International
PTC Punjabi teams up with Australia for film trilogy
GOA: Indian entertainment giant PTC Punjabi has joined forces with Australian production house Temple to create three Punjabi-language feature films, marking one of the most ambitious regional-language collaborations under the Australia-India Audiovisual Co-Production Treaty. Think of it as Hindi cinema’s cooler cousin making a strategic pit stop in Sydney before conquering the world.
The partnership positions Australia as the launchpad for Punjabi cinema’s global ambitions, with the trilogy set to roll out across India, Australia and New Zealand over the next 18 months. It’s a bold move that transforms the land down under from a mere filming location into a full-blown production powerhouse for Indian regional cinema.
Under the treaty framework, these productions will tap into Australian federal and state film incentives, including grants and rebates that make Hollywood executives weep with envy. The films will utilise local crews, talent, picturesque locations and cutting-edge post-production facilities, essentially giving Punjabi cinema access to Australia’s entire filmmaking toolkit.
Temple will manage the Australian side of things, handling treaty compliance and studio partnerships, whilst PTC Punjabi takes charge of Indian creative development, production and distribution. It’s a neat division of labour that plays to each company’s strengths.
The collaboration brings together three independent producers from PTC Punjabi’s roster, each investing in and steering creative development alongside Temple. Australian theatrical distributor forum will handle releases across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring these films don’t just get made but actually reach audiences.
The timing couldn’t be more telling. Indian-language films, including Punjabi titles, have recently overtaken Australian productions at the local box office, according to industry data. That’s right, Aussie audiences are increasingly choosing Mumbai over Melbourne when it comes to their cinema choices. This shift has caught the attention of Indian producers who now view Australia as both a production base and an international distribution gateway.
“Punjabi cinema is ready for its global leap, and Australia gives us the perfect runway,” said PTC Entertainment Channels CEO Rajiee M. Shinde. “With Temple, this partnership is not just about making films. It’s about making history. Punjabi stories deserve the world, and together with Australia, we’re going to take them there with confidence, scale and pride.”
Temple founder Anupam Sharma, echoed the sentiment, “The Australia-India Co-Production Treaty is a game-changer. Australia will be the engine that takes Punjabi cinema global, with world-class crews, studios, incentives and distribution access. PTC Punjabi has been the guardian of Punjabi culture for decades, and together we will now take Punjabi stories to the world.”
The partnership represents a substantial investment into Australia’s screen sector, particularly in Victoria and New South Wales, channelling Indian capital into Aussie infrastructure and talent. PTC Network operates PTC Punjabi as a leading Punjabi-language entertainment platform globally, bringing considerable clout and audience reach to the table.
The pact was unveiled with appropriate fanfare at the Waves Film Bazaar, the market component of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi) in Goa. It’s a deal that signals a new chapter for regional Indian cinema, one where geographical boundaries matter less and creative ambition matters more.
For Punjabi cinema, it’s not just about crossing borders. It’s about rewriting the map entirely.
International
Moskino and Bollywood: Moscow Film Cluster and Film City Mumbai signed a cooperation agreement
Moscow Film Cluster has signed a cooperation agreement with Film City Mumbai. The parties agreed to cooperate in developing the film industry, promoting shooting locations and supporting filmmakers.
The memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the India International Film Tourism (IIFTC) Conclave in Mumbai. At this forum, the Moscow Film Cluster presented Moscow’s opportunities for film shooting, including infrastructure projects such as Film City Moskino and Film Factory. Special attention was paid to the Moscow rebate system – up to 45% – and the co-production development.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Film City and Moscow Film Cluster provides for the establishment and development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the film industry development, including joint promotion of shooting locations, support for filmmakers, implementation of marketing and industry events, development of incentive support measures and strengthening of economic and cultural interaction between India and Moscow.
The parties also intend to promote the development of the audiovisual sector through the exchange of experience, joint initiatives and the search for opportunities to create new industry partnerships and clusters.
Moscow Film Cluster is a major city initiative led by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to develop the capital into a global cinema hub. It brings together key production infrastructure – such as the Moskino Film Сity, Film Factory and Gorky Film Studio – along with the Film Commission, digital platform and cinema chain to streamline shooting, support productions and attract international filmmaking to Moscow.
Also, Moscow offers a rebate of up to 45%: 30% as direct production cost compensation, up to 15% for visa and accommodation support. The Moscow Image Grant provides up to $255,000 for films showcasing iconic city views.
The Moscow Film Cluster booth attracted considerable attention from Indian producers and studios. Over 80 business meetings were held, including those with major Indian companies.
One of the booth guests was the famous Indian actress Khushboo Sundar, known to Soviet and Russian audiences for her role in My Soul and considered the leading star of Tamil cinema, in whose honor one of the local temples was even built. Prithul Kumar, representative of the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of the officials responsible for regulating the film industry in the country, also expressed interest in the development of the Moscow Film Cluster.
One of the highlights of the India International Film Tourism Conclave was the awarding of The Greatest of All Time in the For Cinematic Excellence category. The movie was shot in Moscow. The jury members noted the project’s contribution to the development of tourism.
The shooting of The Greatest of All Time AGS by Entertainment was organized with the assistance of the Moscow Film Cluster and the Moscow Film Commission and took place in April 2024 on the streets of Moscow. The scenes were shot in such famous locations as Patriarch Bridge, Teatralnaya Square, Manezhnaya Square, Kazarmenny Lane, Podsosensky Lane, Nikolskaya Street and one of the festival venues of Moscow Seasons.
The Greatest of All Time became a landmark event in Indian box office history. It ranked fourth in box office earnings among all movies released in India in 2024 and is one of the most successful Tamil-language movies in history.
At the same time, the shooting of another joint Russian-Indian movie started at the Moskino Film City in Moscow. A film project dedicated to badminton became one of the first participants in the Moscow rebate program.
A project by Smena & WISH Media (Russia) and Kartina Entertainment And Sports Private Limited (India) will tell the story of a badminton player who travels to India with the Russian national team to compete in a tournament. Russian viewers will see for the first time the scale of sporting competitions in Asia, where badminton is a cult sport and draws packed stands of fans.
The agreement on the joint production of the Smash movie was signed st the Moscow International Film Week in August 2025. And as Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, a rebate application was also submitted at that time to reimburse part of the costs incurred during the shooting process in the Russian capital.
