International
Al-Shooq declared best film at Cairo fest
MUMBAI: On Thursday, the 34th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) drew to a close with a gala-awards ceremony.
For the first time in 14 years, the Golden Pyramid for best film in CIFF‘s international competition went to an Egyptian film, Khaled al-Haggar‘s Al-Shooq.
One of Egypt‘s two films to be set in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, the winning film is a melodrama about a destitute mother of three named Umm Shooq (Sawsan Badr). After losing her young son to kidney failure, whose treatment she cannot finance, Umm Shooq is transformed into a manipulative capitalist and, ultimately, destroyed.
The top film award in CIFF‘s Arab film competition went to another Egyptian film, Ahmad Abdulla‘s Microphone, a critical and audience favorite that took the top prize at the Carthage film festival earlier this year. The film depicts the story of the return of a young expat Egyptian (Khaled Abu Naga) to Alexandria and his discovery of the city‘s thriving, alternative youth art and music scene.
The award for Best Female Actor was shared by Badr, the star of Al-Shooq and the iconic French actress Isabelle Huppert, for her role in Copacabana. The Best Actor award was also shared. Egypt‘s Amr Waked and Italy‘s Alessandro Gassman were appreciated for their performances in Il Padre E Lo Straniero, (The Father and the Foreigner), by Italian director Ricky Tognazzi.
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.
