Icelander Sigurjon Fridrik Gardarson on Winning an Emmy

It is not every day that an Icelander takes home an Emmy. However,  compositing supervisor Sigurjon Fridrik Gardarson at Vancouver-based Stormborn Studios just did. Sigurjon and his team were awarded an Emmy for their visual effects work on Five Days at Memorial, the gripping Apple TV miniseries that dramatizes the real-life aftermath of Hurricane Katrina at a New Orleans hospital. In this round of Emmy’s Sigurjon and his team competed against heavy-hitters like Wednesday, Ted Lasso, and The Umbrella Academy.

Sigurjon’s journey through the world of digital effects spans over two decades and includes blockbuster films like The Hunger Games, Elysium, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and even cult TV hits like Trapped (starring Olafur Darri Olafsson) and Black Mirror.

Congratulations on the Emmy! How did it feel to win such a prestigious award?

Thank you! The team is both very excited and proud that our work was recognized with the Emmy Award. It really is a big team effort to bring the director´s vision to the screen, and it was thrilling to take part in telling this particular story.

Can you walk us through what exactly a “compositing supervisor” does, especially for a project as heavy and emotional as Five Days at Memorial?

A Compositing Supervisor is a senior role in the visual effects (VFX) pipeline, responsible for overseeing the compositing department and ensuring that all final visual elements come together seamlessly. Compositing is the stage where rendered 3D elements, live-action footage, matte paintings, effects (like fire, smoke, water), and other passes are integrated into the final image.

When working on projects like Five Days or The Penguin, it is essential that the visual effects are only there to help tell the story and not as a spectacle, as we don´t want to pull the audience out of an emotional story with unnecessary bells and whistles.

Video: Five Days at Memorial

Your career spans everything from LazyTown to Elysium, Trapped, and now Black Mirror and The Penguin. How has the VFX industry evolved since you first started out?

Things are moving a lot faster with really demanding deadlines. AI is also creeping up on us, and while many think it is threatening our industry, I believe it will find its place and become another tool in our arsenal.
Stormborn Studios is relatively small compared to industry giants.

What does it mean to you for a “little guy” studio to win an Emmy?

I think the second Emmy really proves that you can do a lot with a dedicated team of artists, even though the team is small. We like to tell people that Stormborn is a small studio that does big effects! You don´t have to be the biggest fish in the pond to get noticed.

What advice do you have for those who want to break into the industry?

Never give up! Learn all the basics, even in departments that don´t interest you. After all, because it is all a part of the same chain. Look into AI tools and how they can help. Network. Reach out even though a lot of the time there won´t be an answer.

Video: How VFX Transformed Five Days at Memorial

What are your favorite places and activities in Iceland?

The Westfjords are among my favorite places just because of the sheer beauty. I enjoy hiking and immersing myself in nature.

What advice do you have for those visiting Iceland for the first time?

Don´t try to do too much in a short period of time. If your stay is only a few days, don´t do the ring road. Focus on something smaller, as you won´t have time to enjoy everything Iceland has to offer. This way, you avoid sitting in the car for hours to see something for just 10 minutes.