International
Roger Garcia is new ED of Hong Kong fest
MUMBAI: Hong Kong born Roger Garcia is the new executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFC).
Garcia, a former director of the festival, film producer, film critic and writer, will manage the society‘s three flagship events: the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum and the Asian Film Awards.
Garcia‘s work with the Hong Kong International Film Festival started in the late 1970s soon after its inception, where he developed the programming of contemporary and classic Hong Kong cinema and Asian cinema and was involved in introducing the festival‘s bi-lingual publications to present Hong Kong cinema to the world.
Apart from his contribution to promoting arts and culture in Hong Kong, he was also the first Director of the Filmmakers‘ Development Lab for the Korean Film Council from 2005-2008.
He also held positions under the Cultural Services Division, Recreation and Culture Department and Home Affairs Department of the Hong Kong Government to advance and develop the arts and cultural sector in Hong Kong, as well as to promote overseas investments in the region as regional director, North America at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York.
As a film producer, Garcia was behind Columbia Tristar‘s Mark Wahlberg vehicle The Big Hit and Filipino director Raymond Red‘s Himpapawid.
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.
