Sjón is a renowned Icelandic author, celebrated for his versatility and mastery of various literary forms and genres in film. His most recent and critically acclaimed screenplay is The Northman, a Viking revenge drama co-written with the esteemed director Robert Eggers. The film premiered in April 2022 and achieved immense commercial success, ranking among the top ten grossing films in the US that year.
In 2021, Sjón collaborated on the screenplay for Lamb, which became the first Icelandic film to reach the top ten list in the US. Lamb garnered accolades at the Cannes Film Festival and numerous other festivals worldwide, ultimately landing on the shortlist for the Best International Film Oscar. Currently, Sjón is working on several scripts, both with familiar collaborators and new partners.
Sjón's literary works, including novels and poems, have been translated into more than 40 languages. His notable books include The Blue Fox, From the Mouth of the Whale, Moonstone, and CoDex 1962, which have earned him international recognition and prestigious awards, such as the Nordic Council's Literature Prize, The Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, and the Icelandic Literary Prize. In 2017, Sjón was selected to contribute to Future Library, a 100-year public artwork in Norway, joining the esteemed ranks of Margaret Atwood and David Mitchell.
Sjón's impressive credentials also include a nomination for an Academy Award for his lyrics in Lars von Trier's Dancer in the Dark at the 2001 Oscars ceremony. He resides and works in Reykjavík, Iceland.
