AGAINST THE CURRENT, A Film by Óskar Páll Sveinsson
AGAINST THE CURRENT chronicles trans athlete Veiga Gretarsdottir, the first person to attempt kayaking over 2,000 kilometers around Iceland, counter-clockwise
Opens June 25, 2021 at Quad Cinema and Laemmle’s Monica in LA via Zeitgeist Films in association with Kino Lorber
Zeitgeist Films in association with Kino Lorber is proud to announce the new documentary film Against the Current, directed by Óskar Páll Sveinsson. An official selection of the 2020 Reykjavík International Film Festival, the film will open theatrically, with both virtual and in-theater engagements, starting June 25 in New York at the Quad Cinemas and in Los Angeles at Laemmle's Monica and a subsequent June and July release throughout the U.S.
How far do you have to travel to find yourself? And what sacrifices are you willing to make to get there? Veiga Grétarsdóttir is the first person in the world to attempt to kayak over 2,000 kilometers around Iceland, counter-clockwise and “against the current.” This achievement has been said to be comparable to climbing the mountain K2. Veiga’s personal journey is no less remarkable. She was born 44 years ago as a boy in a fishing village on the far west coast of Iceland. Veigar had a wife and family but decided that she could no longer live as a man, and at the age of 38, decided to undergo gender reassignment. The inner struggle for Veigar to become Veiga was a journey as difficult if not more so than the solo kayak expedition she undertakes. These two stories of conflict and struggle are intertwined as the film follows her amazing 103 day journey around Iceland, with the magical, rugged coastline of the country a backdrop to the story of Veiga’s transition.
“My vision was to intertwine these two heroic journeys into one film,” said director Óskar Páll Sveinsson. “I hope this film will raise awareness that some of us have to go to great lengths to find happiness and our true self, and also remind us not to judge too quickly, because everyone is unique in their own way.”
About the Director
Óskar Páll Sveinsson was born 1967 in Iceland, studied music and production and worked in the music industry for 20 years both as a songwriter and producer. After a successful career, including two number one hit singles in the UK and a top ten in the USA, he started taking filmmaking courses and soon started working full time in the film industry. Oskar now runs his own production company Yoda Film in Reykjavik and is mainly focused on documentary making.
Credits
Production Company: Klikk Productions, P/E Productions
Producers: Kristín Ólafsdóttir, Pétur Einarsson
Cinematographer & Director: Óskar Páll Sveinsson
Music: Högni Egilsson
Editor: Hrafn Jónsson
Story Advisor: Margrét Örnólfsdóttir
Sound Mix: Gunnar Árnason
Color Grading: Luis Ascanio
Graphics: Freymar Þorbergsson
Iceland - 2020 - 87 mins
https://zeitgeistfilms.com/film/againstthecurrent
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