Júlíus Kemp


Júlíus Kemp is an Icelandic film director and producer.

Biography

Kemp studied film at the West Surrey College of Art & Design in the United Kingdom. During his time there, he created the short film Happy Birthday in 1991. Kemp left WSCAD to work as an editor on Children of Nature, directed by Fridrik Thor Fridriksson. In 1991, he co-founded the Icelandic Film Company. He co-wrote and directed his first feature film, Veggfóður erótísk ástarsaga, which was produced by Fridriksson and Kemp.

Career

From 1993 to 2000, Kemp served as the director of the Reykjavík International Short Film Festival. During this period, he also worked as a film critic, was a member of the selection committee for the Reykjavík Film Festival, and served on the Association of Icelandic Film Producers board. Kemp has been a member of the European Film Academy since 2001.
In addition to his work in film, Kemp has directed music videos. His short film Bardinn won second prize at the Nordic Short Film Festival in 1982 and first prize at the Reykjavík Short Film Festival the same year. His short film Ak-Rek-Ak received second prize at the Akureyri Short Film Festival in 1987.
In 1997, Kemp directed the film Blossi/810551, which was selected as the Icelandic entry for the 1998 Academy Awards. In 1998, his short film, The Happy End, was selected in competition at the Toronto International Short Film Festival.
In 2000, Kemp produced and shot The Icelandic Dream, which received four nominations at the Edda Awards, including Best Picture. The film competed for Best Nordic Film at the Gothenburg Film Festival 2001 and was featured in the official selections of several international festivals, including Edinburgh, Toronto, and Pusan.
In 2002, Kemp collaborated again with Icelandic Dream director, Robert I. Douglas, to produce the film Man like me, A, starring Icelandic comedian Jón Gnarr and Hong Kong actress/pop singer Stephanie Che.

Awards

Kemp’s short film Bardinn won second prize at the Nordic Short Film Festival in 1982 and first prize at the Reykjavík Short Film Festival the same year. His short film Ak-Rek-Ak received second prize at the Akureyri Short Film Festival in 1987.

Selected filmography

Producer

Director

Actor

  • 1992 – Veggfóður: Erótísk ástarsaga
  • 2002 – ''A Man Like Me''

Writer

  • 1992 – ''Veggfóður: Erótísk ástarsaga''

Cinematographer

Editor