The Alyeskan is a sweeping historical epic set in the rugged, snow-laced wilderness of 19th-century Alaska, a time when Russia’s unquenchable thirst for new territory drove its empire ever eastward, fueled by greed, ambition, and the promise of conquest. What they found on these shores was not a land waiting to be claimed, it was already thriving! Home to the Tlingit people, and to generations, 1000's of years of rich culture, power, and balance with the natural world. The colonizers believed they could crush this resistance easily.

They were wrong!

At the center of this story stands Kalyaan, a Tlingit warrior forged by the land and sharpened by loss. As Russian ships descend with cannons and chains, Kalyaan rises, not as a myth, but as a man willing to risk everything to defend his people and their land! What begins as invasion becomes a reckoning. What survives is legend. Kalyaan is The Alyeskan.

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Crafted as a cinematic period piece, The Alyeskan is written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Kel Thompson (The Terrible Adventure). The project is currently raising funds for a sizzle reel shooting Fall 2025, with full production planned for Spring 2026.

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Shot entirely on location in Alaska, this film will bring to life a chapter of history rarely told—through the voices and power of those who stood then, and stand still today. (donate here)