Ill Kippers Productions
Against the Ice poster

NETFLIX FEATURE FILM

Against the Ice

A true story of survival, friendship and obsession in the vast frozen wilderness of Greenland.

Watch on Netflix ↗ Watch trailer ↓

THE FILM

Two men.
One impossible journey.

In 1909, Danish explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen sets out across Greenland with mechanic Iver Iversen to recover lost records and prove that Greenland is a single island. What begins as an expedition becomes an extraordinary fight to survive.

Written by Joe Derrick & Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Directed by Peter Flinth · Starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau & Joe Cole

WATCH

Trailer & behind the scenes

Official trailer

Behind the scenes

Inside look

FROM PAGE TO SCREEN

A true story, retold.

The screenplay grew from Ejnar Mikkelsen’s own account, originally published as Two Against the Ice. The memoir was republished around the film’s release as Against the Ice: The Classic Arctic Survival Story, with a foreword by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

Explore the book ↗
Historic photograph of Ejnar Mikkelsen and Iver Iversen
Ejnar Mikkelsen and Iver Iversen
Historic newspaper report on the Greenland expedition
The expedition in the contemporary press
Joe Derrick and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau during development of Against the Ice

MAKING THE FILM

From script to ice.

Developed over several years, the film brought together the original expedition story, the screenplay and a production built to recreate one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth.

Left to right: Joe Derrick, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Torben Forsberg (cinematographer) and Peter Flinth (director).

ON SET

Greenland on screen.

Joe Derrick, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Baltasar Kormákur on the set of Against the Ice
Joe Derrick, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau & producer Baltasar Kormákur
Against the Ice cast and filmmakers on set with the clapperboard
On set with Peter Flinth, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Joe Derrick and Joe Cole
Joe Derrick and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau doing the Leeds salute on set
A Leeds salute between takes

Selected set photography: Lilja Jons

BEHIND THE SCENES

Making the Arctic.

Whip practice, prosthetics and the less glamorous reality of filming in the Icelandic winter.

Whip practice before filming
Prosthetic boils prepared for Against the Ice
Prosthetic boils prepared for Ejnar’s frostbitten neck
Joe Derrick covered in snow during filming
Joe Derrick, after a day in the snow
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Joe Cole laughing between takes
Between takes · photograph by Lilja Jons

FROM SET TO SCREEN

Premieres & moments.

Against the Ice gala premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival
Gala premiere · Berlin International Film Festival
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Joe Derrick beside an Against the Ice teaser poster in Copenhagen
Copenhagen, ahead of the film’s release
Joe Derrick with Ejnar Mikkelsen's granddaughter at the Danish premiere
At the Danish premiere with Ejnar Mikkelsen’s granddaughter
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau holding fan artwork inspired by Against the Ice
“There’s truth in every dream” · fan artwork
The film also received a royal premiere in Denmark.

PRINCIPAL CREDITS

Against the Ice

Written byJoe Derrick & Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Directed byPeter Flinth

StarringNikolaj Coster-Waldau · Joe Cole

Based onThe true story and writings of Ejnar Mikkelsen

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