TV Beats Screenings
Icebreaker
A rescue operation becomes a freezing nightmare.
An icebreaker is stranded in a winter storm during the longest, darkest night of the year. Coast Guard officer Sanna Tanner (Jessica Grabowsky) leads the rescue team, haunted by disturbing events. She must solve the mystery… before she becomes the next target.
"Icebreaker" is created by Mia Ylönen and directed by Pete Riski. The mystery series won the 2024 MIPDrama Coup de Cœur Award in Cannes.
Main production country: Finland
Director's note
"Icebreaker" grips the viewer from the very first scene. The series is a unique blend of heart-wrenching drama and spine-chilling suspense. It's a show that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.
Screenwiter's note
"According to ancient Finnish mythology, when the night is at its longest, the dead are the closest to the living. We wanted to bring that dread into a modern setting – and through it, explore the question: What if you were given a second chance to say goodbye to a lost loved one?'
Subjects:
isolation
Born in Lapland, Pete Riski is a Finnish director known for his cinematic storytelling across film, television, and advertising. He gained fame with music videos and his feature debut “Dark Floors” (2008). A versatile visualist, Riski blends Nordic atmosphere, dark humour, and emotional depth in his works, including “Bullets” (Elisa Viihde, 2018), which won the Coup de Cœur award at the MIPDrama summit in Cannes. Based in Helsinki, he is represented by RSA Films (UK), Wild Gift (USA) and Independent Artist Group, and continues to bridge emotion and style regardless of genre.
Mia Ylönen is the Head of Drama at Helsinki-filmi, a long-running production company based in Helsinki. She is an executive producer, creator, and showrunner behind several acclaimed series, including the psychological drama “Bad Apples” (Elisa Viihde, 2020) and the undercover thriller “Codename: Annika” (2023), the very first SkyShowtime original from Finland. In 2023 she was awarded the Screenwriter of the Year Guild Award for “Codename: Annika.” Ylönen’s work is recognised for its strong female perspectives and genre ambition. Based in Helsinki, she continues to drive high-end Nordic drama with international appeal.