International
SFFS executive director Graham Leggat dead
MUMBAI: Executive director of the San Francisco Film Society (SFFS), Graham Leggat expired yesterday after waging a 18-month battle with Cancer. He was 51.
Under his almost six-year watch at the SFFS, the operating budget grew from $2 million to $6 million; membership rose 98 per cent; ticket sales rose 62 per cent and the board of directors almost doubled from 12 to 22. He stepped down from his role at SFFS on 4 July.
During his tenure with the SFFS, Leggat also oversaw the publishing of the nation‘s only regional online film magazine, SF360.org, founded in 2006 in partnership with indieWIRE. The publication now boasts over 1,000 pieces of original arts journalism.
“Graham was fiercely proud and appreciative of his years at the Film Society and frequently referred to them as the best years of his life,” said Film Society‘s board of directors‘ president Pat McBaine.
“It‘s no accident or coincidence that those years have also been the best years in the life of the Film Society. Our board and staff are deeply saddened by the loss of our leader, colleague and friend but inspired by his example and memory to carry on his work and build on his accomplishments and vision,” he added.
He is the recipient of the 2009 International Film Festival Summit‘s Director Excellence Award. In 2001, the French consul general in San Francisco made him a Chevalier de l‘Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in recognition of his support to cinema.
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.
