Iceland eases quarantine rules to allow in international productions

The Icelandic government has unveiled details for how international film productions can restart in the territory.

Currently, travellers arriving in Iceland (except those from The Faroes Islands and Greenland) must undergo a 14-day home quarantine, with travel from countries outside Europe’s Schengen borders severely restricted.

However, from May 15 professionals arriving into Iceland, including those from non-Schengen countries, will be eligible to request an exemption from home quarantine and apply for a modified quarantine instead. 

This will allow cast and crew of film productions to enter the country and quarantine for 14 days in their hotel and workplace, if productions adhere to specific guidelines.

These include:

• Production companies will designate someone responsible for safety at work
• Upon arrival in Iceland crew goes straight to accommodations or work site
• Upon arrival the crew can only travel between work locations (shooting locations and production office) and accommodations
• Each morning all crew and cast in quarantine must have their body temperature checked before entering the workplace
• Crew size should be organized into groups in such a way that a safe distance of 2 metres can generally be maintained
• Visitors are not allowed on set
• Cast members must dress themselves and set up their own microphones
• The same makeup and hair staff should tend to the same cast members throughout the period of production as much as possible
• Shooting intimate scenes should be avoided if possible
• Cast members have the right to refuse close contact with other cast members

Further easing of restrictions are planned for June 15, when all travellers into Iceland will be given a choice between a two-week quarantine or being tested for the virus upon arrival. Strict safety precautions will still be in place for film productions after June 15.

Iceland has successfully bought coronavirus under control, with only three infections confirmed in May.

Currently, local productions are already permitted, with filming on Baltasar Kormakur’s Icelandic-language Netflix series Katla resuming in April.

Iceland, with its 25% rebate and highly skilled crews, has long been a popular shooting destination for films such as Flags Of Our Fathers, Prometheus, Oblivion and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as well as TV shows like Game Of Thrones, Sense8 and Fortitude.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir said: “I am happy that in spite of Covid-19 we have managed, in cooperation with our health authorities, to provide a rare opportunity for international film-crews to continue work, while of course respecting all the precautions and measures we have put in place in order to make this possible.“