International
Chinese HIV/AIDS documentary to screen at Berlin film festival
MUMBAI: A Chinese documentary Together that deals with the discrimination against HIV/AIDS sufferers will screen at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival. This is the only Chinese film to screen at the festival that runs from 10 to 20 February.
The documentary would feature in the Panorama section of the Berlinale‘s film program.
Director Gu Changwei and producer Zhao Liang were moved to make the documentary while shooting for another HIV/AIDS awareness film, A Tale of Magic on which people living with HIV/AIDS had featured. The documentary recorded how the six people with HIV/AIDS were found and persuaded to take part in the shooting process of the film.
The documentary, that released in China on 1 December last year, World AIDS Day, would help raise HIV/AIDS awareness in China and change public discrimination against HIV/AIDS.
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.
