The Russian director's debut Hollywood work closed the official program of the festival. The screening was the film's cinematic premiere in France (Embattled has been available in France since July on streaming platforms).
Sergei Sarkisov, the producer of the project (he was also a member of the film festival jury), and Mikhail Makharadze, general producer of BLITZ FILMS, which produced the film, were present at the screening.
Sergey Sarkisov, general producer of Embattled: "Thanks to Anara Musrepova, president of Silk Road Productions, for introducing me to great people - members of the jury and helping me gain invaluable experience of watching the work of interesting and talented filmmakers from around the world. It was my first and I want to believe it will not be my last work in a jury of film festivals".
Mikhail Makharadze, general producer of Blitz Film: "First of all we would like to thank the organizing association of the festival - Silk Road Productions, as well as its president Anara Musrepova and vice-president Aurelia Hazan. It is a great honor for us to participate in this new, but already welknown fest. We are also pleased to present our film "Embattled" to the French audience on the big screen - a lot of effort and love has been put into it, and it is always a special pleasure to receive an emotional response from the live audience of the cinema. We wish the festival further development and will be happy to maintain our friendship with it and its organizers. Because festivals are first and foremost a platform for meeting and networking like-minded people from which new projects emerge to meet the needs of audiences around the world."
The film was produced by BLITZ FILM and IFC Films, Sergey and Nikolai Sarkisovs, Eryl Cochran, Scott Lastiti, Frank Ragen, Colin Camp, Reese Coyro and Stephen Dorff.
The film tells the story of a son who aspires to follow in his famous MMA father's footsteps, but along his journey must figure out how to break the abusive cycle, if possible, that his father has continued.