International
Morgan Spurlock film to open Hot Docs Film Fest
MUMBAI: American filmmaker Morgan Spurlock‘s new film Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold that exposes the pervasiveness of product placement on both the big and small screen will open the Hot Docs International Film Festival.
Spurlock, who took on the fast food industry with Super Size Me, is in talks with a chain for film and TV sponsorship in Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.
Spurlock’s film will open Hot Docs, the annual Toronto festival that screens documentaries from around the world, on28 April.
Executive director Chris McDonald announced a program of 199 documentaries to screen in 16 cinemas around Toronto. One of the innovations of this year‘s festival is that screenings will expand to many other neighbourhoods around the city.
The buzz films include Pirate Tapes, a documentary by a Somali Canadian who gets himself embedded with a Somali pirate gang. The murder of four Americans by Somali pirates last month has focused attention on the east African country which has not had a proper government for more than 20 years.
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.
