America's Production Company
The Future of Film
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 Russian 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, black powder rifles 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!
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.
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.
The Alyeskan - Feature Film
A Floating Set from Another Era
We've already begun location scouting and have entered preliminary discussions with Captain Vladimir Martus, master shipbuilder and creator of the Frigate Shtandart - a full-scale, seaworthy replica of an 18th-century Russian frigate. Built using traditional tools, handcrafted materials, and period-accurate design, the Shtandart is more than a ship, it’s a floating time machine. With working cannons, detailed interiors, and no visible modern modifications, it brings visceral authenticity to every frame. This isn’t CGI. It’s real wood, real wind, and real cinematic weight, perfectly suited for scenes depicting the Russian imperial threat arriving on Alaskan shores. We’ve received official permission to use the Shtandart’s imagery in development materials and are working to coordinate filming aboard the vessel for both our teaser and principal photography. (Note: The Shtandart has also been used in multiple feature films, including period dramas and maritime epics. We are proud to bring it into the world of The Alyeskan, where its legacy as a ship of empire will be recontextualized through the lens of resistance.)
About: Conceived by Alaskan tour guide and award-winning filmmaker Kel Thompson, The Alyeskan is a bold historical feature film inspired by Alaska’s epic landscapes and untold past.
After winning the Audience Choice Award at Dances With Films (2020) for The Terrible Adventure, Kel relocated from Florida to Alaska to take part in the lucrative tourism industry, and almost immediately began dreaming of his next film. The concept came naturally: a historical cat-and-mouse thriller between Russian forces and the Native tribes of Alaska. What began as a simple idea to showcase the region's beauty and indigenous resilience soon evolved into something much deeper.
Researching Alaskan history for his tours, Kel began uncovering stories of real battles, fierce conflicts between Russian invaders seeking to enslave and control the Native peoples (Tlingit, Sugpiaq, Aleut, Eyak, and others) who had lived in Alyeska for 1000s of years!
The Russians, driven by a hunger and greed pursuing the fur trade, specifically sea otter pelts, once valued as highly as gold (each pelt was worth an ounce of gold at the time!) What they didn’t anticipate was the warrior resistance they’d face. The Native people didn’t back down. They fought, survived and they still call this land home. The Alyeskan is their story.
Frigate Shtandart
Photo courtesy of Captain Vladimir Martus
🎬 WHERE WE ARE NOW
The Alyeskan is now in active development.
We’ve begun location scouting across Alaska, initiated talks with international collaborators (including Captain Vladimir Martus and the Shtandart frigate), and are preparing for a teaser shoot in Fall 2025, with principal photography targeted for Spring 2026.
This is a bold, cinematic story rooted in real history, and now is the time to bring it to life.
🎬 What People Have Said about Kel's past film and work!
“I give the film 5 out of 5 stars!”
~Kids First! Film Festival
“If you and your kids are into action-adventure movies, this feature film is a must see!”
~Inspiring Mompreneurs
“The more I watch this movie, the more I fall in love with it. The Terrible Adventure is hands down the best family movie of 2021.”
~Inspiring Hearts Magazine
“It turned out to exceed our expectations. The kids are great actors and the fantastic screenplay and direction by Kel keep us tied to our seats.”
~ShowBiz Spotlight
“The Terrible Adventure empowers children to persevere and laugh through adversity.”
~The Art of Montage
Contact:
Kel Thompson - Writer/Director
Kel@AmericasProductionCompany.com
561-843-6941
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelthompson/
