International
Egyptian actress Yosra to preside over DTFF jury
MUMBAI: Acclaimed Egyptian actress Yosra will preside over the Jury of the 2nd annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) scheduled to be held from 26 to 30 October.
Yosra replaces the previously announced Jury President, Hany Abu-Assad who had to step back due to a delay in production of his latest film The Courier currently being shot on location in Louisiana.
The Egyptian actress will be joined by four other members of the film industry who comprise the inaugural jury, Salma Hayek Pinault, actor, writer and director Nick Moran, Indian director Bhawna Talwar and Bosnian screenwriter and film director Danis Tanovic. Together they will choose the winners of the Festival‘s Arab Film Competition: Best Arab Film and Best Arab Filmmaker who will each receive monetary awards of US$100,000.
Additionally, the festival has also added seven more feature films to its programme – including Andrew Lau‘s Legend Of The Fist: The Return Of Chen Zhen, John Curran‘s Stone, Machete, Casino Jack and a special IMAX presentation of Paranormal Activity 2.
Two Hindi films Rakht Charitra by Ramgopal Varma and Vikramaditya Motwane‘s Udaan will also have their Qatar premiere at the festival , while Champs Elysees Je T‘aime has been added to the Arab Short Film Competition.
Remarked Yosra, “I‘m honoured to be the first Jury President of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival and I want to thank my fellow jurors Salma, Nick, Danis and Bhavna for joining me. It‘s a great privilege for me to work with them and I hope that together, we can fulfill the expectations of the filmmakers, and can contribute towards highlighting the Arab Cinema and further encouraging the talent from the region.”
Said DFI Executive Director Amanda Palmer, “We are delighted Yosra is joining us in Doha as our first Jury President for DTFF‘s first Arab Film Competition. Yosra supported us immensely in our first year as a festival, and in our second year it‘s an honour to welcome this cinematic icon to preside over an international jury.”
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.
