International
APSA awards handed out
MUMBAI: Chinese film Tangshan Dadizheng (Aftershock) has won the best feature film award and its lead actor Chen Daoming was declared the best actor at the fourth annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) held in Gold Coast, Australia.
President for the international jury for APSA 2010, Academy-award winning producer Lord David Puttnam said, ‘The sheer variety of films and staggeringly good performances made our task very difficult indeed, in every category. “Ultimately Aftershock won the best film award because, in my own view, it has everything. It is as good a ‘big‘ movie as any I‘ve seen from Hollywood in years, it is incredibly moving and it ends beautifully,‘ he added.
‘Tangshan Dadizheng‘ is the highest grossing domestic film of all time at the Chinese box office, said a press statement.
The best director‘s award was given to Korean director Lee Chang-dong for his film Shi (Poetry) and the best actress award went to the star of the film Yun Jung-hee.
The screen international jury grand prize went to Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima for ‘Caterpillar‘ and the best screenplay award which went to Samuel Maoz for Levanon (Lebanon) who also won the best screenplay award for Levanon (Lebanon).
Legendary Indonesian actress turned producer Christine Hakim was presented with FIAPF award for outstanding achievement in film.
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.
