International
3 films nominated for PGA awards
MUMBAI: The Producers Guild has nominated Oscar best film aspirants Bridesmaids, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Ides of March, for this year’s Producers Guild Awards (PGA).
Not among the nominees were Stephen Daldry‘s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Tree of Life, Drive, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
The PGA also announced nominees in the animated film category in which Steven Spielberg got a second nomination in addition to producing War Horse for The Adventures of Tintin. Other nominees include Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, Rango and Puss In Boots. Among the significant omissions: Rio and Arthur Christmas.
This year, the Producers Guild will also award special honours to Leslie Moonves (Milestone Award), Steven Spielberg (David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), Don Mischer (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), Stan Lee (Vanguard Award) and In The Land of Blood and Honey (The Stanley Kramer Award).
For the last four years, the winner of the PGA Award has gone on to win the best picture Oscar. Last year, the nominees lined up nine out of 10 with Oscar‘s list (the Oscars went for Winter‘s Bone over the PGA‘s The Town).
The 2012 Producers Guild Award winners will be announced January 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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.
