International
Multi starrers set to attract eyeballs at Toronto fest
MUMBAI: The 35th Toronto International Film Festival, the ten-day event gets going today.
During this period, several dozen movies of which many boasting marquee names in unexpected roles — will be screened.
Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart will combat death of a child in John Cameron Mitchell‘s Rabbit Hole. The Conspirator – directed by Robert Redford will present James McAvoy as a reluctant attorney defending a woman (Robin Wright) accused of involvement in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. On the other hand Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black makes his directorial debut with What‘s Wrong About Virginia that has Jennifer Connelly portraying a mentally-ill mother.
Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor will share the screen as father and son in Mike Mills‘ Beginners — the surprise being that Plummer‘s character, rather late in life, comes out in the open. Then there is Will Ferrell, in Dan Rush‘s Everything Must Go playing a man who resorts to staging a yard sale as his life falls apart around him.
Fox Searchlight will be showing off a fall lineup that includes Darren Aronofsky‘s Black Swan, Danny Boyle‘s survival story 127 Hours and the Hilary Swank starrer Conviction directed by Tony Goldwyn.
Focus will be showing off the psycho-ward comedy It‘s Kind of a Funny Story directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck that stars Emma Roberts and Zach Galifianakis.
Buyers expect Focus and Searchlight to be very selective about any purchases. SPC, though, is likely to be a much more active buyer, along with IFC Films and Magnolia Pictures, all of which left Cannes with multiple films.
The Weinstein Co., that entered into a restructuring agreement with its lenders during the summer, will bemaking an impact with Tom Hooper‘s The King‘s Speech which has been getting rave reviews for Colin Firth‘s performance as King George VI.
Sellers are waiting to watch whether Relativity Media, that acquired several assets from Overture in July and tapped Peter Adee as president of marketing and distribution, will emerge as a serious buyer at this year‘s fest.
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.
