HLYNUR PÁLMASON - Writer / Director

HLYNUR PÁLMASON - Writer / Director

Author: James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins March 4, 2026 Duration: 1:01:38

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 183 - Hlynur Pálmason - Writer / Director

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer and director Hlynur Pálmason (THE LOVE THAT REMAINS, GODLAND, A WHITE, WHITE DAY). Throughout the episode, we get into the weeds of Hlynur's unique filmmaking process, and we learn what his strategy has been to allow himself to fund and shoot the movies he wants to make. Hlynur describes his extensive writing process, and we learn about the importance of finding his locations while in the early development stages of his scripts. Later, we discuss Hlynur's tactics for making the most out of his relatively small budgets, and he reveals how he finds the rhythm of any given film with the actors. While discussing GODLAND, we reflect on the historical relationship between Denmark and Iceland in which the film is set, and we learn what Hlynur's motivation was for making the film to begin with. After studying still photography in Copenhagen and surviving a handful of odd jobs, Hlynur enrolled in the National Film School of Denmark, and we learn why he decided to take the film school route and what he ultimately gained from the experience.

-

Recommended Viewing: GODLAND

-

This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Picture Shop


There’s a particular kind of conversation that happens when two people who have spent a lifetime in film just start talking, following a thread wherever it leads. That’s the heart of Team Deakins. Roger Deakins, the Oscar-winning cinematographer, and his longtime collaborator and wife, James Ellis Deakins, sit down to unpack questions sent in by listeners, which means every episode begins with a specific point of curiosity-a technical detail, a business dilemma, a philosophical query about storytelling-and unfolds from there. You’ll hear them dig into the craft of cinematography, dissect the realities of the film and television industry, and share stories from their own remarkable journey. The discussion is meandering, insightful, and grounded in decades of practical experience. While it’s primarily their dialogue, they are occasionally joined by guests from across the film world, adding new dimensions to the talk. This isn’t a formal lecture series; it’s an accessible, ongoing dialogue between experts who love what they do. For anyone fascinated by how movies are made, from the lighting of a scene to the navigating of a career, this podcast offers a rare, unfiltered look behind the curtain. The entire project feels like a natural extension of their shared life in art, making each episode a unique and personal listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Team Deakins
Podcast Episodes
CRISTIAN MUNGIU - Director [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:20
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 170 - Cristian Mungiu - Director In this extended episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with director Cristian Mungiu (R.M.N., GRADUATION, BEYOND THE HILLS). Cristian's films—which we deeply ad…
EDGAR WRIGHT - Director [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:27
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 169 - Edgar Wright - Director Director Edgar Wright (THE RUNNING MAN, SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD, SHAUN OF THE DEAD) joins us in this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Edgar is responsible for one o…
TED SCHILOWITZ - Futurist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:20
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 168 - Ted Schilowitz - Futurist In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with futurist Ted Schilowitz. Ted has spent his life working in entertainment, from producing commercials in Florid…
JAMES LAXTON - Cinematographer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:51
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 167 - James Laxton - Cinematographer In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer James Laxton (THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, ANYTHING, MOONLIGHT). If you've seen a film direc…
REFLECTIONS: ON CINEMATOGRAPHY - written by Roger Deakins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:12
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 166 - Reflections: On Cinematography - written by Roger Deakins In this special "Turning the Tables" episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, cinematographer Roberto Schaefer (Season 1, Episode 162) return…
LEDs - with Tim S. Kang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:03
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 165 - LEDs - with Tim S. Kang In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we learn about LED lighting. LEDs are now commonplace in productions, and we thought an episode about the technology and its a…
28 YEARS LATER - with Anthony Dod Mantle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:07
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 164 - 28 YEARS LATER - with Anthony Dod Mantle In this special episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (Season 1, Episode 68) returns to discuss his work on 28 YEARS LAT…
IRIS PRIZE LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL - with Lewis Bayley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:07
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 163 - Iris Prize LGTBQ+ Film Festival - with Lewis Bayley In this special episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with Lewis Bayley, Industry Coordinator for the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival.…
DANTE SPINOTTI - Cinematographer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:49
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 162 - Dante Spinotti - Cinematographer In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer Dante Spinotti (ANT-MAN AND THE WASP, HEAT, THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY DRINKER). During our…