Strand Releasing has acquired the North American distribution rights to the critically acclaimed film “The Breaking Ice” directed by Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen. The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May and was selected as one of the top 20 films screened at the festival by critics from The Hollywood Reporter.
“The Breaking Ice” tells the story of three young people who form an unlikely friendship in the border city of Yanji in northeastern China. The film features a talented ensemble cast of young Chinese actors, including Zhou Dongyu, Liu Haoran, and Qu Chuxiao.
This is not the first time Anthony Chen has achieved success at Cannes. His debut feature film “Ilo Ilo” won the Caméra d’Or award at the festival in 2013 and was later submitted by Singapore as its official entry for the Best International Film category at the Oscars. Chen’s second feature, “Wet Season,” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and his English-language debut, “Drift,” premiered at Sundance earlier this year. “The Breaking Ice” is his first film shot entirely in Mainland China, taking him outside of his creative comfort zone. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Chen described the film as his “love letter” to China’s restless youth.
The film has received high praise from critics, with The Hollywood Reporter’s review stating that Chen returns to his gentle observational style and hushed intimacy that was evident in “Ilo Ilo.” The film is rich in emotion but never overplays it, with a simple narrative style that is mirrored in the shooting style. The relationships between the characters are nuanced and complex, revealing as much as they withhold.
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Strand Releasing has announced plans for a theatrical release of “The Breaking Ice” in late 2023 or early 2024. The distribution deal was negotiated by Jon Gerrans of Strand Releasing and Fen Chen from Rediance, the Chinese company handling worldwide sales for the film.
Marcus Hu of Strand Releasing expressed his excitement about representing “The Breaking Ice,” stating that they have had a long and productive relationship with Anthony Chen, including his previous film “Wet Season.”
In addition to the North American distribution, the film has also been sold to France, South Korea, Switzerland, Greece, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, Spain, Sweden, and worldwide inflight rights have been acquired by Encore Inflight.
“The Breaking Ice” is produced by Canopy Pictures and co-financed by Huace Pictures. The film is set to have a significant release in Mainland China on August 22, with a release in Singapore by Giraffe Pictures and plans for theatrical releases in other territories in the near future.
Strand Releasing is a distribution company based in Culver City, California. They have recently acquired other films, including Pierre Creton’s “A Prince” and the Sundance prize-winning film “Mutt.”
Overall, “The Breaking Ice” has garnered critical acclaim and secured distribution deals in multiple territories. With its talented cast and compelling story, the film is set to captivate audiences both in North America and around the world.
