International
GRB Media Ranch acquires ‘Carol of the Bells’ and its BTS documentary
Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch president Sophie Ferron is delighted to announce the acquisition of Carol of the Bells (1 x 100), an innovative, touching Christmas movie directed by Joey Travolta as well as a documentary on the making of this unique film, Carol of the Bells: Behind the Scenes (1 x 25). This film not only tells a heartwarming holiday story but also represents a significant step forward by demonstrating inclusivity by featuring a cast and crew with a range of disabilities.
Carol of the Bells stars RJ Mitte (known for his role in the highly acclaimed Breaking Bad) portraying a young man with a troubled past who embarks on a journey to find his biological mother, only to discover that she is developmentally disabled. The film was produced by Inclusion Films in partnership with Futures Explored, Inc and Options for All, with 70 per cent of the crew members having developmental disabilities. The feature won the Audience Favorite Feature award at the San Diego International Film Festival in 2019.
In addition to the film, a behind-the-scenes documentary is also available, offering an in-depth look at the remarkable journey of the cast and crew. This emotionally uplifting documentary showcases how Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films’ workshops started in 2007 in Bakersfield California to teach the art of filmmaking to the developmentally challenged. The film highlights how this workshop is transforming lives and reshaping perceptions of individuals with disabilities. The workshops provide training and empower participants to contribute meaningfully to the film industry, illustrating the profound impact of inclusivity.
Ferron stated, “GRB Media Ranch is honored to bring Carol of the Bells and its behind-the-scenes documentary to international audiences. It is not often that we come across a special film like this—entertainment with a purpose. This film and its making-of feature offer a powerful portrayal of individuals on the autism spectrum and reflect a message of inclusivity that will resonate globally. We are thankful to Joey Travolta for his dedication to this project and for sharing this inspiring story with us.”
Travolta commented, “We are thrilled to partner with GRB Media Ranch to present Carol of the Bells and the accompanying documentary to viewers around the world. Our film and the behind-the-scenes look at our film camp in Bakersfield highlight a profound commitment to inclusivity. By employing 70% of our cast and crew from the autism community, we aim to foster a sense of belonging and challenge perceptions of disability. These efforts are rooted in the values of kindness and equality that my family instilled in me and continue to guide my work. We hope that this film and its documentary will inspire others and change the way we view and engage with individuals with disabilities.”
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.
