International
Strand laps up US rights of Uncle Boonmee
MUMBAI: Strand Releasing has lapped up the US rights of Apichatpong Weerasethakul‘s Palme D‘Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives from sales outfit The Match Factory.
Strand plans to release the film in Spring 2011.
The Match Factory has now closed deals for Uncle Boonmee for more than 40 territories that includes Movienet in Germany, BIM for Italy, Pyramide for France, Karma for Spain, New Wave Films in the UK and Filmswelike for Canada.
Uncle Boonmee follows a Thai man dying of kidney failure who is visited by spiritual versions of his loved ones. The feature was set up as a U.K.-Thai-German-French-Spanish co-production headed by Kick the Machine Films and Illuminations Films with Anna Sanders Films, The Match Factory, Germany‘s GFF and Eddie Saeta in Spain.
Previous Strand-Match deals include Fatih Akin‘s The Edge of Heaven (2007) and Jasmila Zbanic‘s Berlin Golden Bear winner Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams (2006).
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.
