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FEATURE
June 30, 2023
Anthony Chen debuts The Breaking Ice in Cannes
Anthony Chen's completed film 'The Breaking Ice' will make its world premiere in Cannes.
Singaporean director Anthony Chen will be debuting his upcoming title 'The Breaking Ice' in this the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival at the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival in May, which highlights emerging art-house directors and films. The festival will be happening from May 16 to 27 this 2023. 'The Breaking Ice' follows the blossoming relationship between a trio of youths in their 20s, set over a few days in the winter snow. This film will be Chen's first feature in China. 'The Breaking Ice' stars actors from China, Zhou Dongyu, Liu Haoran and Qu Chuxiao. This screening marks Chen's fourth outing to Cannes.
Chen mentioned that “It's great to screen at Cannes for the fourth time, with a new film. It's especially meaningful for me as it will be exactly 10 years since ILO ILO won the Camera d'Or at Cannes. Even though this film is shot and set in China, I find it a wonderful opportunity to introduce new Singapore talent to the world. In The Breaking Ice, Singaporean musician Kin Leonn composed all the original music, marking his feature debut.”
Background of Anthony Chen
Chen was born 1984 in Singapore, studying film in Ngee Ann Polytechnic and the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the United Kingdom. He sought success from his graduation short film, 'G-23' (2005) which was screened at multiple festivals worldwide and won him awards in France, Korea and Belgium. His works are known for their intimate portrayals of family relationships and their exploration of the complexities of modern Singaporean society. In an interview with The Guardian, Chen said, "I want to tell stories that are personal to me, stories that I feel I have a unique perspective on."
Chen's contribution
Chen has well-established himself in the film industry since his feature debut 'Ilo Ilo' (2013), which won him the Camera d'Or award at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Following that is his next short film 'Ah Ma' (2007), which was a nominee for the Palme d'Or at the 60th Cannes Film Festival and earned a special mention. His next short film 'Haze' (2008), was screened at multiple prestigious film festivals in Berlin, Chicago and Shanghai. This earned him global recognition to further produce stunning pictures in the run.
Chen's films have been praised for their authenticity and emotional resonance, and he has been recognized as one of the most important voices in contemporary Singaporean cinema. In 2014, he was named one of the "20 most promising young filmmakers in the world" by The Independent, and in 2019, he was awarded the Cultural Medallion, Singapore's highest cultural honour. In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Chen is also a mentor and advocate for young filmmakers in Singapore. He founded the Giraffe Pictures production company with fellow filmmaker Tan Si En in 2013, with the goal of supporting emerging Singaporean talent and promoting the growth of the local film industry.
Chen's impact on Singaporean cinema has been significant, and his work has helped to put Singapore on the map as a hub for innovative, emotion and thought-provoking films. His films continue to be admired by locals and critics alike, and his voice as a filmmaker is one that will be heard for oncoming years.
Anthony Chen's Filmography
Year ReleasedFilm TitleFilm TypeRoles
2005G-23 (Graduation Film)ShortDirector, Writer
2007Ah MaShortDirector, Writer
2008HazeShortDirector, Writer
2009Hotel 66ShortDirector, Writer
2009Distance (Graduation Film)ShortDirector, Writer
2010Light House (Graduation Film)ShortDirector, Writer
2011The Reunion DinnerShortDirector, Writer
2012Karang GuniShortDirector, Writer
2013HomesickShortDirector, Writer
2013Ilo IloFeatureDirector, Writer, Producer
2014Distance (再见, 在也不见)FeatureDirector, Writer, Executive Producer
2019Wet Season (热带雨)FeatureDirector, Writer, Producer
2021The Break AwayShortDirector, Writer, Producer
2021The Year of the Everlasting StormFeatureDirector, Writer, Producer
2022AhjoommaFeatureProducer
2022Arnon pen nakrian tuayangFeatureProducer
2023DriftFeatureProducer
2023The Breaking Ice (燃冬)FeatureDirector, Writer, Producer
Source: Mixed sources
What to expect in Cannes this year
Festival director of the Cannes Film Festival Thierry Frémaux announced the debut of 52 films at the 76th edition of the festival this 2023. A current total of 21 titles were revealed to be in the competition line-up this year, of which include previous Palme d'Or winners Nuri Bilge Ceylan with 'About Dry Grasses', Hirokazu Kore-eda with 'Monster', Ken Loach with “The Old Oak” and Wim Wenders with “Perfect Days”.
The opening film (out of competition) of the event is 'Jeanne Du Barry' by Maïwenn. The film shows the life of Jeanne Bécu who was born as the illegitimate daughter of an impoverished seamstress in 1743 and went on to rise through the Court of Louis XV to become his last official mistress. 'Jeanne Du Barry' is set to release on May 16 thi year. The closing film (out of competition) is 'Elemental' by Peter Sohn. 'Elemental' is an animation title following Ember and Wade, in a city where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. 'Elemental' is set to release on June 16 this year.
Six female directors are competing for the Palme d'Or, a record for the highest number of female filmmakers at the event. Film enthusiasts can expect to see a range of exciting films and talent from around the world and the festival is sure to generate plenty of buzz and excitement in the industry.
