International Oscar Race: Singapore Selects Anthony Chen’s ‘The Breaking Ice’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Singapore: “The Breaking Ice”
Singaporean director Anthony Chen’s “The Breaking Ice” has been selected by the Singapore Film Commission as the country’s entry to the 96th Academy Awards in 2024, in the international film category.
Filmed in China, film follows the blossoming friendship of its three main characters as they discover warmth in their shared isolation over a weekend in the winter snow. It stars Chinese actors Zhou Dongyu (the Oscar-nominated “Better Days”), Liu Haoran (the “Detective Chinatown” franchise) and Qu Chuxiao (“The Wandering Earth”).
“The Breaking Ice” bowed earlier this year at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard strand.
This is the third time a film directed by Chen is representing Singapore at the Oscars after Cannes Camera d’Or award winner “Ilo Ilo” and “Wet Season.” Last year, “Ajoomma,” the first-ever Singapore-Korea co-production, directed by He Shuming and produced by Chen was submitted as Singapore’s entry.
The film is being distributed in North America by Strand Releasing with international sales handled by Rediance. Chen wrote and directed the film and produced it with Meng Xie under their Canopy Pictures banner. The film was released in cinemas in Singapore earlier this month via Golden Village Pictures and is currently still showing in cinemas in mainland China where it opened in August.
Justin Ang, assistant chief executive of media, innovation, communications and marketing, at Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority, said: “We are absolutely thrilled by the selection of Anthony Chen’s film, ‘The Breaking Ice,’ as Singapore’s entry for 2024’s Oscars. Together with other made-with-Singapore premieres winning awards at the Cannes Film Festival this year, films such as ‘The Breaking Ice’ put Singapore on the global filmmaking map. With the Singapore Film Commission commemorating 25 years of dedication in nurturing our vibrant local film industry, we are truly proud of our passionate homegrown talent who have found recognition on the world stage. We look forward to hearing good news at the 2024’s Oscars.”
Chen added: “It is an honor once again to be selected as Singapore’s Oscar submission and also even more meaningful in a year when I have been invited into The Academy. This film wouldn’t have been possible without the creative talents and passion of our very international team. I look forward to sharing this film with audiences in the States and around the world.”
Dir: Anthony Chen. Sales: Rediance
All submissions and materials for the 2023 race must be received by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences by 5 p.m. on Oct. 2. And films must meet all the qualifying conditions between Dec. 1, 2022 and Oct. 31, 2023. A shortlist of 15 will be announced on Dec. 21. Final nominees will be announced on Jan. 23, 2024. The 96th Academy Awards is set to take place on March 10, 2024.