The six part drama about a women’s prison was initiated by Versturport actresses Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir and Unnur Ösp Stefánsdóttir who are producing alongside Mystery Production’s Davíð Óskar Ólafsson and Árni Filippusson (Either Way). 

The TV show tells the story of Linda who is sent to serve time in Iceland’s only women’s prison for a vicious assault that leaves her father in a coma. No-one knows that she harbours a dark secret that could tear her family apart, a secret that could also secure her freedom. 

Filippusdóttir and Stefánsdóttir are among the stellar female cast including Þorbjörg Helga Þorgilsdóttir (Metalhead), Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir (Case) and Iceland’s grand lady Kristbjörg Kjeld (Sparrows, Mamma Gogo). BAFTA winner Valdís Óskarsdóttir (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) is editing.

The series co-financed by RUV, the Icelandic Film Centre, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the Ministry of Industries and Innovation was pre-sold to DR, NRK, SVT, YLE and Canal + Poland. 

Producer Davíð Óskar Ólafsson told nordiskfilmogtvfond.com: “When Nina and Unnur came and pitched Prisoners to us we saw a series with the potential of becoming a milestone in Icelandic TV making and had great potential of becoming an international hit. The interest that we have gotten on the script and the whole package is beyond our expectations and we are just starting our journey.”

Prisoners will start filming on May 6, 2016. Delivery date is set for the end of the year. 

Two questions to Ragnar Bragason:
How long have you been researching the project and what is your vision?
RB: The originators of the project, actresses Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir and Unnur Ösp Stefánsdóttir started to look into the conditions of mothers in prison seven years ago. They visited the women’s prison number of times and did interviews with both inmates and staff. I soon got on board and we started talking about doing a TV series. The final piece of the puzzle was in place a few years later when writer Margrét Örnólfsdóttir joined the team.

Prisoners is a contemporary drama told from a female point of view in a male dominant world, be it in prison, the judicial system or politics. It is a story of abuse, of silencing. The series reflects upon a matter that for too long has been systematically kept under the radar. With our story we aim to confront this issue, with integrity and courage. One of the things that makes Prisoners stand out is the fact that it has a strong gallery of female characters in the forefront, women of different ages and from various layers of society. It is not a typical crime series even though it evolves around a central crime that sets the story in motion. It is first and foremost a family drama.”

Will it have the same raw feeling as your films Parents/Children that you made with Nina Dögg Filippusdóttir?
RB: Yes, it will have things in common with those earlier features. Children and Parents were made at the height of the economic boom in Iceland, a period of time when a large part of the population had lost touch with reality. With those films we wanted to dig under the surface, point out that there were things seriously wrong in our society. Both films were character based and had a naturalistic feel. I aim to re-visit that tone in the series, to create something that is honest and dramatic at the same time. As in my previous works, I will spend a lot of time with the actors in development. Through improvisation and research, the characters will be fleshed out until each actor gains a deep knowledge and feeling for them. This will affect the story and add new layers of detail and truth.”