International
Mexico guv succeeds in capping tax incentives
MUMBAI: New Mexico‘s new Republican governor Susana Martinez has succeeded in her attempt to get state lawmakers cap tax incentives for the film industry.
A bill, on its way to Governor Susana Martinez‘s desk after the legislative session ended over the weekend, would limit total state film incentives to $50 million a year.
Under the cap, if a film is due more than that in tax credits in a year, the filmmaker could collect in the next years as well. It is being said that the said cap could mean some $23 million a year in savings.
But Martinez, who has called the incentives “a subsidy to Hollywood on the backs of our schoolchildren,” did not succeed in getting the incentives cut from 25 to 15 percent as she wanted. The 25 percent rebate means that a quarter of any qualified film expenditures in the state are returned to film makers.
The governor said that she was encouraged by the legislative compromise. In a statement on Friday, she said the film cuts “protected classroom funding and healthcare for those most in need.”
About 20 states currently give more or equally generous film incentives than New Mexico, including Louisiana, New York, and most recently, Utah, where a proposed incentive increase from 15 to 25 per cent awaits the governor‘s signature.
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.
