International
Seattle Film Fest to open with The First Grader
MUMBAI: The 2011 edition of the tle International Film Festival (SIFF) will open on 19 May with the award-winning film The First Grader.
The film is based on the true-to-life story of an 84-year-old Kenyan villager who went back to school to pursue the education denied him in his youth.
Lauded at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Telluride Film Festival and the recent Palm Beach International Film Festival (where it was named Best Feature Film), The First Grader has been directed by Justin Chadwick.
An opening-night party at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall will follow the screening.
SIFF, now in its 37th year, will run till 12 June at multiple venues, including Seattle‘s SIFF Cinema, IMAX at Pacific Science Center, Pacific Place Cinemas, Benaroya Hall, Admiral Theater, Neptune Theatre, Harvard Exit Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre. Suburban venues this year include Everett Performing Arts Center, Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center and Kirkland Performance Center.
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.
