International
Cinefondation and short films awards announced
MUMBAI: After the announcement of the Critics‘ Week prizes, the Cinefondation and Short Films Jury comprising of Julie Gayet, Jessica Hausner, Corneliu Porumboiu, Joao Pedro Rodrigues and President Michel Gondry announced and awarded the Cinéfondation Prizes.
Out of the sixteen student films this year, the first prize went to Der Brief directed by Doroteya Droumevadffb of Germany, while the second prize went to Drari directed by French director Kamal LazraqLa Femis. The third prize was awarded to Ya-Gan-Bi-Hang directed by South Korean Son Tae-gyum Chung-Ang.The awardee films will receive € 15,000 for the first prize, € 11,250 for the second and € 7,500 for the third.
Started in 1998, the Cinéfondation Selection has been showcasing student films by directors from different parts of the world.
The festival‘s official selection includes films by directors who had earlier participated in the Residence and the Atelier programmes of the Cinefondation. Among them are Skoonheid by Oliver Hermanus, Bonsai by Cristian Jimenez, Where Do We Go Now by Nadine Labaki, Miss Bala by Gerardo Naranjo, O Abismo Prateado by Karim A?nouz, The Other Side Of Sleep by Rebecca Daly and Porfirio by Alejandro Landes among others.
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.
