Glassriver Launches 'Elma' On Síminn, Debuts 'NCU' At MIPCOM — SkimNews
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- Glassriver confirmed its Icelandic crime thriller Elma will premiere on Síminn's streaming service on October 15, adapted from Eva Björg Ægisdóttir's bestselling book series and set in the port town of Akranes.
- Elma stars Unnur Birna Backman as detective Elma, who returns to her hometown as a woman's body is found at the foot of a lighthouse, with Nikulás Hansen Daðason co-starring as colleague Saevar.
- Mediawan holds global sales rights for Elma, with a pre-sale to Finland's MTV already in place and Belgium's Lunamine serving as co-production partner.
- NCU debuts at MIPCOM Cannes as Iceland's first scripted procedural, following an elite Nordic task force dispatched across different Nordic countries to solve major crimes each episode.
- Glassriver's broader scripted slate includes Avalanche (co-produced with Whatevergroup), Konráð (based on Arnaldur Indriðason's novels), Reykjavik Noir (adapted from Lilja Sigurðardóttir's books), Hot Stuff, and Tango Metal.
- Andri Ómarsson, CEO of Glassriver, called the Elma launch "an important moment" bringing "a story that has resonated with Icelandic readers back to audiences in a new form."
Why it matters: Glassriver is moving from domestic success to international ambition in a single sweep: Elma already has MTV Finland on board via Mediawan, while NCU is pitched as Iceland's first procedural — a format typically dominated by U.S. and U.K. producers. The dual MIPCOM/domestic launch positions the company as Iceland's most export-ready scripted studio.
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