Shooting is underway in the former Soviet state of Georgia on Renny Harlin’s contemporary drama Georgia starring Rupert Friend, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Andy Garcia and Val Kilmer.

Richard Coyle and Jonathon Schaech also star in the sub-$20m project, based on Mikko Alanne and David Battle’s screenplay about two journalists caught behind enemy lines during the Russian invasion of Georgia in late 2008.

Rex Media president George Lascu is producing and is talking to buyers here at AFM. Rex Media holds worldwide rights.

Harlin boarded the project after he read the screenplay in June after his Swedish historical epic Mannerheim fell apart.