The Mediterranean Film Studios' tank was transformed into the Arctic, an overwhelming iceberg setting the stage for the Russian production Novaya Zemlya, meaning new land.

Set in the future, the film's exciting script centres round four prisoners battling against the life-threatening elements of the arctic and outsmarting their companions. Their goal? Survival... at all costs.

Protagonists Konstantin Lavronenko, Marat Basharov, Evgeny Titov and Andrey Feskov are some of the most sought after talent Russia has produced. These four actors had to endure ice-cold waters and special effects including generated fierce winds and waves.

In fact, the main obstacle encountered during the production in Malta was keeping the actors and stuntmen warm. To do so, they had to be dried off after each scene before proceeding to the next take.

The main bulk of the film was shot in the Crimea. But director Alexander Melnik and his team wanted a controlled environment for the iceberg scenes in order to create the required special effects.

The tank at the Mediterranean Film Studios provided the perfect location and hence the decision to bring the production over to Malta proved a successful one. Line producer Anastasia Budykho, whose office was responsible for bringing the production to Malta, expressed her satisfaction at the professionalism and hard work put in by both the local and foreign crews. She said she looks forward to heading more Russian productions in Malta.

Meanwhile, Mr Melnik has been nominated for an Oscar for his film Mongol.