International
Abbas Kiarostami to lead AFF to Pusan fest
MUMBAI: Acclaimed Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami will lead the Asian Film Academy (AFA) in a series of film workshops, master classes and special seminars designed to share knowledge on the present film production environment offered by Pusan International Film Festival that starts on 7 October.
Other faculty members of the AFA will include Japanese director Ogiganami Naoko and Korean cinematographer Kim Hyung-gu.
In the past years were celebrated directors including Taiwan‘s Hou Hsiao-Hsien (2005), Im Kown-taek (2006) and Japan‘s Kurosawa Kiyoshi (2009).
Kiarostami gained international recognition when he won the Bronze Leopard award at the Locarno International Film Festival in 1989 with his film Where is the Friend‘s Home (1987). His film Certified Copy was invited to this year‘s Cannes for which the film‘s heroine Juliette Binoche won the Best Actress award.
The Asian Film Academy started in 2005 in cooperation with PIFF and Dongseo University. Since then, the AFA has produced 123 graduates from 24 different Asian countries including emerging directors such as Boo Jun-Feng whose film Sandcastle was invited to this year‘s Cannes Film Festival.
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.
