International
Chinese film to premiere at Intl Horror Film Festival
MUMBAI: Chinese film The Matrimony will have its North American premiere when it features as the closing night feature at the International Horror Film Festival (Spooky Movie Film Festival), Washington, D.C. on 25 October.
A thrilling film that has an amalgamation of romance and horror The Matrimony stars Hong Kong top singer Leon Lai, Taiwanese actress Rene Liu and mainland Chinese beauty Fan Bingbing.
The third feature film by new generation director Teng Huatao, The Matrimony unfolds an eerie love story set in 1930s Shanghai. Rich young man Junchu (Leon Lai) cannot pluck up his courage to propose to his broadcaster girlfriend Manli (Fan Bingbing), who dies in a traffic accident before becoming his wife. In deep regret, Junchu locks himself up in his creepy old mansion.
His mother marries him to a young woman Sansan (Rene Liu), hoping to alleviate his grief but with little success. To their surprise, Manli‘s ghost still lingers in the house and even possesses Sansan‘s body in order to have a taste of finally being Junchu‘s wife. This is now the third year that Spooky Movie has closed the festival with an “Extreme Asia” premiere.
In addition to The Matrimony, the horror fest will screen ten new features including Herschell Gordon Lewis‘ The Uh-Oh Show!, the terrifying Dark Souls, Oz-ploitation, ElL Monstro Del Mar!, The Echo Game, Stephen King‘s Everything‘s Eventual, the documentary on the career of Count Gore De Vol, Every Other Day Is Halloween, double features Colin and Broken Springs and Tucker & Dale vs. Evil.
In addition to the 11 features, 31 outstanding and diverse international shorts from nine countries will also screen. Horror, comedies, suspense, science-fiction, ghosts, experimental, vampires, animation, creepy kids, musicals, werewolves, maniacs and even a zombie western will accompany the feature films for each block, giving the lucky Spooky Movie patrons a fuller festival experience.
The Spooky Movie Film Festival runs from 21 to 25 October.
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.
