Glassriver
Glassriver is an Iceland-based film and TV production company founded in 2016 that develops, finances, and produces scripted drama, crime thrillers, comedies, and documentaries for international broadcasters, streamers, and distributors through co-productions and global distribution partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersReykjavík, Iceland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Glassriver does
Glassriver is an Iceland-based film and television production company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Reykjavík, with a small core team of 11–50 employees supplemented by roughly 1,500 contractors per year. The company develops, finances, and produces scripted drama, crime thrillers, comedies, documentaries, and children's programming for international audiences, and is responsible for more than half of Iceland's scripted TV output over the past five years. Its content slate includes Black Sands, Fractures, As Long As We Live, Ordinary People, and A White, White Day (Iceland's Oscar submission), alongside a forward pipeline of nearly 30 projects such as Elma, Brkn, Cold Haven, Manifesto, and Hot Stuff.
The business model is built on international co-productions, leveraging Iceland's 35% production tax incentive to share financing risk with European and now North American partners. Glassriver develops projects with international co-producers from inception, then assembles financing from broadcaster commissions, co-production partners, and Creative Europe MEDIA grants. Distribution and licensing are handled through tier-one global sales agents and streamers — All3Media International, Mediawan Rights, True Colours, Wild Bunch TV, Eccho Rights, Federation, Lionsgate, and Viaplay — covering the Nordics, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Domestic revenue is anchored by Icelandic broadcasters Síminn and SÐN.
The company is privately held by four co-owners — CEO Andri Ómarsson, creator/writer Andri Óttarsson, director Baldvin Z, and producer Arnbjörg Hafliðadóttir (the team behind Case, Iceland's first Netflix Original) — supported by a CFO, COO, and Head of Development. In 2025 Glassriver launched a dedicated film division led by Baldvin Z, with Dark Ocean (€4.5M budget, co-produced with Canada's Terminal City Pictures) as its first feature. The company maintains an active presence at major international content markets including MIPCOM, Series Mania, and the Nordic Co-Production Market, with the leadership team collectively holding 50+ international and domestic awards.
Glassriver firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Glassriver
- Legal name
- Glassriver
- Website
- https://glassriver.is
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Glassriver is an Iceland-based film and TV production company founded in 2016 that develops, finances, and produces scripted drama, crime thrillers, comedies, and documentaries for international broadcasters, streamers, and distributors through co-productions and global distribution partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Glassriver is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reykjavík
- HQ country
- Iceland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Glassriver business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- TV and Film Production: Production of scripted TV series and feature films, primarily through international co-productions. Revenue derived from production financing, broadcaster commissions, and distribution deals.
- Distribution and Licensing: International distribution deals with partners including All3Media International, Mediawan Rights, True Colours, and others for global licensing of produced content.
- Co-Production Financing: Revenue generated through securing co-production partners to share financing costs, leveraging Iceland's 35% tax incentive system to make productions financially viable.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels4 records
Glassriver product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Glassriver is an Icelandic film and television production company that develops, finances, produces, and distributes scripted series, feature films, and documentaries. The company operates end-to-end across project development, co-production financing, production, and international distribution, partnering with global broadcasters, streamers, and sales agents. Glassriver is responsible for more than half of Iceland's scripted TV output and produces award-winning Nordic noir, crime thriller, drama, comedy, and documentary content for international audiences.
Product overview
Glassriver is Iceland's leading film and TV production company offering a diverse portfolio of scripted content including dramas, thrillers, comedies, documentaries, and children's programming. Their core products are TV series and films produced for international distribution, with a focus on Nordic noir and crime drama genres. The company produces content across multiple platforms and works with international co-production partners including All3Media, Mediawan, Lionsgate, Federation, and Eccho Rights. Their product slate includes award-winning series like Black Sands, Fractures, and Ordinary People, as well as new productions like Cold Haven, Elma, Brkn, Manifesto, and Hot Stuff. The company also recently launched a dedicated film division led by director Baldvin Z to develop feature films including Dark Ocean.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Black Sands Dark Icelandic crime drama series following troubled police officer Anita who is forced back to her hometown where she tracks a serial killer disguising murders as accidents. Premiered at Berlinale and distributed internationally via All3Media and Viaplay.
- Cold Haven Cross-border crime thriller drama blending Icelandic atmosphere with Southern European storytelling, produced with Portugal's SPi. Follows an Icelandic detective solving a murder within the Portuguese community. Nominated at New York Festivals 2026.
