LazyTown turns twenty this year, and in that time a lot has happened. In these two decades (1994-2014), LazyTown has gone from being an idea on paper to establishing itself as a brand of health and entertainment, moving children all over the world.
Although today LazyTown not only produces television content but also plays, books, music and participates in health initiatives with governments around the world, its success is based on the pillars of the television series, an Icelandic ingenuity that was implemented by Icelandic filmmakers. Series that have been nominated for and received major international recognition, including BAFTA, EMMY and Edda awards, and have become a well-known brand that reaches 500 million homes in 170 countries.
Unfortunately, film and television production in the country is under attack. The current budget proposal proposes significant cuts to film production, which has a significant impact on television production. Since LazyTown was first established in 1994, it has created hundreds of jobs in Iceland and played a major role in the development and strengthening of the Icelandic film industry, including by operating a film studio in Garðabær since 2004.
The individuals who have worked for the company have received training and knowledge in the fields of computer visual processing, technical filming, sound, costume design, set design, to name a few. Many took their first steps in this industry in Iceland at LazyTown. Many of them still work on domestic production with great enthusiasm and have carved out a place for themselves among the leading filmmakers in the world. The numerous foreign film projects that come here are a testament to this.
A celebration in the shadow of budget cuts
Without the support of the Ministry of Industry, LazyTown would never have been produced in Iceland, and the benefits that have accrued from the project in the form of knowledge, income and secondary jobs would not have returned to the country. For 20 years, Lazy Town has created an average of over 100 full-time jobs or secondary jobs, and in the last two and a half years, 4.5 billion ISK has entered the Icelandic economy through the production of the episodes. This is one of the largest foreign investments in Iceland during this period. Although it has been shown with unequivocal research results that the creative industries return many times more than is proposed by the state, the industry, which plays a major role in Icelandic business and cultural life and is the most active cultural medium of our time, is still being squeezed.
In the shadow of budget cuts, the Icelandic Film and Television Academy is holding its festival, the Edda. Just as it was important for us in LazyTown to receive the support of the Ministry of Industry, we also benefited from being nominated for the Edda Award when we took our first steps. We are very proud to have won the honorary award of the ÍKSA (Icelandic Film and Television Academy) at the time, and LazyTown was able to take advantage of the momentum that the award provides. Last year, the third series about the life in LazyTown was released and the episodes have already been sold to over 120 countries. LazyTown is the most-watched Icelandic television series of all time, so it is only natural that we leave the springboard that Edda can be to others, and we have therefore decided not to enter the Edda selection.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have contributed to the production of the LazyTown series over the years, wish all the participants of the Edda good luck at the upcoming festival, and I would like to believe that all the newcomers sitting in parliament and in ministerial positions will see the undeniable benefits of supporting the industry and will reconsider their contributions to Icelandic filmmaking.
Posted By
Singer María Ólafsdóttir puts on her pink wig because she will soon be playing the role of Stephanie. María is very excited about the role. "I find it very fun and a great honor to jump into this role of Stephanie," says singer María Ólafsdóttir, who will soon be playing the role of Stephanie in the Icelandic LazyTown live shows. Most people know María after she sang for Iceland in the ...
A new play about the adventures of LazyTown will be staged at the National Theatre this year (2014). In this new play - Ævintýri í Latabæ - written by Magnús Scheving and Ólafur S.K. Þorvaldz, all the main characters of LazyTown are present, along with a few...
Guðmundur Þór Kárason: "I grew up in the center of Reykjavík and spent a lot of time with my grandmother, Guðrún, on Sóleyjargata, along with my cousins. There I found an outlet for my creativity, as my grandmother was always encouraging me and helping me w...
Melkorka Davíðsdóttir Pitt was chosen from a whole host of talented girls to play Stephanie in the next LazyTown play at the National Theatre and she is looking forward to putting on the pink wig. This 16-year-old actress and dancer could hardly be a better role...