International
SPAA to ask Aus government for $84m cash benefit
MUMBAI: The Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) will formally ask the federal government for a one-off $84m (A$90m) help for production of feature films.
SPAA will ask for a three-year fund on the basis that the sector has to attract institutional investors in order to grow and that the producer offset (PO) is not working as expected, in part because of the global financial crisis and the negative effect it is having on independent film.
Under the proposal, a film would need 75-80% of its budget in place to be eligible, SPAA executive director Geoff Brown told Screendaily.com.
It would not be for films regarded (in Australia) as big budget, such as this year‘s box office hit Bruce Beresford‘s Mao‘s Last Dancer or Stuart Beattie‘s directorial debut Tomorrow: Where The War Began, which is in production. The budget cap could be $23m (A$25m).
SPAA wants the fund run by a chief executive answerable to a panel of highly experienced players. More details will be known once the submission is finalised by mid-December.
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.
