This is the incredible story of how a treasure trove of banned Soviet art worth millions of dollars was found in the desert of Uzbekistan - and an exploration of how art survives in times of oppression. During the reign of the Soviet Union, a small group of artists remained true to their vision despite threats of torture, imprisonment, and death. Their plight inspired a young archeologist (and frustrated painter) Igor Savitsky. Pretending to buy State-approved art, Stavisky instead daringly rescued 40,000 forbidden fellow artist's works and created a museum in the desert of Uzbekistan, far from the watchful eyes of the KGB. This is the story of Savitsky’s daring rescue mission, and the artists whose work he recovered. A dramatic journey of sacrifice in the name of creative freedom.
Festivals & Awards

Emmy Nominee | Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming
Emmy Nominee | Outstanding Achievement in Music
MoMA | Documentary Fortnight | Official Selection
Cine Golden Eagle Award | Winner
Palm Beach International Film Festival | Winner
Vancouver International Film Festival | Official Selection
Docaviv | Official Selection
Beijing International Film Festival | Official Selection
Cleveland International Film Festival | Official Selection
Palm Springs Film Festival | Official Selection
Santa Barbara Film Festival

Reviews

'A gorgeous documentary.' - The New York Times

Critic's Pick - New York Times

'A must-see for anyone interested in art.' - Village Voice

'This is a story that is almost too good to be true. The fascinating and improbable story of Stavisky's life and his obsession is the subject of a new, extremely eloquent and captivating documentary film.' - Huffington Post

'[A] fascinating Story … [a] well-crafted film [that] captures the flavor of the region, but the most arresting sights are inevitably those of the bold, richly colored paintings themselves.' – Variety