International
Another Earth wins Audience award at Maui Film Fest, Hawaii
MUMBAI: Mike Cahill’s Another Earth has won the Audience Award for narrative feature at the Maui Film Festival while Oren Kaplan’s Hamill won an award in the independent feature category and Building Hope won the same in the documentary category along with Connected and Love Shines.
Another Earth is a science fiction drama film in which Rhoda Williams , an astrophysics student kills a family when she sees a planet and leans out for a closer look. She is imprisoned for four years, and upon release seeks out the widower of the family. The planet she saw was a mirror planet of Earth, and an essay contest is held where the winner could ride a space shuttle to visit it. Williams considers the possibility of visiting it to find out what kind of life her mirror self would have led to.
Hamill tells the powerful and invigorating story of young Matt Hamill‘s struggles with his disability and the people in his life who have kept him motivated to overcome this major obstacle while Building Hope chronicles the construction of Mahiga Hope High and the connection between a thousand people in the US and an African community working to create a better future for their children.
Said Maui Film Festival Director Barry Rivers in a statement, “Months ago, I chose the mantra ‘Create the Future’ for the 2011 Maui Film Festival. And the Future delivered big time with a stellar list of Audience Award winning and crowd pleasing films, unforgettable culinary arts events, filmmakers panels and impecable weather for each evening’s under-the-stars, lit-by-the-moon and powered-by-the-sun celebrations for the enjoyment of over 18,000 attendees,”
As many as 18,000 people attended the film festival held in Wailea, Hawaii from 15 to 19 June.
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.
