Win a ticket to this year’s gay teen romance

GayIceland is giving out 10 tickets to Love, Simon on the website´s Facebook page. The film is the first Hollywood teen film to revolve around gay romance.

Lilja Ósk Diðriksdóttir is Marketing Manager at Sena.

Love, Simon, is to premiere in Iceland on Wednesday; the first Hollywood teen film revolved around gay romance. The script is based on an award-winning, coming-of-age novel published in 2015, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. Director Greg Berlanti is a known for his work on Dawson´s Creek, Everwood and Riverdale and writers Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker have worked together on successful TV shows such as About a Boy and This is Us. Love, Simon premiered in the US in April and has been well received by critiques and viewers. Simon is portrayed by Nick Robinson, a young actor who can also be seen in Jurassic World and Boardwalk Empire, and his parents are played by Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel. Lilja Ósk Diðriksdóttir is Marketing Manager at Sena and took the time to tell us a little bit about the film, despite being busy planning its premiere.

What is Love, Simon about? “It’s a romantic comedy about a teenage boy called Simon. He’s gay but not ready to come out yet. He falls in love with an anonymous school mate that he meets online and tries to figure out who is. At the same time, he’s trying to balance his family and social lives as well as some other issues, that lead to an amazing turn of events.”

“Where it has been screened, really well and it’s getting great reviews. It’s premiering in Iceland on Wednesday and I’m keen to see how it will be received, but I’ve noticed a lot of excitement around it.”

How has the film been received? “Where it has been screened, really well and it’s getting great reviews. It’s premiering in Iceland on Wednesday and I’m keen to see how it will be received, but I’ve noticed a lot of excitement around it.”

Was there any special reason why Sena decided to bring Love, Simon to Icelandic cinemas? “Well, Sena is a distributor for Twentieth Century Fox, who produced the film, but apart from that we have great faith in it to do well. It’s a great movie and despite being about American teenagers it is very much relevant to Icelandic society.”

Isn’t Love, Simon the first queer teen film that a big Hollywood studio produces? “Yes, as far as I know this is the first Hollywood gay-romance teen movie. Call Me By Your Name, which was released by Sony Pictures in 2017, isn’t considered a teen movie as such. I believe that times are changing in Hollywood and feel that the variety of films from there reflect that, even though Hollywood is still behind in many areas. There’s a lot happening in the film industry, characters are becoming more diverse and more voices can be heard both on the big screen as well as behind the
camera.”

Where will Love, Simon be shown? “It premieres on Wednesday June 27 at Smárabíó, Háskólabíó and Borgarbíó in Akureyri. “

Have you seen the film yourself? “Yes, and I loved it. It’s a movie that everybody can relate to; a film about love, secrets and the awkwardness of adolescence as well as what it’s like to come out in a modern society and which stereotypes are out there. The story is genuine and wonderful and I can highly recommend it!”

GayIceland is giving out 10 tickets to Love, Simon on the website´s Facebook page. Its chief editor, Roald Viðar Eyvindsson, is one of those who are really excited about the film being shown in Icelandic cinemas.

GayIceland’s chief editor Roald Viðar Eyvindsson.

Have you already seen the film? “Yes, and it’s wonderful. I welled up and laughed and somewhat relived my teen years during those two hours that I was mesmerised by this film. I hadn’t heard of the book until I saw the film and now I’m definitely going to find myself a copy to read it.”

The first love is often the main subject of teen movies which can therefore have immense effect on teenagers, help them see that they’re all tackling the same issues and even see ways to seek assistance with their problems. Did you relate to the teen movies that were popular during your adolescence years? “To be perfectly honest, no. I guess the reason was that I didn’t really identify with the characters and their problems. Horror films were more my kind of a thing when I was a teenager.”

Would it have made a difference if such films had been made and shown in Iceland 25-30 years ago? “Whoa, I wish there had been movies like Love, Simon to see when I was a teenager. To see a film about a queer person who’s trying to find himself, to see a film about a character you can identify with instead of having to watch a gay film after gay film where being homosexual was always a problem. I’d have given anything for seeing a film like Love, Simon; a film with an underlying positivity. It would have given the teen version of me some hope that life could actually be good.”

“I think that a film like Love, Simon can have a great, positive effect and I hope people will enjoy it as much as I did. At least I can highly recommend people to go see it.”

Do you think it’s significant that a big Hollywood studio has gone ahead and made a gay romance teen movie? “As a teenager, I would never have believed that one day, Hollywood would produce such a movie; a mainstream movie about a teenager who’s coming out. That shows just how far queer people’s fight for rights has come. And it’s fantastic! It’s fantastic that they’re making movies that kids can enjoy, whether they’re queer or not; movies that show young queer people in a positive light, show that they’re just ordinary teens dealing with similar issues as others. It’s a way of eliminating prejudice but also, it gives some kids characters or role models that they can identify with. So, I think that a film like Love, Simon can have a great, positive effect and I hope people will enjoy it as much as I did. At least I can highly recommend people to go see it.”

Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

      Our creative flavors are carefully crafted by meticulous chocolate makers. The cacao beans are roasted, winnowed, ground, and refined into melty-smooth chocolate.

      Omnom’s process is one of constant exploration, invention, and experimentation. If it doesn’t please us, if something isn’t absolutely delicious, there’s no reason to be doing it. So, we always start with our taste buds and follow our instincts. Our team searches for the finest ingredients in the world and new ways to improve chocolate. This obsession with knowing where our ingredients come from has led us around the corner to dairy farms in the Icelandic countryside and all the way to rainforest cacao farms of Nicaragua.

      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

        Our unique position at the center of the capital markets allows us to see firsthand how these values have redefined corporate culture and success, deepening and accelerating our own commitment to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, as we strive to create more equitable opportunities to help people of all backgrounds reach their full potential. Most notably, we published our diversity statistics for the first time in 2020. These metrics serve as a quantitative assessment of where we are today and help determine what strategies we need to adopt to enhance diversity in the workplace. We recognize that we have much work to do, but we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects the communities in which we live, allows all employees to be their true, authentic selves and fosters individual growth and achievement.

        As we move forward together, we will continue advancing diverse ideas and perspectives that help fulfill the promise of a more inclusive and prosperous world. We aim to set the pace for rethinking capital markets and economies anywhere and everywhere. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
        comes from 2.000 meters within the earth where seawater and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of porous lava and searing heat. Propelled by extreme pressure, the water ascends to the earth’s surface, emerging enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the elements that endow Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater with its radiant, healing properties.

        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
        geothermal lagoons, a subterranean spa, a renowned line of skin care, a thriving research center, and a wealth of spa and refreshment facilities.

        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

        The bank’s vision is to be exemplary and its role is to be a trusted financial partner.

        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

          Macland is located at Laugavegur 23 (101, Downtown Reykjavik)
          For all your Apple needs. We are here.

          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

          Contact Us


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          Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.