International
Palm Springs’ Rising star award to Anna Kendrick
MUMBAI: Anna Kendrick will be the proud winner of the 21st annual Palm Springs International Film Festival‘s ‘Rising Star Award‘ for her performance in Up in the Air.
The award will be presented during the fest‘s awards gala on 5 January at the Palm Sporings Convention Center, hosted by “Entertainment Tonight‘s” Mary Hart.
The announcement was made by Festival chairman Harold Matzner at a private event.
Said, Matzner, “Anna is a gifted young actress. At 12, she received a Tony Award nomination for best featured actress in a musical for her role as Dinah in High Society. Now in her mid 20s, Anna has gone from strength to strength with each film.”
Up, directed by Jason Reitman and also starring George Clooney will be released by Paramount on 4 December.
Anna‘s other credits include Camp, Rocket Science and Twilight and also its sequel New Moon.
The festival itself will run from 5 to 18 January.
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.
