NORDIC FILM MUSIC DAYS
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Gyða Valtýsdóttir - Harpa nominated 2020 for her score for Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon Mihkel​​

From the first day that I meet Gyda, 15 years ago,  I felt that she was a musical genius and I was just waiting for the right moment for us to collaborate. Filmmaking is a huge marathon and it was many years later when I had written this script Mihkel when I saw her again. By total accident I went to a concert by Gyda. There she was performing like a beautiful creature from a unknown planet, this was the sound and mood I had been looking for. I asked her after the concert if we could meet for a coffee, due to that I had a film coming up. I gave her the script, she liked it and then the real work began. It was wonderful to work with her, so amazing, she is a hard working composer full of beautiful ideas, and here we are today.

Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon, the director of Mihkel
„
The score of the film Mihkel  by Gyða Valtýsdóttir forms an integral part and can even be described as the lynchpin of the film. Gyða manages to create her own powerful sonic identity, which serves the story perfectly, while elevating the whole film. In a story based on dark and true events, the music adds to the film a more human and warmer feeling. Gyda also brilliantly succeeds with her music to build a bridge between the two worlds where the story takes place, Iceland and Estonia. 
​

Gyða Valtýsdóttir has been active as a musician since her early teens as a founding member of the experimental pop-group múm. Classically trained, Gyda has made music for films, installations, dance, among many other creative ventures, possessing a rare range of musical experiences which creates a unique alchemical compound. 
Her music emerges from the fluidity of time & genres,  disolving any bounderies by simply not sensing their existence. Her cello playing always inventive and highly personal, underlines a dignified craftsmanship while flirting with sensitivity & strength.
Her list of collaborators is extensive & includes a wide palette of  musician & other artist including Kronos Quartet, Aaron & Bryce Dessner, Josephine Foster, Damien Rice, Dustin O´Halloran, Colin Stetson, Jónsi, Kjartan Sveinsson & visual artist Ragnar Kjartansson, just to name few.
Her first solo album Epicycle came out in 2017 on figureight records & received prestigious prizes at the Iceland Music Awards. Epicycle is a constellation of written music spanning from ancient to avant garde. A year later she released her first album with her own work called Evolution. The record was nominated for the Nordic Music Prize & won “album of the year” at the Icelandic Music Awards. Gyða won the prestigous Nordic Council Prize in 2019 for her works.
Latest Works

2020 Epicycle II -  A unique collaboration with icelandic´s most compelling musicians
Previously won awards or award nominations
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Nordic Council Music Price 2019
Nordic Music Price Nomination for best album 2019
Best album Icelandic - Music Award 2017 & 2019
Best album artwork - Icelandic Music Award 2017
Harpa Award - Nordic Film Music,  nomination 2020
Edda - Film Music, nomination 2019
Best Film Score - Icelandic Music Award, nomination 2019
Learn More
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  • Nordic Film Music Days
    • Program 2025
  • NFMD 365
  • HARPA winners & nominees
    • 2025 HARPA NOMINEES
    • 2024 WHAT HAPPENED
    • 2023 WHAT HAPPENED
    • 2022 WHAT HAPPENED
    • 2021 WHAT HAPPENED
    • 2020 WHAT HAPPENED >
      • 2020 NFMD fotos
    • 2019 WHAT HAPPENED >
      • 2019 HARPA
      • 2019 NFMD fotos
      • 2019 composers
      • SPEAKERS & PANELISTS 2019
    • 2018 WHAT HAPPENED >
      • 2018 HARPA
      • 2018 NFMD
    • 2017 WHAT HAPPENED >
      • 2017 ...from Cannes
      • 2017 ... Seminars from Cannes
      • 2017 HARPA
      • 2017 Impressions from Cannes
  • Composers
    • DENMARK COMPOSER
    • ICELAND COMPOSER
    • FINLAND COMPOSER
    • NORWAY COMPOSER
    • SWEDEN COMPOSER
  • Press releases
  • Contact & partners
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