International
Angelina Jolie film to receive Stanley Kramer award
MUMBAI: The Producers Guild of America will honour Angelina Jolie‘s Bosnian war film In the Land of Blood and Honey with the 2012 Stanley Kramer Award at the Guild‘s annual awards ceremony on January 21.
The award was established in 2002 following the death of legendary director and producer Stanley Kramer and recognizes a motion picture, producer or other individual whose ‘achievement or contribution illuminates provocative social issues in an accessible and elevating fashion‘.
Films that had earlier received the Kramer award wereThe Great Debaters, An Iconventient Truth, Hotel Rwanda and Antwone Fisher.
Last year, Sean Penn became the first individual to receive the award.
In the Land of Blood and Honey, which marks Jolie‘s directorial debut and opens in select theaters Dec. 23, follows the story of a Muslim woman and Serb policeman who are dating when the Bosnian war breaks out, and what ensues when she is taken to a Serbian rape camp where he is now in charge. Jolie both directed and penned the script, and primarily cast Bosnian actors.
“In the Land of Blood and Honey is an extraordinary film that portrays a complex love story set against the terrors of the Bosnian war, especially towards women. This film truly embraces the legacy of Stanley Kramer,” PGA presidents Hawk Koch and Mark Gordon said.
Jolie and Graham King‘s GK Films partnered in financing and producing the film, which FilmDistrict, a sister company of GK Films, is distributing in the U.S.
International
Russia-India cinematic spectacle Persimmon of My Love set for grand Moscow debut
Hindi cinema style musical revives Indo-Soviet cinema ties for today
MUMBAI: A new chapter in cross-border storytelling is set to unfold as Persimmon of My Love gears up for its premiere in Moscow on 1 April 2026, marking the first large-scale cinematic collaboration between Russia and India in decades.
Positioned as a modern nod to the cultural exchange that once brought Indian classics to Soviet audiences, the film blends Hindi cinema flair with Russian storytelling, aiming to rekindle a long-standing cinematic friendship.
Directed by Marius Weisberg, the musical comedy follows two brothers navigating a lively world of music, family and romance. The lead roles are played by Demis Karibidis and Mikhail Galustyan, with Karibidis also contributing as a screenwriter.
Shot entirely in India, the production leans heavily into Hindi cinema style spectacle. Filming took place across Mumbai studios and the cities of Udaipur and Jodhpur, whose architecture was used to create the fictional setting of Khurmada. A crew of over 350 worked on the project, with large-scale sequences featuring up to 1,000 extras.
The film also brings Indian creative talent into the mix. Dance sequences are choreographed by Jay Kumar, while music by Zurab Matua features songs in both Hindi and Russian, adding to its cross-cultural appeal.
Backed by TNT channel, MyWayStudio and the Russian Cinema Fund, the project reflects a broader push to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
With its mix of colour, comedy and cross-border collaboration, Persimmon of My Love is not just a film release but a reminder that cinema, much like music, travels well across borders.
