International
Academy changes nomination process for best film
MUMBAI: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has added a new twist to its best picture category. In the next year‘s 84th Academy Awards, there may not be 10 movies nominated for best picture. Instead, new voting rules could result in nominations in the category ranging anywhere from five to 10 nominees.
Though two years ago, the best picture Oscar race was expanded from five to ten films, the board of governors of the Academy voted Tuesday night to introduce a new procedure which according to them would add a new element of surprise, because the number of films that make the cut won‘t be revealed until the best picture nominees are revealed at the nominations announcement on 24 January.
In order to ensure a nomination, a picture will have to collect enough first-place votes on the nomination ballots to amount to five per cent of the ballots cast.
The move is sure to throw a further complication into the awards process, since studios and awards consultants will now have to decide how hard to push for movies the chances of which may look more marginal if the field doesn‘t expand to ten.
This move could wreck a certain amount of havoc in the years to come when Oscar historians try to compare races from different years.
The Academy also adopted several other rule changes affecting the animation category and the visual effects “bake-off” and confirmed previous changes in the eligibility period in the documentary categories.
“With the help of PricewaterhouseCoopers, we‘ve been looking not just at what happened over the past two years, but at what would have happened if we had been selecting 10 nominees for the past 10 years,” said Academy president Tom Sherak.
The 84th Academy Awards will take place on 26 February next year at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland.
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.
