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
-
Screenplay
-
Editor
-
Music Composer
-
Producer
-
Co-Producer
-
Camera
-
Sound Design
About the film
-
TypeDocumentary
-
National Premiere DateMarch 30, 2012, Bíó Paradís
-
International Premiere DateNovember 5, 2011, Cinemateket, Copanhagen
-
GenreMusic
-
Length62 min.
-
LanguageIcelandic, Danish
-
Original TitleAmma Lo-fi: Kjallaraspólur Sigríðar Níelsdóttur
-
International TitleGrandma Lo-fi: The Basement Tapes of Sigrídur Níelsdóttir
-
Production Year2011
-
Production CountriesIceland, Denmark
-
Website
-
Icelandic Film Centre GrantYes
-
Production FormatSuper 8mm, 16mm, Digital
-
Aspect Ratio4:3
-
ColorYes
-
SoundMono
-
Screening format and subtitlesBlu Ray w/English subtitles
Cast
-
Main CastSigríður Níelsdóttir (as herself)
-
Supporting CastÖrvar 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
-
Co-Production Company
-
Supported by
Festivals
- 2018Ciranda de Filmes
- 2015Nordisk Panorama - Isländskt Retrospektiv, Malmö
- 2014Scandinavian House NY
- 2013Edduverðlaunin / Edda Awards - Award: Nominated for documentary of the year.
- 2013Nordic Lights Film Festival (Nordic Heritage Museum), Seattle, USA
- 2013Gothenburg International Film Festival, Sweden
- 2012Flatpack Festival, UK
- 2012Exposed Festival for First Films, Cologne, Germany
- 2012REC Festival Internacional de Cinema de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain
- 2012Nordisk Panorama, Shorts and Documentaries Film Festival, Finland
- 2012Gimli Film Festival, Canada
- 2012Helsinki International Film Festival, Finland
- 2012South by Southwest, Texas, USA
- 2012MoMa/Documentary Fortnight, New York
- 2012Ambulante Mexioco Documentary Travelling Film Festival
- 2012Rotterdam International Film Festival, Netherlands
- 2012Bafici Festival, Buenos Aires
- 2012Festival Air d'Islande, France
- 2012IndieLisboa Portugal, International Independent Film Festival, Portugal
- 2012Docaviv Film Festival, Israel
- 2012Norwegian Short Film Festival, Grimstad, Norway
- 2012Open City Loncon Documentary Festival, UK
- 2012Sheffield DOC/FEST, Sheffield, UK
- 2011CPH: DOX - Award: Best International Music Film.
Television distribution
-
IcelandRÚV, 2012
Cinema distribution
-
IcelandBíó Paradís, 2012