Herd in Iceland

WINTER FILM AWARDS 2014 NOMINEE - BEST DOCUMENTARY

• 2013

• Iceland

• 29 mins

• Icelandic and English

• Documentary Film Competition

Herd In Iceland is a documentary about the annual round-up of the Icelandic horse, isolated for centuries by the country’s oceanic borders. Herd In Iceland began filming in the fall of 2010, when Lindsay Blatt and Paul Taggart traveled to Iceland to document the Icelandic herders as they collected their horses across the island’s remote terrain. During the summer months, the horses live a wild existence, grazing in the highlands and raising their young. Each fall, they are rounded up by local farmers and directed across the stunning landscape. This valued tradition is a social and cultural touchstone for both the farmers who own the horses and the city dwellers who travel to the countryside to participate. The horse holds a precious place in Icelandic culture, art and tradition; for over 1,000 years Icelandic law has prohibited the importation of horses onto the island. By telling the story of this annual journey, Herd in Iceland captures the symbolism behind the horses and the nation they represent. Lindsay and Paul filmed from land and air, foot and hoof across the vast Icelandic landscape, following and living with the herdsmen.