The filmmakers initially asked the prestigious Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet for support, only to be declined immediately and told "homosexuality does not exist in Georgia". The head of the company then notified other dance companies in Georgia of the film and told them not to cooperate with it, which severely hindered the film.
The film's producer Ketie Danelia stated in an interview with "Radio Tavisupleba" that the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia declined to fund the trip for the crew to attend the Cannes Film Festival (where the movie was initially set to premiere), and that they've explicitly specified that it was solely due to its depiction of a homosexual romance. Because of this, very few people that were associated with the production (basically only the main cast and crew members) went to Cannes on their own personal funding.
The film was met with protests that turned violent when it was first screened in Georgia due to the country's hardline stance against LGBT policies. Despite this, the film sold out for its three days of screenings in the Georgian capital Tbilisi in just 15 minutes.
The film's Georgian dance choreographer chose to remain anonymous, therefore he/she wasn't credited.
