The Icelandic Film School: Staff not getting wages, but paid the electric bill
Hlín Jóhannesdóttir, the school's rector, expects to hear from the government later today regarding the school's status. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
The Icelandic Film School's management company has entered bankruptcy proceedings, marking a serious setback for the institution, its staff, and students. In an email to staff, Rector Hlín Jóhannesdóttir expressed disappointment, noting that until yesterday, the school had hoped to avoid this outcome.
The school's leadership has been in ongoing discussions for months with both the Ministry of Higher Education, Industry and Innovation and the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs, aiming to transfer oversight of the school from the latter to the former. According to recent updates, the Ministry of Higher Education has shown a strong willingness to find a solution.
“This is a setback,” Jóhannesdóttir wrote, “but we are working to maintain operations and protect the interests of our staff, teachers, and students.”
Urgent need for answers from authorities
Despite the financial crisis, classes have continued in recent weeks—even as teachers remain unpaid. In a show of solidarity, faculty members organized a fundraiser to pay the school's electricity bills at the end of last month to keep the lights on.
“Yes, we did it. We just did it,” Jóhannesdóttir confirmed in an interview with mbl.is.
She emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying that meetings with government officials today are critical for the school’s future.
“We need answers today. We don’t even know if we can keep going into next week,” Hlín said. “I’m hopeful something will be clarified within the next few hours, because the patience of these noble people—our staff—is running out.”
Teachers and students united in crisis
Despite the hardship, Jóhannesdóttir described a sense of unity among the school’s community, saying recent weeks have been defined by a “beautiful ideal” of cooperation between teachers and students.
However, the students’ morale is beginning to waver, she admitted. What began with resilience and hope is now giving way to anxiety as the uncertainty drags on.
“We’ve managed to keep going through sheer determination,” she said, “but we need clarity. Something needs to be resolved.”
The school’s leadership is awaiting a decision from the ministries, hoping for a lifeline that could ensure continuity for the institution—and stability for its community.
