International
Stockholm fest gives Debra Granik best film award
MUMBAI: At a grand prize gala in Stockholm as the XXI Stockholm International Film Festival came to an end, American director Debra Granik received the 7-kg Bronze Horse Prize for this year‘s Best Film Winter‘s Bone.
“Through her heroine, the director paints an original portrait of a matriarchy who, by turns, warns, punishes, and ultimately offers an unlikely deliverance. The story and performances worked together to realize an uncompromised vision,” a jury of the film festival said in a statement.
Winter‘s Bone won the Best Actress Award for Jennifer Lawrence for her performance in the film while the Best Actor Prize went to George Pistereanu for his performance in the Romanian-Swedish film If I want to whistle, I whistle.
The 34-year-old Vietnamese director Phang Dang Di won the Best First Feature and best cinematography award for his best debut film Bi, Do not Be Afraid that revolves around a troubled generation of accommodation in Hanoi.
Earlier during the festival that began on 17 November, the Stockholm Visionary Award was presented to director Gus Van Sant while the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Harriet Andersson.
The Stockholm International Film Festival, that was launched in 1990 with just 45 films is today one of the leading competitive film festivals in Europe with 180 films.
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.
