Ljósbrot – Iceland

When the Light Breaks on a long summer’s day in Iceland. From one sunset to another, Una, a young art student encounters love, friendship, sorrow, and beauty. 

Through mirrors and reflections, the film conveys Una’s inner turmoil, shaped by the secrecy that defined her relationship. Elín Hall displays raw vulnerability as Una guides the audience through the emotional journey, as grief swells beneath the surface. When the Light Breaks explores the fragility of life and how everything can change in an instant. Rúnar Rúnarsson’s poetic realism prioritises the unsaid over the spoken, while unexpected moments of humour weave through the narrative. By allowing the tragic and the humorous to coexist, Rúnarsson resists a one-dimensional portrayal of grief, ensuring the film reflects the full – and often contradictory – spectrum of human emotions.

Rúnar Rúnarsson’s feature career starts in 2011 when he presented his debut film Volcano (Eldfjall) at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. The film received 17 international awards at a vast number of festivals. His second feature Sparrows (Þrestir, 2015) also has an impressive festival run, with 20 international awards and la Concha Ora, the main prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Four years later, after being selected for the Cannes Atelier, his third feature film Echo (Bergmál) premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and won six international awards. 

Heather Millard is the co-founder of production company Compass Films and co-founder of Iceland’s first 2D studio, Animation Studio Iceland. Millard has produced a variety of internationally award-winning documentary films, feature films, shorts, and animated films. Her feature films include Oscar nominated director Rúnar Rúnarsson’s feature film When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot), opening film for Un Certain Regard Cannes Film Festival 2024, and Cold (KULDI) directed by Erlingur Thoroddsen (reached number 5 in Iceland’s box office in 2023). Other recent productions include the short film O directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson that premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2024. Millard is currently producing the long-form children’s animated television series Ormhildur the Brave by Þórey Mjallhvít (co-production with NDR Germany, Svenska YLE Finland, RÚV Iceland, NRK Norway, SVT Sweden, and DRTV Denmark), as well as the animated short film Hold it Together directed by Fan Sissoko. 

Main director: Rúnar Rúnarsson 
Main writer: Rúnar Rúnarsson 
Main producers: Heather Millard, Rúnar Rúnarsson 
Production company: Compass Films 
Distribution company: Sam Film 
International sales: The Party Film Sales 
Original title: Ljósbrot 
International title: When The Light Breaks 
National premiere: 26.08.24 
Total length in minutes: 82