Production and exhibition busy in Moscow this month, with Czar Pictures starting lensing on the English-language "Treasure Raiders" and the former flagship October venue reopening as a major plex.

Pic is directed by Brent Huff ("100 Mile Rule"), and written by Czar Pictures' Alexander Izotov, who co-produces with Alexander Nevsky and Robert Madrid. Top billing goes to David Carradine and former Mr. World champion (now based in California) Nevsky, playing an American professor and Russian biker who become caught up in a search for local historical treasures.

Czar Pictures biggest project to date was "Moscow Heat", which had Nevsky playing a rogue Moscow cop opposite Michael York as a retired Western diplomat who ends up in Russia in an attempt to track down the mafia kiler of his son.

Released at the end of 2004, it took in upward of $1.1 million in local release, as well as achieving a healthy slate of international sales, according to producers, including DVD release in the U.S.

Tom Birchenough