Icelandic producer selected for ACE Series Special 6
Guðrún Edda Þórhannesdóttir, producer of the TV series Climate, is one of 18 international producers selected to participate in the ACE Series Special 6, taking place in Madrid, Spain, this November. The workshop is for experienced producers who want to produce TV series for an international market. Climate is written by Gísli Rafn Ólafsson and Axel Ólafur Þórhannesson.
Climate follows a catastrophic flood in Kigali, Rwanda. Nelly Kofoa, Rwanda's first female leader, must deal with the disaster in Kigali while also fighting political opponents and betrayal. In desperation, Nelly turns to her friend, Lisa Möller, former Prime Minister of Iceland and current head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Lisa sends a specialized disaster management team to Rwanda, led by Ngabo Mukasa, a man who lost his family in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Meanwhile, Rosa Kafhoa, a young activist and daughter of the Prime Minister, campaigns for climate action and draws attention to the consequences of inaction, sparking public outrage. President Nelly wages a solitary battle against betrayal and increasing political pressure as she dares to save her nation and secure her presidency, exposing the fragile nature of global power structures.
The series focuses on the global climate crisis. It weaves together themes of gender inequality and the importance of female leadership in developing countries, alongside generational responsibility and the urgent need for actions to ensure a sustainable future. The series also explores the political dimensions of climate issues worldwide, including the responsibility of corporations and governments.
Axel Ólafur Þórhannesson and Gísli Rafn Ólafsson.
Gísli Rafn, co-creator of the series, is currently a member of parliament in Iceland and an author who has dedicated a large part of his career to international humanitarian aid. With over 25 years of experience in disaster management, Gísli was a member of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) in emergency management and coordination. Gísli also lived and worked in Rwanda for two and a half years with the international organization NetHope, making Rwanda the setting of the first season of Climate.