International
Sofia Intl Film fest to honour Claudia Cardinale
MUMBAI: The 15th edition of the Sofia International Film Festival got underway on 4 March.
This year‘s festival will include 118 features, 24 documentaries and more than 70 shorts that are to be screened in its traditional sections, including International Competition for first and second feature films, The Big Five, New Bulgarian Cinema and the Balkan Competition.
Among the highlights of the International Program, in which films will compete for the Grand Prix, are the French/Swedish/Danish co-production Sounds of Noise, Polish Bar and the Bulgarian/German movie TILT.
Italian actress Claudia Cardinale is expected to be the festival‘s honoured guest who will collect a Lifetime Achievement in Cinema.Such awards are also to be handed out to Bulgarian actor Russi Chanev, French director Claude Lelouch and Georgian/French director Otar Iosseliani.
The opening night film will be The Black Swan by Darren Arnofski and The Edge by Russian director Aleksei Uchitel is to be screened at the festival‘s closing night.
The festival‘s Grand Prix and other awards are to be handed out at a closing ceremony scheduled on 13 March.
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.
