International
Berlin fest to have retrospective on Bergman
MUMBAI: The 61st Berlin International Film Festival will present a retrospective of the renowned Swedish director Ingmar Bergman.
The Retrospective will present all the films directed by Bergman as well as the ones penned by him. Besides, it will present the documentaries made by Swedish filmmaker and Bergman-connoisseur Stig Björkman who portrayed Bergman both before and behind the camera.
“Bergman is one of the few who liberated cinema, freed it from conventions and brought it to a new artistic form, which opened a new world for many cineastes”, said, the director of the Retrospective Rainer Rotherin.
Bergman is one of the few directors who‘s credited to have worked with the same team over decades. Three of the actresses who have worked with Bergman like Harriet Andersson, Gunnel Lindblom and Liv Ullmann will present his films at the Berlinale. They will also converse in detail publicly about life and work with Bergman for both the screen and the stage.
Bergman, who died in 2007, is well known for his films like The Silence, Scenes from a Marriage and Fanny and Alexander, all Oscar winners.
The 2011 edition of the festival will be held from 10 to 20 February.
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.