- The Camping Trip Character-driven drama series about six middle-aged friends on their yearly camping trip, exploring deep friendships, personal baggage, and hidden conflicts.
- Squeeze Drama series following three women navigating work, relationships, and life experiences as they rent an apartment together.
- The School of Housewives Social drama following Hekla who enrolls in a school for housewives while trying to get her daughter back from foster care, questioning societal norms and self-worth.
- Ordinary People Beloved Icelandic comedy series following two actresses and best friends striving for excellence while balancing ordinary life, spanning six seasons and a Christmas special.
- As Long As We Live Internationally acclaimed eight-episode drama exploring desire, rekindled passion, and relationship dynamics as a married couple encounters new experiences.
- Fractures Drama series following an ER doctor who moves to her home village after divorce, dealing with her old lover and psychic mother while facing past ghosts. Awarded Creative Europe MEDIA TV Production Grant.
- My Funeral Unique three-season emotional series about a man with a brain tumor who hosts his own funeral ceremony, with related projects My Will and My Wedding.
- Europark Satirical comedy about a middle-aged fraudster who buys a city zoo and attempts to implement unrealistic ideas, exploring business and mismanagement.
- A White, White Day Arthouse drama about an off-duty police officer who suspects a local man of having an affair with his deceased wife, leading to dangerous obsession. Iceland's Oscar submission in 2019.
- The New Year's Lampoon Beloved Icelandic New Year's Eve comedy tradition known for sharp political and social satire.
- Journey Buddy love-story about two men on a road trip to reshape their friendship, nominated for Rose d'Or and Venice TV Awards.
- Dark Ocean Claustrophobic seafaring survival thriller film set on a fishing trawler in the North Atlantic, exploring masculinity, grief, and survival. Co-production with Canada's Terminal City Pictures, directed by Baldvin Z.
- Elma Crime thriller series based on Eva Björg Ægisdóttir's best-selling book series, following police detective Elma investigating murder in small Icelandic port town. International distribution by Mediawan Rights with co-producers from Belgium (Lunanime) and Finland (MTV Finland).
- Brkn Nordic psychological thriller series about investigation into disappearance of a nonbinary teenager, adapted from Jón Atli Jónasson's novel 'Brotin'. Global distribution by True Colours.
- Manifesto Six-episode crime thriller series based on true events exploring aftermath of Iceland's first terrorist attack. Distributed worldwide by Wild Bunch TV and commissioned by Síminn.
- Konrad Crime drama series based on Arnaldur Indriðason's bestselling seven-book series about retired Reykjavík detective solving cold cases.
- Hot Stuff Comedy-drama series set in 1979 following Icelanders on holiday in Spain, exploring gender inequality, consumerism, and xenophobia. Co-production with Romania's IDEA Film and commissioned by SÝN.
- Masquerade Series about young American reporter investigating unsolved abduction case of a four-year-old girl in Icelandic village. Co-production with Severance EP Nicholas Weinstock and Marc Lorber.
- Randalín & Mundi Children's adventure series following two friends Randalín and Mundi solving mysteries and helping asylum seekers during December.
- Island Songs Music documentary collaboration with Universal Studios featuring composer Ólafur Arnalds traveling across Iceland with local artists.
- Reynir Sterki Documentary about Iceland's strongest man Reynir Örn Leósson, exploring superhuman strength and personal struggles.
- Manners Critically acclaimed social drama tackling sexual violence, education, and justice through story of a high school student accused of rape.
- The Soap Comedic series exploring personal and social struggles through exaggerated storytelling about different priorities in daily life.
- Avalanche Climate disaster series featuring Elin Hall, co-production with Finland's Whatevergroup.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50+ prestigious awards
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Glassriver
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Glassriver technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Glassriver partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Terminal City PicturescoreB.C.-based banner of producer Christine Haebler co-producing Dark Ocean seafaring survival thriller with Glassriver. Production slated for early 2027 with budget of €4.5 million.
- True ColourscoreItalian sales company True Colours (co-owned by Indigo Film and Lucky Red) partnered for global distribution of Nordic psychological thriller Brkn. Company branching out from features into TV content distribution.
- Mediawan RightscoreInternational distribution deal for crime thriller series Elma. Mediawan Rights holds rights outside of Iceland and Finland. Partnership reflects commitment to bringing top-tier European shows to global audiences.
- Lunanime (Belgium)majorBelgian co-producer for Elma series alongside Mediawan Rights and MTV Finland.
- MTV FinlandmajorFinnish co-producer for Elma series.
