The former Head of TV and Drama at RÚV talks to NFTVF about his past and future efforts to strengthen the Nordic industry.

Skybound Entertainment, the American multimedia entertainment company, appoints Skarphéðinn Guðmundsson as the new CEO of its Icelandic production company Sagafilm, succeeding Þór Tjörvi Þórsson.

Guðmundsson was the Head of TV and Drama at the Icelandic public service company RÚV for 12 years. He has also served as a member of the NFTVF Board of Directors 2020-2022, and as Deputy Board Member 2023-2024.

As Guðmundsson reflects on how he has worked at RÚV to strengthen the Nordic industry, he describes his guiding compass as celebrating, protecting, and championing the unique voice of Nordic storytelling.

“This hasn’t been a sprint, but rather a marathon of persistence, collaboration, and strategic patience. And yet, when you see a homegrown Nordic series capturing hearts in distant corners of the world — that’s when it all makes sense.”

He highlights the cross-border alliances Nordvision, N12, and New8 as cornerstones of this success.

“I’ve long believed our real competitive edge lies in our ability to collaborate deeply, not just across public broadcasters, but also with the wealth of talent in our independent production companies. In an era when co-production is king, unity has become our superpower.”

Guðmundsson is no stranger to Sagafilm, having collaborated with them numerous times over the years. That’s why the new role “feels less like a leap and more like a natural evolution”, Guðmundsson says.

“After years on the commissioning side, I now get to bring that insider perspective into the heart of production — and I intend to use every ounce of that experience to its fullest.”

He looks to the future with a clear mission – to "make noise, make impact, and always make it matter”.

“My goal is to keep pushing boundaries: to seek out bold, original stories that cut through the noise, and to forge new partnerships both locally and across the Nordics and Europe,” Guðmundsson adds.

Skarphéðinn Guðmundsson enters his new position in the early summer.