Biography

Photographer, Film & TV Producer, Writer & Director GISLI SNAER has been honored for his feature films at festivals in 13 nations, including Chicago-USA, Kerman-Iran & Giffoni-Italy. In addition, he has been the creative force behind highly successful advertising campaigns around the globe.

After studying art, design, photography and sociology, Gisli joined the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV) in 1986 as a writer and host of a comic youth program. Gisli worked as an assistant director, assistant editor and production manager in various film productions and then studied at the Sveriges Television (SVT) in 1988, focusing on directing and producing television programs and dramas.

From 1988 to 1990, he directed and produced a number of television programs for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. In 1990, Gisli enrolled at the prestigious film school La Fémis in Paris, where he studied film directing. Since graduating, and to present day, Gisli has directed and photographed award winning feature films and a number of TV-commercials for clients such as ONE, TOYOTA, YAMAHA, ICELAND AIR, EUROPEAN COUNCIL and numerous other lesser-known brands. In 2001 Gisli worked with Lost In Space to successfully enter the Japanese market, producing 3D animations, TV-commercial, VFX and nu-media, for clients in Japan.

In 2003 Gisli formed his own production & distribution company, Ansur Pictures Co., Ltd. in Japan, concentrating firstly on localizing, with Japanese voice-over actors, and distributing award winning films for children on DVD in Japan. Ansur Pictures covered additionally all aspects of image creation from concept development through to film, television, still photography and multi-media execution for marketing and entertainment in Japan and Asia.

Gisli, relocated to Singapore in 2010, as Head of The Puttnam School of Film, LASALLE College of the Arts. In 2016 he left for UK, when he was initially appointed Head of Studies at the illustrious London Film School. Gisli is currently the Director & CEO of London Film School.

Gisli has lectured on photography and filmmaking, to students at Goldsmiths University in London, TISCH Asia in Singapore, the Icelandic Film Academy, Sagami Women University, Waseda University in Tokyo, and The Puttnam School of Film in Singapore. He’s been central to the renowned film producer, and former Hollywood studio head (Columbia Pictures), Lord David Puttnam’s film seminars, where his Lordship lectures both in person and over video-link from his home in Cork, Ireland, to film students around the globe.

In 2014 and 2015, Gisli was invited to participate in Singapore’s IMDA InfoComm Media Masterplan Working Committee 4. His proposal to IMDA, on the development of a StoryLab and WritersLab in Singapore, where selected professional screenwriters are supported during development of an original screenplay, was recently approved, with a generous grant for talent development.

Gisli is a Lumen Prize2016 long list nominee, and has served as a member of the international jury at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival Kinderfilmfest, the Ale Kino FilmFestival in Poland 2003, Singapore Creative Video Competition 2011, 2014 and 2015 Endeavours International Documentary Film Festival in Singapore, Autism Uncut by The National Autistic Society in U.K., Fastnet Film Festival 2017 and 2018 in Ireland, the BAFTA recognised 2017 Aesthetica Short Film Festival in UK, Nikon Photo Contest 2019, and as a Head Jury for the Asian European Foundation photo competition 2015 ‘On The Go’.


Gisli is fluent in English, French and Icelandic - and an advanced user of various software and hardware for photography, film & video production.

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