International
Fantasia Intl. fest to open with Red State
MUMBAI: Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival will open with the Canadian premiere of Kevin Smith’s Red State.
Red State is a powerhouse film featuring Michael Parks, along with Academy Award winner Melissa Leo and John Goodman. The film is said to be quite simply one of the best horror works of the year. It will be distributed by Phase 4 Films which plans on releasing the film in theatres this August.
The festival takes place from14 July to 7 August.
This year, Fantasia will pay tribute to the history and heritage of Canadian and Quebecois genre cinema by way of a special event that will honour the producing team of John Dunning and André Link, responsible for films like Shivers, Rabid, Happy Birthday To Me, Death Weekend, My Bloody Valentine among others.
Over the span of their 40-year partnership, Dunning and Link founded Cinepix production company – which eventually became Lionsgate. They also helped launch the careers of some of Canada’s most celebrated independent film titans like David Cronenberg, Denys Arcand, Ivan Reitman, Denis Héroux, George Mihalka, Larry Kent and Jean-Claude Lord.
Fantasia will award the duo with Lifetime Achievement Awards at a ceremony that will feature reminiscences by a score of Canadian film industry players, the careers of whom were shaped by their gutsiness and vision.
The film festival will also hold retrospectives of Dunning and Link in collaboration with the Cinémath?que québécoise., “There was a time when genre and exploitation filmmaking was the backbone of Canada’s film industry, and a great deal of the most influential forces behind this scene came tearing out of Quebec”. “What better way to celebrate our 15th anniversary than by championing an aspect of our national film history that makes every one of us proud?,” Fantasia Co-Director Mitch Davis has been quoted as having said.
Fantasia will also honour the career of director John Landis with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Landis films include The Blues Brother, Animal House, Trading Places, Kentucky Fried Movie and Michael Jackson’s Thriller video.
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.
