Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Sigurjón Sighvatsson Recalls Propaganda Films and David Lynch
A very experienced storyteller named Sigurjón Sighvatsson talked about his long career at a big movie festival called Locarno.
People call him Yoni, and he received a special award for being an independent producer, which means he makes shows and movies without relying on big studios.
Years ago, Yoni helped start a company called Propaganda Films that made lots of music videos with famous directors like David Lynch and Michael Bay.
He worked with David Lynch on the movie Wild at Heart and the TV show Twin Peaks.
When a big company did not want to make Wild at Heart, Yoni bought the book himself so the movie could happen.
For Twin Peaks, he found clever ways to pay for it, like selling VHS tapes in Europe.
He also helped make Tales of the City, a show about people who happen to be gay, which many TV companies did not want at first.
Later he produced the thriller Arlington Road, where the hero loses in the end, which is unusual for Hollywood.
At the close of the talk, he told young filmmakers to just go make their own stories, even with just a phone.
Veteran producer Sigurjón 'Yoni' Sighvatsson was honored with the Raimondo Rezzonico Award at the Locarno Film Festival, where he hosted a masterclass on his 50-year career.
He co-founded Propaganda Films with the late Steve Golin in 1986, building a music video powerhouse with some 50 directors, including Michael Bay, Spike Jonze, David Lynch and Antoine Fuqua.
After Polygram declined to buy the book, Sighvatsson and Monty Montgomery bought the rights themselves, and David Lynch soon wrote the script for what became the film Wild at Heart.
For the Twin Peaks pilot, Sighvatsson secured $1.5 million from ABC under Bob Iger plus a European VHS deal with Aaron Spelling, so the pilot never played in European cinemas.
He highlighted the 1999 thriller Arlington Road, starring Jeff Bridges and Tim Robbins, for killing off its hero after test audiences preferred that ending.
- Who
- Sigurjón 'Yoni' Sighvatsson, a veteran producer being celebrated with Locarno's Raimondo Rezzonico Award for independent producers.
- What
- He delivered a masterclass on his 50-year career spanning music videos, feature films and television, including Propaganda Films, Wild at Heart, Twin Peaks and Arlington Road.
- When
- Friday, during the Locarno Film Festival.
- Where
- Locarno Film Festival.
- Why
- He was being feted with the award honoring independent producers and offered career lessons to upcoming filmmakers.
- Award
- Raimondo Rezzonico Award at the Locarno Film Festival
- Company founded
- Propaganda Films, with Steve Golin in 1986
- Career credits
- More than 100 music videos, feature films and TV shows
- Peak director roster
- About 50 directors, including Michael Bay, Spike Jonze, David Lynch, Michel Gondry and Antoine Fuqua
- Key works
- Wild at Heart, Twin Peaks, Beverly Hills, 90210, Tales of the City and Arlington Road
- Twin Peaks backing
- $1.5 million from ABC plus a European VHS deal with Aaron Spelling's World Vision
- Education
- USC School of Cinematic Arts and AFI Conservatory on a Fulbright Scholarship
- Current base
- Portugal and Iceland, producing under Palomar Pictures