International
Dubai Film Festival to start on 12 December
MUMBAI: For its seventh edition, the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will feature diverse genres, geographies and subjects to offer a powerful range of biopics, horror, adventure, comedy and drama.
This year’s festival will be highlighted with the screening of Academy Award-winning British director Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours that will be the opening film of the festival on 12 December.
The film is about a solo mountain climber who is forced to make tough decisions after being trapped under a boulder in Utah is among this year’s highlights. The Oscar-tipped film will open the festival.
Swedish mystery psycho-thriller Corridor, about a medical student whose peaceful life becomes jeopardized when he meets the girl upstairs and Mexican director Alejandro González I?árritu and the Javier Bardem-starrer Biutiful would also be screened.
The festival closes on 19 December.
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.
