International
Academy grants $ 45,000 to film festivals in US
MUMBAI: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has awarded $455,000 to 25 US film festivals for the next calendar year.
The first on the list is the Cleveland International Film Festival that will receive a multiyear grant (three years) of $ 150,000 for its ‘Focus on Filmmakers‘ programme. The Chicago International Film Festival, that is in its second year of a multiyear grant will receive $150,000 in total for its ‘World Cinema Spotlight‘ programme.
While the grants are awarded for a number of festival programs, organizers are encouraged to submit proposals intended to make festival events more accessible to the general public, provide greater access to minority and less visible filmmakers and help strengthen the connection between filmmakers and the general public.
Festivals that will receive a grant of $30,000 will be the Los Angeles Film Festival for its ‘Free Screenings‘ programme and San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival for its ‘World Cinema Spotlight‘ programme.
Since its establishment in 1999, the Academy‘s Festival Grants Program has distributed 277 grants totaling $4.85 million in funding. The Foundation also presents the Academy‘s rich assortment of screenings and other public programs each year.
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.
