International
Egypt named guest country of Cannes film fest
MUMBAI: Looks like the recent revolution in Egypt has paid off and more to its film industry. Egypt has become the first country to be welcomed as guest country at the 64th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Beginning this year, a country will be named as guest country every year when films would be screened and film personalities remembered.
The tribute to Egypt will take place on 18 May when Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine would be remembered. It will be followed by the screening of 18 jours, a work grouping short films of ten Egyptian filmmakers.
These filmmakers along with twenty actors, six writers, eight cameramen, eight sound engineers, five set-designers, three costume designers, seven film editors, three post-production companies and a dozen technicians filmed ten short film stories based on the 25 January revolution in Egypt.
Apart from this, Cannes Classics selection will screen Facteur (Al Bostagui) by Hussein Kamal (1968) while Le Cri d’une fourmi by Sameh Abdel Aziz (2011) will be screened at the Cinéma de la Plage.
The festival will close on 22 May.
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.
