International
Michelle Carey is artistic director of MIFF
MUMBAI: Michelle Carey, head of programming of the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has been promoted as its artistic director.
Since the last four years Carey has been working with MIFF executive director Richard Moore as co-coordinator of the accelerator programme and also as head of programming at Australia’s largest film festival.
Earlier this year, Moore announced that he was stepping down from his position at MIFF, after the Board of the festival said that it would split the role into two. It later appointed Petrina Dorrington as general manager at the beginning of this year‘s festival late July and also announced Carey’s appointment.
Dorrington said, “We are thrilled to appoint Michelle as the artistic director – she has extensive experience in film programming, and has been a member of the MIFF programming team for the last four years. She understands both the festival’s diverse audiences and the ethos of the festival as a whole.”
Besides her role in the MIFF, Carey is currently the president of the long-running Melbourne Cinémath?que and editor for film festivals at online film journal Senses of Cinema.
Moore will now relocate to Brisbane this month where he will join Screen Queensland as the organization’s new head of screen culture.
In Moore’s four-year tenure MIFF’s Premiere Film Fund, supported by the Victorian government was introduced and its 37° south market and accelerator programme were expanded for emerging filmmakers.
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.
