Grandma Lo-fi: The Basement Tapes of Sigrídur Níelsdóttir

At the tender age of 70 she started recording and releasing her own music straight from the living room. Seven years later she had 59 albums to her name with more than 600 songs – an eccentric myriad of catchy compositions mixing in her pets, found toys, kitchen percussion and a Casio keyboard.

Sigríður Níelsdóttir is her name, and before long the Icelandic/Danish musician and visual artist became an adored cult figure in the Icelandic music scene, represented here by her young apprentices Mugison, múm, and Sin Fang of Seabear who pay tribute to the grandma’s irresistibly catchy, yet eccentric pop tunes.

Shot mostly on Super-8 and 16mm, Grandma Lo-fi was created over a period of seven years by three musicians and debuting directors, capturing the most productive period in the life of Sigríður Níelsdóttir. In many ways Sigríður is like a cartoon character. Poetic moves such as taking in broken-winged pigeons that in return sing along to her tunes, or transforming a cream whisk into a helicopter, all call for animated sequences that bridge the obscure space between her exemplary imagination and a delightfully peculiar everyday existence.

Grandma Lo-fi is a cinematic tribute to an amazing musician and to her boundless creativity.

Crew

Directed by

Orri Jónsson, Kristín Björk Kristjánsdóttir, Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir
Screenplay

Orri Jónsson, Kristín Björk Kristjánsdóttir, Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir
Editor

Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir, Orri Jónsson
Music Composer

Sigríður Níelsdóttir
Producer

Sæmundur Norðfjörð
Co-Producer

Louise Höjgaard Johansen
Camera

Kristín Björk Kristjánsdóttir, Orri Jónsson, Magnús Helgason, Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir
Sound Design

Kjartan Kjartansson

About the film

Type

Documentary
National Premiere Date

March 30, 2012, Bíó Paradís
International Premiere Date

November 5, 2011, Cinemateket, Copanhagen
Genre

Music
Length

62 min.
Language

Icelandic, Danish
Original Title

Amma Lo-fi: Kjallaraspólur Sigríðar Níelsdóttur
International Title

Grandma Lo-fi: The Basement Tapes of Sigrídur Níelsdóttir
Production Year

2011
Production Countries

Iceland, Denmark
Website

http://www.grandmalofi.is
Icelandic Film Centre Grant

Yes
Production Format

Super 8mm, 16mm, Digital
Aspect Ratio

4:3
Color

Yes
Sound

Mono
Screening format and subtitles

Blu Ray w/English subtitles

Cast

Main Cast

Sigríður Níelsdóttir (as herself)
Supporting Cast

Örvar Smárason (as himself), Sin Fang Bous (as himself), Mr. Silla (as herself), Gunnar Örn Tynes (as himself), Hildur Guðnadóttir (as herself), Kría Brekkan (as herself), Mugison (as himself)

Company Credits

Production Company

Republik Film Productions
Co-Production Company

Killit Productions
Supported by

Icelandic Film Centre

Festivals

2018
Ciranda de Filmes
2015
Nordisk Panorama - Isländskt Retrospektiv, Malmö
2014
Scandinavian House NY
2013
Edduverðlaunin / Edda Awards - Award: Nominated for documentary of the year.
2013
Nordic Lights Film Festival (Nordic Heritage Museum), Seattle, USA
2013
Gothenburg International Film Festival, Sweden
2012
Flatpack Festival, UK
2012
Exposed Festival for First Films, Cologne, Germany
2012
REC Festival Internacional de Cinema de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain
2012
Nordisk Panorama, Shorts and Documentaries Film Festival, Finland
2012
Gimli Film Festival, Canada
2012
Helsinki International Film Festival, Finland
2012
South by Southwest, Texas, USA
2012
MoMa/Documentary Fortnight, New York
2012
Ambulante Mexioco Documentary Travelling Film Festival
2012
Rotterdam International Film Festival, Netherlands
2012
Bafici Festival, Buenos Aires
2012
Festival Air d'Islande, France
2012
IndieLisboa Portugal, International Independent Film Festival, Portugal
2012
Docaviv Film Festival, Israel
2012
Norwegian Short Film Festival, Grimstad, Norway
2012
Open City Loncon Documentary Festival, UK
2012
Sheffield DOC/FEST, Sheffield, UK
2011
CPH: DOX - Award: Best International Music Film.