International
One Kind Day to have two screenings at Hawai Intl Film fest
MUMBAI: Chuck Mitsui‘s One Kine Day, that won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2010 Hawaii International Film Festival,will have two screenings at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) on 11 and 14 March.
The film, which stars Christa B. Allen and Julia Nickson, takes us on a journey to another side of Hawaii, the side filmmakers rarely portray on screen. The film captures a day in the life of slacker-skater Ralsto (newcomer Ryan Greer) as he trudges through one of the most ‘da kine‘ days of his life. Across the islands of Hawaii, ‘da kine‘ is a pidgin phrase that can mean, well, just about anything.
In his directorial debut, Mitsui exposes a darker side of teenage life. In the course of the film, skateboarder Ralsto sees his relatively carefree world fade away into a more complicated existence when he discovers his girlfriend is pregnant.
Filmed on location on Oahu and produced by Hawaiian film company Haolewood Productions, the film also stars Janel Parrish and Jolene Blalock.
Mitsui, who was born and raised in the Bay Area, has been a pioneer in the Hawaii skateboard scene since 1995 when he opened 808 Skate, the first skate shop in Hawaii.
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.
