International
Aruba Film Fest Announced 2nd Annual Slate
MUMBAI: Kim Cattrall’s Meet Monica Velour will open the 2nd annual Aruba International Film Festival (AIFF) that is scheduled to go on from 10 to 16 June.
Along with, the festival organizers have announced the lineup of films that will be screened this year. The festival will showcase a variety of films from 13 different countries and feature several international premieres.
Among the titles, the international premieres at the AIFF include the Massimiliano Bruno directed Italian comedy Nessuno mi puo giudicare (Nobody Can Judge Me), American drama Meet Monica Velour, written and directed by Keith Bearden, the Mario Van Peebles directed drama Things Fall Apart, 50 Cent and Tequila among others.
The Festival’s “In Conversation With…” series will start on 11 June with the participation of Oscar winning director Jonathan Demme who will present his film The Agronomist at the festival.
Among the international stars confirmed to attend AIFF are Italian actress Paola Cortellesi, director Sergio Sanchez Suarez and his leading actress Daniela Schmidt, Mexican actress Barbara Mori, Italian actor and screenwriter Alessandro Calza and Polish director and artist Lech Majewski.
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.
