International
Samoa’s first full-length film underway
MUMBAI: Samoa, the Pacific Island is to get its first full-length feature film The Orator (O Le Tulafale), thanks to the hard work of its filmmaker Tauti Tusi Tamasese and a group of New Zealanders. The film, financed by the New Zealand Film Commission happens to be the first feature to be entirely shot in Samoa, in the Samoan language, with a Samoan cast and story.
Tamasese previously made a short film titled Sacred Spaces (Va Tapuia) set in a cyclone- ravaged Samoan village.
Said Samoa‘s deputy prime minister Misa Telefoni, “The film a beautiful and poignant love story that will provide a moving tribute to the magnificent splendor of Samoa and our people.”
Produced by Catherine Fitzgerald with associate producers like Maiava Nathaniel Lees and Michael Eldred, the film is the story of Saili, a small man with a big heart, who must find the strength to speak up for those that he loves.
The film, that will star newcomers Fiaula Sanote as Saili and Tausili Pushparaj as his wife Vaaiga will be shot by New Zealand-based cinematographer Leon Narbey.
While Australia‘s Transmission Films will distribute the film in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, NZ Film, the sales arm of the New Zealand Film Corporation will handle the world sales of the film.
The film will start rolling on 27 October.
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.
