Tails of Iceland

The Percheron

April 1946 •French

This documentary is a true tribute to the Percheron, the superb draft horse. We talk about its origins, its characteristic traits, its performance in competitions and its value on the farm or for the heavy draft service in the cities.

Crossing Iceland

January 2015 •Slovenian

Jerome Josserand is a professional snow kiter. In 2007 he set the world record for the highest kite flight. It was 450 m above the ground. Jerome is in love with wind and its power to use it to mount high mountains. His home is a place called Col du Lautaret which is also his playground. On his way he found Iceland. He noticed that there is snow and wind all the time. And he thought:” What if I would cross Iceland from southern to northern Iceland in just one day, with just power of wind?” And so he did. Crossing Iceland in such winter conditions was extremely tough and demanding. He needed to be in great physical and psychical preparation. There was wind exceeding 80km/h, there was equipment failure at -25C while shooting the movie, there was snow and freezing Icelandic nature everywhere. Even though Jerome prepared himself well for this journey, in the end everything depends of the power of wind… The question is – did he succeed? Did he make his wish come true?

Iceland: Lost in the Desert

January 2024 •Lithuanian

13 years ago, they didn't know what it was like to cycle in a harsh country. What it means to be knocked off their feet by winds. What it's like to wade through cold glacial rivers. For Algirdas, Iceland was the start of his travels, which led to trips to Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, India, Namibia and countless other countries. After 13 years of wandering, he returns to Iceland to find that what once seemed the most spectacular, beautiful and perfect country is still the same. This time, not without a bike, but with the same uncertainty in his heart: after travelling the world, will Iceland still look like a fairy-tale land? Or has it changed into an unrecognisable land, trampled by tourists...? In this adventure documentary, Dagne, who is seeing Iceland for the first time, travels across the island's inner wilderness, searching for those untouched shards of beauty, and occasionally discovering themselves instead.

Winged Migration

December 2001 •French

This documentary follows various migratory bird species on their long journeys from their summer homes to the equator and back, covering thousands of miles and navigating by the stars. These arduous treks are crucial for survival, seeking hospitable climates and food sources. Birds face numerous challenges, including crossing oceans and evading predators, illness, and injury. Although migrations are undertaken as a community, birds disperse into family units once they reach their destinations, and every continent is affected by these migrations, hosting migratory bird species at least part of the year.

Roping Wild Bears

February 1934 •English

Wild bears that bother livestock are captured with ropes and shipped to zoos.

For the Love of the Mustang

October 2017 •German

Three trainers help acclimate mustangs to their new life in Europe as part of an effort to shed light on the plight of this mighty American horse.

Africa's Wild West

January 2015 •English

Some 150 wild horses live in an expanse of desert, grassland and rock along Namibia’s west coast - a ‘Forbidden Zone’ rife with ghost towns.

De caballos y guitarras

March 2024 •Spanish

A musical, and also a reflection on watching, on trying to escape an anthropocentric gaze and also on watching itself in cinema. Featuring mares and horses: Triana, Víctor K, Bambi Sailor, San Special Solano, Buck Red Skin, Onkaia, Cool Boy, the donkey Agostino, the mule Guapa. And also Alfredo Lagos, Raül Refree, María Marín, Pepe Habichuela, Virgina García del Pino, María García Ruiz, Pilar Monsell, María Pérez Sanz.

Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge

October 1888 •

A film by Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince, shot in late October 1888, showing pedestrians and carriages crossing Leeds Bridge.

Investigation Into the Invisible World

October 2002 •French

A feature length documentary shot in Iceland on mediums and the relationship between humans and invisible beings such as elves ghosts, angels, water monsters and extra-terrestrials. The film is a journey to the frontiers of life questioning the scope of our existence. Are we alone in the universe? If life exists in other dimensions, it's worth knowing more.

Glamador

March 1958 •French

Fafai, a young boy, lives with his grandfather on the island of Glamador in the Camargue. To help the old man who can no longer work, Fafai finds a job as a caretaker. He must tame wild horses. But during a storm, they escape and swim to the island of Glamador. Fafai leaves for the island to bring back the herd... Glamador is none other than the island on which Folco and Crin-Blanc end up arriving after their escape, told in Crin-Blanc. This film is the sequel to “Crin Blanc”.

The Horse with the Human Mind

October 1946 •English

This short film focuses on Bess, considered to be the smartest horse in the movies, as she works with her trainer.

Iceland

September 2004 •English

an unforgettable journey across the Icelandic landscape as mixing live action and pixilation to produce an enchanting, timeless short film. Shot on Kodachrome Super 8mm in western, northern, eastern and southen Iceland including interior Iceland in late summer 2004. Dedicated to Buddy King Leiser.

20,000 Miles on a Horse

April 2007 •English

This Feature documentary is about the lives of Louis Brunke and Vladimir Fissenko who rode on horseback from the southern tip of Argentina to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. It took them five years to cross 14 countries -- and they filmed it all.

A Dangerous Boy

Invalid date •English

Sigurdur Thordarson, known as Siggi, becomes a hacker at 12, exposing Icelandic bank corruption at 14. Branded the "teenage whistleblower," he joins WikiLeaks in 2010, mentored by Julian Assange. Siggi leaks globally, but clashes with Assange, prompting him to spy for the FBI at 18. This tale weaves paranoia, hacking, and friendship, portraying Siggi's turbulent journey from trust to betrayal, revealing a heart-wrenching coming-of-age narrative.

Last Dance

January 2019 •English

Half Elf

September 2020 •Icelandic

A lighthouse keeper prepares his earthly funeral while trying to reconnect with his inner elf. Hulda and Trausti have shared a roof on the Icelandic coast for over seventy years. Her love of books is matched by his love of stones. When he tells her he wants to change his name to Elf she warns him that the family will reject him. Now, as his one hundredth birthday nears and Trausti senses the hand of death upon him, he is searching for an elf’s coffin…

Tiverton Canal Co. 50th Anniversary

April 2024 •English

A short documentary comemmorating 50 years of the Tiverton Canal Co. operating on the Grand Western Canal in Tiverton, Devon.

Seabiscuit: The Lost Documentary

November 2003 •English

Made in 1939 by Seabiscuit's owner Charles Howard. This inspirational film chronicles Seabiscuit's life from birth, through training, and the legendary match race with War Admiral.

The Ring Road

March 1985 •Icelandic

Experimental film of a trip around Iceland, filmed on the circular highway with a wide angle lens camera registering one frame every 12 seconds.