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PRODUCTION / FUNDING France / Germany

Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s The Ice Tower competing in Berlin

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- Marion Cotillard and Clara Pacini lead the cast of the filmmaker’s new movie, steered by 3B Productions and sold by Goodfellas

Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s The Ice Tower competing in Berlin
Marion Cotillard in The Ice Tower

Following three films screened and singled out in San Sebastian (Innocence, which won the New Directors Prize in 2004, Evolution [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
, awarded the Special Jury Prize and Best Cinematography trophy in 2015, and Earwig [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lucile Hadzihalilovic
film profile
]
, which earned the director a second Special Jury Prize in 2021), the highly talented Lucile Hadzihalilovic will get to discover the competition section of the Berlinale on the occasion of the festival’s 75th edition (running 13 to 23 February), armed with her 4th feature film, The Ice Tower.

The movie’s lead roles will be shared by star Marion Cotillard (recently nominated for the Best Actress César thanks to Little Girl Blue [+see also:
film review
interview: Mona Achache
film profile
]
) and youngster Clara Pacini (enjoying her big screen debut). Likewise in on the action are Germany’s August Diehl (nominated for the Best Actor Lola in 1999, 2005 and 2005, and recently well-received in Sidonie in Japan [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Élise Girard
film profile
]
), director Gaspar Noé, Lilas-Rose Gilberti (Last Summer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Catherine Breillat
film profile
]
, Consent [+see also:
film review
film profile
]
), Marine Gesbert (Midwives [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Léa Fehner
film profile
]
) and editor and actress Dounia Sichov (This Summer Feeling [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mikhaël Hers
film profile
]
, Siberia
 [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
).

Written by Lucile Hadzihalilovic herself, together with Geoff Cox (who previously teamed up with the filmmaker on Evolution and Earwig, and who’s also responsible for High Life [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Claire Denis
film profile
]
), the story has been pitched as follows: Colder than ice, her kiss pierces the heart… It’s the 1970s and runaway Jeanne falls under the spell of Cristina, the enigmatic star of The Snow Queen, a film being shot in the studio where Jeanne has taken refuge. A mutual fascination grows between the actress and the girl. For the record, this project featured within the annual selection of Groupe Ouest.

The Ice Tower was produced by Muriel Merlin on behalf of 3B Productions, in co-production with Arte France Cinéma, Davis Films and German firm Sutor Kolonko. Pre-purchased by Canal+ and Ciné+/OCS, the feature film also enjoys support from the CNC (via an advance on receipts and selective aid for digital visual effects), the Ile-de-France region, five SOFICA companies (Indéfilms, La Banque Postale Image, Cinécap, Cinémage and Cofinova), the French-German mini co-production treaty, the IDM Film Fund & Commission Südtirol Alto Adige, the FFA, and BR (via the Arte Grand Accord). Photography was entrusted to Jonathan Ricquebourg (awarded the Lumière in his category in 2017 and 2024, thanks to Last Days of Louis XIV [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Albert Serra
film profile
]
and The Taste of Things [+see also:
film review
film profile
]
), while set design comes courtesy of Belgium’s Julia Irribarria (The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
) and costumes are by Laurence Benoit. Distribution in France will be steered by Metropolitan Filmexport, with world sales falling to Goodfellas.

The Berlinale will also see 3B Productions supporting their co-production Confidente, by Çağla Zencirci and Guillaume Giovanetti (acclaimed in Locarno 2018 for Sibel [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Çağla Zencirci and Guillaum…
film profile
]
), which will be unveiled in the Panorama section and which involves Turkey (II Film), France (also by way of Les Films du Tambour) and Luxembourg (Bidibul Productions).

(Translated from French)

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