NMG Film Distribution presented a poster and teaser trailer for the family action movie "Karate Kid"

The NMG Film Distribution company (part of the National Media Group holding), the Berg Sound film company and the KURTSYN PROJECT present the official poster and teaser trailer for the large-scale family action "Karate Kid". Bright spectacular scenes, the spirit of sports competitions and the good humor of the film complement the issues relevant to teenagers – bullying, finding their place, building trusting relationships with peers and adults. The film will be released in wide Russian distribution in the middle of the summer holidays on June 25, 2026. The sports tape was produced by Mikhail Pogosov and Roman Kurtsyn. Alexey Alferov took the director's chair.

The project involves a bright acting ensemble: Roman Kurtsyn, Kirill Pletnev, Polina Maksimova. One of the main roles in the film was played by the famous MMA fighter Magomed Ismailov — this is his feature film debut. The film also involves more than 70 karate children, acrobats, stuntmen and dancers representing the organizations "Cobra Throw", "Yar Film" and "Hannah". And the main children's roles were played by Miron Provorov ("The Bremen Town Musicians", "The Evil City", "The Little Chef") and full—meter debutants, winners of numerous sports competitions - Alina Sokolova, Maftun Saidisribov, Margarita Kharitonova.

The concept of the film is based on the personal biography of the producer and performer of one of the main roles, Roman Kurtsin. "The idea arose a long time ago. It's a kind of episode from my childhood, told through a feature film. All the experiences of our main character, the boy Sasha, are moments that I myself experienced as a child. I really wanted to share this story," says the actor. Roman Kurtsyn is simultaneously a member of the Stunt Guild and the Actors Guild of Russia, and in 2025 he was recognized as the best master mentor in the art of cinematography by the Public Chamber of Russia. In the film, his skills from both fields are fully revealed: the actor personally performed all the tricks during filming. The picture is filled with large-scale and dynamic combat scenes in the most picturesque locations.

The plot centers on the story of twelve-year-old Sasha, who has to leave Moscow for Pyatigorsk to live with his aunt while his parents, doctors, are on a business trip to Africa. The boy will face new challenges in his life: school bullying, ridicule and conflict with the local leader Marat. When Sasha finds out that his parents disappeared during the flood, a turning point comes in his life. To overcome fear and despair, the main character finds a new hobby – the karate section, where strict sensei Dmitry and his daughter Masha help him gain new strength and overcome life's difficulties.

Miron Provorov, who embodied the role of Sasha, had been preparing for filming for 8 months. Roman Kurtsyn became his sensei in real life, as well as in the film. Both actors performed all the stunts on their own. "I'm sure that after watching our movie, children and teenagers will put away their phones and start playing sports. Unfortunately, nowadays many guys are faced with bullying. In the film, we tell you how to get out of this situation as a winner. Because there is always a way out, you just need to try to find it," said Miron Provorov.

The role of Sasha's friend was played by Alina Sokolova, who had been preparing for filming the film for 5 years.

"While working on the movie The Karate Kid, we also turned to the memories of watching the legendary 1984 film The Karate Kid, which became a part of our childhood and left an indelible mark on the hearts of many. Despite the fact that our plots are different and each story is unique, we tried to reflect the spirit of that era and the very atmosphere of sports romance that surrounded us in the distant eighties. Our goal is not just to create a film, but to convey a message of friendship, sincerity, perseverance and a dream, inspiring a new generation just as they once inspired us," adds General producer Mikhail Pogosov.

Filming took place in Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk and Mineralnye Vody — thanks to these locations, the project has acquired a special scale. The unique architecture and picturesque landscapes create a unique atmosphere of the film and set a special flavor. A Japanese dojo, a traditional martial arts training hall, was built specifically for the project at the viewpoint. The original musical accompaniment gives the action scenes a unique mood and character - especially for the film, rapper ST wrote several exclusive tracks.

Magomed Ismailov notes that almost every male friendship begins with confrontation, which is reflected in the relationship of the main characters. "It's a very cool movie with real combat scenes. Roma and I were injured during filming, but we still filmed the final confrontation," the actor said.

"The Karate Kid is the first family action film about martial arts in Russian cinema. This is a motivational story for the younger generation about friendship, in which kindness is not just a word, but a force that helps protect their rights. I am sure that the film will serve as the right guide for young people and inspire many not only to achieve sporting achievements, but also to help them overcome social difficulties," comments general producer Mikhail Pogosov.

On March 24, Medialogia presented on its website a Russian series rating consisting of the 100 most popular projects of the past year. The South Korean thriller "The Squid Game" took the first place with 42,861 points, the second place was taken by the American science fiction series "Stranger Things" (26,572 points), and the third place was taken by the Russian detective "Sled" (20,361 points).