31/01/2022 - The Clip director is back with a contemporary, authentic and raw fairy tale set in the outskirts of Belgrade, starring Jovana Stojiljković

Serbian writer-director Maja Miloš, who made a splash on the international scene ten years ago when her feature debut Clip [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Maja Milos
film profile] won a Tiger Award at Rotterdam, has started filming her highly anticipated sophomore effort, Rift in the Ice, on location in Belgrade.

The most acclaimed Serbian actress of her generation, Jovana Stojiljković (Stitches [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Miroslav Terzić
film profile], Celts [+see also:
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film profile]), plays ice skater Marija in the film billed as "a contemporary fairytale that explores women's integrity and sexuality in our harsh reality."

Marija lives with her father on the outskirts of Belgrade, and, stricken by grief for her mother who died three years ago, is unable to express her sexuality. When a woman with her two daughters moves in after getting close to her dad, Marija feels she cannot trust her.

Forced to make extra money for her family due to financial troubles, Marija wants to protect her father by hiding her jobs in the world of sexual exploitation. Meanwhile, her stepmother starts having anger outbursts that escalate into physical abuse. Marija has to give up ice skating, but the love of a desirable young businessman gives her the strength to accept herself and her sexuality.

"I chose the narrative motifs of Cinderella because the core of this fairytale from more than 2000 years ago teaches girls that a woman, when she embraces her sexuality, becomes a princess," says Miloš. "Throughout history, the interpretations of Cinderella have become more sexist and the role of the Prince is interpreted as a man who solves Cinderella's troubles, when in fact, his love towards Cinderella gives her the courage to accept her sexuality."

In addition to Stojiljković, the film stars Marko Grabež, Andjela Jovanović, Nataša Ninković, Ljuba Bandović, Barbara Nola, Goran Navojec and Dejan Aćimović. Clip DoP Vladimir Simić returns to lens it, as do producers Jelena Mitrović and Srdan Golubović with Belgrade-based Film House Baš Čelik. Slovenia's Jožko Rutar with Spok Films and Danijel Hočevar with Vertigo, Croatia's Boris T. Marić and Lana Matić with Propeler Film, Italy's Ines Vasiljević with Nightswim, the Netherlands' Denis Vaslin with Volya Films and Montenegro's Quadrifolium Films are on board as co-producers.

Rift in the Ice has been supported by the Film Center Serbia, the Slovenian Film Centre, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the Italian Ministry for Culture (MIBACT), the Netherlands Film Fund, KMBO Distribution (France), the Montenegro Film Center, Creative Europe MEDIA and Eurimages.