Directed by Sölmunder Ísak. A young woman obsessed with calories takes the audience through her rigorous routine for staying in shape, which may include cannibalism and murder.

STAY
(writer)
Drama, 11 mins. Directed by Neill Prentice. Two young brothers break into a rural cabin, hoping to steal a bow and arrow from a man they believe to be the mythical creature Cupid.

A DAY AT THE OFFICE
(writer)
Comedy, 7 mins. Directed by Neill Prentice. When unknown terrorists threaten to blow up the office, hyper-masculine alpha-male boss Roger Hawthorne presents an unsuspecting intern with a bizarre choice: Kiss or die.

THE GAS
(writer)
Comedy, 2 mins. Directed by Alex Da Kouk. With minutes to spare before a deadly gas kills everyone, a couple must make a difficult choice.

IBIZA
(writer/director)
Comedy, 15 mins. A group of misfits join forces to rob a bank, only to discover they are all completely unqualified for the job.

THAT ONE NIGHT
(writer)
Romantic comedy, 16 mins. Directed by Magnus Kr. Gudmundsson. A man enlists the help of his best female friend to help him prepare for the perfect date, a mission that quickly loses its charm.

NOCTURNE
(writer/director)
Thriller, 15 mins. A man wakes up bound and gagged in a dark cellar, held captive by a dark figure from his past. If he is to escape alive, he must learn to take responsibility for his actions.

NO HOMO
(writer/director)
Comedy, 16 mins. A young man takes drastic action to deal with his best friend’s unexpected homosexuality, effectively planning the gayest party ever.

REQUIEM
(writer/director)
Action, 7 mins. An agile thief breaks into a den of ninjas to retrieve a valuable necklace. Bullets, fists and parkour are sure to follow.

CONGRATULATIONS
(writer/director)
Comedy, 3 mins. A birthday party goes out of control because of an unexpected complication. Hilarity ensues. So does violence.

STORM
(writer/director)
Drama, 14 mins. A dramatic and particularly stylised tale of an average man who has an accident that makes him doubt the very meaning of life.

ONE SHOT
(writer/director)
Comedy, 15 mins. Two nerdy friends decide to play Russian roulette to take care of their financial problems. Before long, the weight of their darkest secrets threatens to crush them both.


ONLINE

THE BLACK BLIZZARD
(writer)
Comedy web series, 35 mins. Directed by Arnar Benjamín Kristjánsson. After gaining superpowers from the bite of a sheep, a reclusive weirdo knits a costume to fight Icelandic crime. He must juggle the onslaught of the evil Facebooker, the advances of his sweet neighbour and the complexities of his Inflatable girlfriend.

ADVENTURES OF ONLINE DATING
(writer/director)
A romantic 3 part web series following the adventures of a heartbroken nerd trying to find love on the internet in a world before dating apps.


PODCAST

A BALD OPINION
(producer/host)
A light-hearted podcast where two young filmmakers journey through the strange world of films based on video games, in an attempt to discover what makes a good adaptation.


NOVELS

SOONER AND LATER
(writer)
A fantastical time-travel YA novel. Published by Bokabeitan, Iceland’s largest independent publisher of children’s books.

THE HOUND WITH THE HAT 1 & 2
(writer)
A mysterious detective series. Published by Bokabeitan.

THE GIRL WHO… 1, 2 & 3
(writer)
A trilogy of hilarious picture books. Published by Bokabeitan.

IT CAME FROM THE NORTH
(writer)
A horror novel for teens to be taught in every school in Iceland in the fall of 2020. Commission by The Icelandic Directorate of Education.

THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF GRANDPA 1 & 2
(writer)
A surreal fantasy YA novel published by Forlagio, the largest publisher inIceland. Followed by a sequel.
*WINNER Icelandic Children’s Book Prize 2014.


NARRATIVE

LOCKED IN EDINBURGH – ESCAPE ROOMS
(head of narrative design)
Immersive narratives and puzzles of Edinburgh’s highest rated Escape Rooms on TripAdvisor: THE CUTTING ROOM and THE SECRET LAB.

BOX ISLAND
(video game developer)
Head of narrative and character development for award winning educational adventure game BOX ISLAND, designed to teach children coding.