Born in 1978, Hafsteinn holds a Master of Fine Arts in film from Columbia University, New York. 

His first feature Either Way (2011) screened at film festivals all around the world and was re-made in the US as Prince Avalanche, starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch. His second feature Paris of the North (2014) traveled extensively after its competition premiere in Karlovy Vary. 

Under the Tree (2017) premiered in the Orizzonti sidebar at Venice and was the Icelandic Oscar candidate in 2018. In 2023, his English debut Northern Comfort opened TIFF. 

Hafsteinn co- created, wrote and directed Balls, his debut in television, which premiered in Iceland in the spring of 2023. The show was hugely popular in Iceland and has been very warmly received in other Nordic countries.

Sibel is a German actress with Turkish roots. With her debut in Fatih Akin's Head-On she gained major public attention. She has won twice the highest German movie award, the Lola, for Best Actress with Head-On and When We Leave. 

The recipient of an award at the Tribeca Film Festival, she became known internationally with her portrayal as Shae in the HBO award- winning series Game of Thrones. Sibel starred in several national and international productions like Winter Journey (2006), the very successful comedy What a Man (d. Matthias Schweighöfer) and multiple seasons of Tatort. 

Her latest appearances include the Finnish noir series Bullets (d. Özcan Alper) and Yunan (d. Ameer Fakher Eldin), which will be released later this year. Quite recently Kekilli also gave her theater debut at the Berliner Ensemble with "Fremd" by Michel Friedman. 

In her honor, TIFF will screen Head-On, the 2004 Golden Bear-winner, in a restored version.

Sibel is a German actress with Turkish roots. With her debut in Fatih Akin's Head-On she gained major public attention. She has won twice the highest German movie award, the Lola, for Best Actress with Head-On and When We Leave. 

The recipient of an award at the Tribeca Film Festival, she became known internationally with her portrayal as Shae in the HBO award- winning series Game of Thrones. Sibel starred in several national and international productions like Winter Journey (2006), the very successful comedy What a Man (d. Matthias Schweighöfer) and multiple seasons of Tatort. 

Her latest appearances include the Finnish noir series Bullets (d. Özcan Alper) and Yunan (d. Ameer Fakher Eldin), which will be released later this year. Quite recently Kekilli also gave her theater debut at the Berliner Ensemble with "Fremd" by Michel Friedman. 

In her honor, TIFF will screen Head-On, the 2004 Golden Bear-winner, in a restored version.