Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Mosfilm Film Concern – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Mosfilm is nearing the end of a process unique to modern filmmaking: multi-stage ensemble screen tests for the studio's new project, the drama "Survive the Ice," directed by Alexander Zachinyaev. Over two months, more than seventy actors auditioned for the role on a set built in a television studio that simulates the interior of a polar station. The core cast has already been assembled.
In a commentary for Mosfilm.ru, director Alexander Zachinyaev described the casting process for the polar explorers, for whom testing begins even before filming.
Director Alexander Zachinyaev auditioning for the film "Survive the Ice"
Unlike the common practice of "office" or "self-tests," the filming of "Survive the Ice" is based on a script that is as close to the actual shooting as possible. The actors are provided with a set, working in full makeup and costumes, with their co-stars, under the guidance of the cameraman and director.
"It's great that an actor has a partner, not just someone behind the camera who's invisible—in our case, these are ensemble auditions. There's a director, a cameraman, lighting, and location. All the actors who come are very enthusiastic about this approach, and that's very important," notes Alexander Zachinyaev.
Mosfilm's approach to screen tests, according to the director, is unique in the Russian film industry, requiring significant organizational and financial investment. However, it allows the studio to not only assess the actors' physical suitability for their characters but also to sense the chemistry between the future members of the filmmaking "expedition," their temperament, and their ability to cope with the proposed circumstances.
The audition process has already presented the filmmakers with several surprises. There have been instances where an actor initially considered for one role revealed a completely unexpected side during the audition and ended up being considered for another, more significant role.
"There are surprises, like when an actor you might not have considered at first comes along, but they do something so amazing that you think, 'Wow!' And then there are those perfect hits, when you know from the start that this is the right actor who will do everything perfectly," the director shares.
Director Alexander Zachinyaev
The core cast of the ten key polar explorers has been virtually confirmed. The final selection for the remaining two roles is planned for the near future. After that, fine-tuning will begin with the costume and makeup designers to create the final look for each character. The leading roles will be performed by Vitaly Kishchenko (Honored Artist of the Russian Federation – "White Tiger," "Anna Karenina: Vronsky's Story," "Brotherhood," "Gloomy River," "Vladivostok," and others), Alexey Vertkov (Honored Artist of the Russian Federation – "Chamber No. 6," "White Tiger," "Khitrovka: The Sign of Four," and others), and Alexander Gorbatov (Anna Karenina: Vronsky's Story," "The Heart of Parma," "GDR," "The Aviator," and others).
Vitaly Kishchenko in the film "White Tiger" (2012)
Alexey Vertkov in the film "Khitrovka. The Sign of Four" (2023)
Alexander Gorbatov in the film "Anna Karenina: Vronsky's Story" (2017)
In parallel with casting, active preparations for filming are underway: large-scale sets are being developed for location shooting in the Murmansk region, unique equipment, such as the legendary Antarctic all-terrain vehicle "Kharkovchanka," is being created, and the interiors of the polar station will be recreated on Mosfilm soundstages. Filming is scheduled for February-March 2026.
As a reminder, the film "Survival in the Ice" is set in the early 1980s. The film's central characters are the staff of a polar station in Antarctica who find themselves in an extreme situation during one of their wintering trips.
The film's director of photography is Alexander Kuznetsov (White Tiger, Anna Karenina. Vronsky's Story, Gloomy River), the production designer is Yulia Makushina (Decision on Liquidation, GDR, For Us and You), the costume designer is Vladimir Nikiforov (Khitrovka. The Sign of Four, Streltsov, Tobol), the sound engineer is Vitaly Roshchupkin (Khitrovka. The Sign of Four, Vladivostok, Decision on Liquidation), and the makeup artists are Evgeniya Malinovskaya and Mikhail Vigdorov.
The film is being produced by Gopkins Film Production, commissioned by Mosfilm. Producers are Denis Lopatkin and Alexander Perevezentsev, and executive producer is Anatoly Shelyakin.
The film's general producer is Karen Shakhnazarov, a film director and head of the Mosfilm Film Concern, and its deputy general director, Andrey Gushchin, is the producer. The film is being made without any state budget funds or sponsorship.
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