International
MPA and APSA create $100,000 film fund
MUMBAI: The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) have created a new $100,000 film fund for the cause of development funding for features each year from the Asia Pacific region. ?
Announcing the creating of the Fund at the recently concluded Shanghai Film Festival, the partners said that the fund was intended to stimulate production in the region, particularly at the development phase among the 70 countries embraced by APSA.
Grants of $25,000 each, will be allocated to the script development of four new film projects.
Recipients of the MPA-APSA Academy Film Fund money will be members of the APSA Academy, a body of filmmakers comprising of past APSA nominees, winners, jury and nominations council members. ?
The first recipients will be selected by a panel of industry experts and announced at the fourth annual APSA ceremony, scheduled to take place in Australia on 2 December.
Among those eligible are feature films, children‘s features, animated features and feature length documentaries with a synopsis or treatment that have a producer, director or screenwriter attached at the time of submission.
Submissions for the first round of grants from the new fund will open on 31 July. 31.
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.
