International
ActionFest from 12 to 15 April
MUMBAI: ActionFest, the one of its kind international film festival devoted exclusively to action cinema will be held at Asheville between 12 to 15 April.
The festival’s opening night film on 12 April will be the regional premiere of Michael J. Bassett’s Solomon Kane, a swashbuckling, visceral medieval epic starring James Purefoy (John Carter, Rome) and Max von Sydow. It is based on legendary stories from the creator of of Conan The Barbarian, Robert E. Howard.
The closing night film on 15 April will be the regional premiere of Wu Xia. The film stars internationally recognized martial arts actor and fight director Donnie Yen who plays a tortured martial arts expert who attempts to begin a life of peace, only to find himself hunted by an obsessed detective and his former master, a ruthless bandit played by old school kung fu cinema icon, Jimmy Wang Yu.
Founded by Bill Banowsky (founder of Carolina Cinemas and co-founder of Magnolia Pictures), famed action director cum producer Aaron Norris and Radius-TWC Co-President Tom Quinn.
This year’s ActionFest Fight Choreographer Award will go to J.J. Perry, who wowed audiences with spectacular fights in Warrior, Underworld: Awakening, and Haywire. One of the most prolific high-profile choreographers in Hollywood, Perry has projects with Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Quentin Tarantino slated for future release.
ActionFest will also honour legendary stuntman Mickey Gilbert (of Ben Hur and The Wild Bunch fame) with the Lifetime Achievement Award and pioneer in women‘s MMA and Haywire star Gina Carano with the Chick Norris Award.
ActionFest was founded by Bill Banowsky, Aaron Norris, Dennis Berman and Tom Quinn. Colin Geddes, International Programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival, is the Festival Director.
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.
