IQALUIT - Last week, stone-cold masons began carving the first ice blocks that will lay the foundation for the 15th annual Snow Castle on Yellowknife Bay later this winter.

The Snow Castle crew is, from left, Sir Shiverin' Sam (Scott Mitchell), Dug Sum Snow (Douglass Mitchell), Snowbank Frank (Regan Fielding), Snowbelle (Elsbeth Fielding), Mr. Freeze (Stephen Folkers) and Joe Snow (Ryan McCord). - photo courtesy of Michael Ericsson

"We've got about 90 ice blocks cut and we'll go for twice that this weekend," said Snowbank Frank, a.k.a. Regan Fielding.

Snowbank Frank and the rest of the castle construction crew are not waiting for the SnowKing's month-long winter festival in March to begin celebrating the landmark anniversary of their sovereign's icy reign.

At 8 p.m. on Friday, a new film by Collective9 will honour the SnowKing and his frosty posse at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre. Admission is by donation and DVD copies will be available for sale.

"It's a rockumentary about the building of the Snow Castle and the SnowKing festival," said Snowbelle, a.k.a. Elsbeth Fielding.

The 46-minute film, titled Triumph of the Chill, features footage from last year's festival, including original music by Leela Gilday, Digawolf, Dana Sipos, Godson, Priscilla's Revenge and Giant Con.

Other bands and musicians make cameos throughout the production, including fiddlers Andrea Bettger and Calvin Cairns, The Dawgwoods, The Skinnys, and James Boraski and Momentary Evolution.

Snippets of performances by the Peekaboo Kazoo children's entertainers and the SnowKing's children's theatre troupe are also included, along with scenes from the SnowKing Cup hockey tournament.

The nippy nuptials exchanged between Candace Ross and Buffalo Airways ice pilot-turned reality TV star A.J. DeCoste at last year's castle wedding appear, as well.

"The movie captures the atmosphere and the life at the castle," Snowbelle said. "The castle is a very special place. It's like nothing else. It's the fort every kid dreamt of, but it's adult-sized for everyone."

The next SnowKing festival offers another dream come true, with the return of the ice slide, live concerts, outdoor film screenings, art shows, plays and more.

"We have some pretty big things planned," Snowbelle said. "It's pretty awesome. We're very excited about it."

The SnowKing will host a show by a fiddle quartet from Victoria and readings by Newfoundland poet, Randall Maggs. The opening fireworks will be joined by a second set of closing fireworks at the end of the festival, which runs from March 1 until March 28.

"The purpose of the festival is to put on a venue so we can showcase our Northern talent," said the SnowKing, a.k.a. Tony Foliot. "The festival is always looking for new and emerging bands, playwrights, storytellers and musicians."

SnowKing encourages young performers wishing to experience the snow stage for the first time to contact Snowbelle through the festival website or at Friday night's festival fundraiser.