- Idea Film (Romania)coreRomanian production company co-producing Hot Stuff comedy-drama series with Glassriver. Partnership exemplifies CEE-Nordic collaboration in content production.
- SÝNcoreIcelandic media company SÝN commissioned Hot Stuff for Channel 2 in Iceland.
- All3Media InternationalcoreInternational distribution partner handling sales of Glassriver productions including Black Sands across global markets including Nordics, USA, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
- SPi (Portugal)corePortuguese production company SPi SA co-producing Cold Haven, the first partnership between Portugal and Iceland. Series blends Nordic noir with Southern European influences.
- Whatevergroup (Finland)majorFinnish production company co-producing Avalanche climate disaster series with Glassriver.
- Wild Bunch TVmajorGlobal distributor for Manifesto crime thriller series, partnering with Síminn broadcaster.
- SíminncoreIcelandic broadcaster Síminn has picked up Manifesto and Cold Haven, commissioning original content from Glassriver.
- RTPcorePortuguese public broadcaster RTP co-producing Cold Haven with Glassriver and SPi.
- Nicholas Weinstock / Invention StudiosmajorSeverance EP Nicholas Weinstock and his Hollywood-based Invention Studios co-producing Masquerade series with Glassriver, to be pitched at Series Mania.
- The Art of Coproduction / Marc LorbermajorThe Art of Coproduction's Marc Lorber (former Lionsgate executive) co-producing Masquerade series.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Glassriver competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Federation Entertainment: Federation Entertainment is a French international distribution and production company with a Nordic/European scripted content portfolio. Comparable as a competitor/distribution partner for premium European drama.
- Beta Film: Beta Film is a major German distribution and co-financing company for European scripted content. Comparable as a partner/competitor for international co-production financing and global sales of Nordic-style drama.
- Banijay Group: Banijay is Europe's largest independent content producer and distributor with operations across Nordics (including Yellow Bird). Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same international co-production and distribution slots.
- Nordisk Film Production: Nordisk Film is a large Nordic film and TV production group producing scripted content across Scandinavia. It is a broad incumbent in the same Nordic production category but operates at significantly greater scale than Glassriver.
- Studiocanal: Studiocanal is a major European film/TV production, distribution, and sales company with extensive Nordic and pan-European scripted content operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent and potential distribution partner for premium European drama.
Direct peers
- Apple Tree Productions: Apple Tree Productions is a Danish production company producing premium Nordic scripted series with international co-production partners. Comparable in scale and strategy to Glassriver's Nordic scripted production model.
- Sagafilm: Sagafilm is Iceland's other major scripted-TV and film production house, producing long-running Icelandic series and international co-productions. It is Glassriver's principal Icelandic competitor and most directly comparable peer.
- SAM Productions: SAM Productions is a Danish production company focused on high-end drama series with international appeal, including work for Nordic and global streamers. Comparable as a small-team Nordic scripted-content producer leveraging co-production financing.
- Yellow Bird (Zodiak/Banijay Nordic): Yellow Bird is a Swedish production company behind the original Nordic noir franchise The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and other international crime thrillers. It is a direct peer in Nordic crime/drama production for global audiences.
- RVK Studios: RVK Studios is an Icelandic production company producing scripted series and films with international co-production partners. It competes with Glassriver for Icelandic talent, broadcasters (Síminn, SÝN), and European co-production financing.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Glassriver social profiles
Digital presenceGlassriver financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Glassriver leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Glassriver funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Glassriver M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Glassriver
What does Glassriver do?
Glassriver is an Icelandic film and television production company that develops, finances, produces, and distributes scripted series, feature films, and documentaries. The company operates end-to-end across project development, co-production financing, production, and international distribution, partnering with global broadcasters, streamers, and sales agents. Glassriver is responsible for more than half of Iceland's scripted TV output and produces award-winning Nordic noir, crime thriller, drama, comedy, and documentary content for international audiences.
Is Glassriver a public or private company?
Glassriver is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Glassriver founded?
Glassriver was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Glassriver based?
Glassriver is headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland, in the Europe region.
How does Glassriver make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. TV and Film Production is the primary driver. The others are distribution and Licensing and co-Production Financing.
Who are Glassriver's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Federation Entertainment, Beta Film, Banijay Group, Nordisk Film Production and Studiocanal. Direct peers are Apple Tree Productions, Sagafilm, SAM Productions, Yellow Bird (Zodiak/Banijay Nordic) and RVK Studios.
Does Glassriver have an API?
No public API is recorded for Glassriver.