Butterfly Jam

Butterfly Jam is an upcoming drama set within a Circassian community in New Jersey. The story follows Pyteh, a sixteen-year-old who divides his time between training as a wrestler and working at his family's struggling diner. When his father makes an impulsive and misguided decision that leads to disaster, the teenager is forced to confront the consequences of his parent's actions. Facing violence and instability, Pyteh must navigate themes of legacy and masculinity as he is pushed toward adulthood prematurely.

The film is directed by Kantemir Balagov, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Marina Stepnova. This is the second film directed by Balagov, following Beanpole from 2019. The production is a multinational effort involving companies from Russia, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. The cast features Talha Akdogan in the lead role of Pyteh, alongside Barry Keoghan, Riley Keough, Harry Melling, Jaliyah Richards, and Zaramok Bachok. With a runtime of 102 minutes, the project was supported by producers Aleksander Rodnyansky, Pascal Caucheteux, and Pauline Lamy, and utilized a credited crew of 108 people.