International
Michael Moore lines up 2 films for Traverse Film Fest
MUMBAI: Two Michael Moore has lined up two films to open his sixth annual Traverse City Film Festival. They are Focus‘ The Kids Are All Right, a lesbian family dramedy and Weinstein Co.‘s Nowhere Boy that gives an inside look at John Lennon‘s childhood.
Moore had originally launched the festival to bring films that had limited distribution. This year‘s event runs from 27 July to 1 August.
Although Kids, which opened in seven theatres last weekend, will expand its reach throughout the country, Boy wouldn‘t be released till October.
Along with, the festival will pay tribute to the Beatles by screening A Hard Day‘s Night and Help! (1965).
In continuation with the theme of music, the festival will offer the documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, a chronicle of the heavy metal band; Radu ,The Concert, a film about a former conductor of the Bolshoi orchestra and the 1928 silent film The Last Command accompanied by the Alloy Orchestra.
The lineup also includes Sabina Guzzanti‘s Draquila — Italy Trembles; Flip Remunda and Vit Kusak‘s Czech Peace; a salute to Cuban film and two 3D titles, Cane Toads: The Conquest and the concert documentary U2 3D.
Sony Pictures Classics co-head Michael Barker and Tom Bernard have been tapped as honorees.
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.
