International
And the 2014 BAFTA Award goes to…
MUMBAI: At London, on Sunday 16 February, at the EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), 12 Years a Slave was named Best Film with Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dancing On the Edge) winning Leading Actor. The Awards were hosted by Stephen Fry (Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows) and held at London’s Royal Opera House. Gravity won six awards: Outstanding British Film, Original Music, Cinematography, Sound and Special Visual Effects with Alfonso Cuarón (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) winning for Director.
American Hustle won three BAFTA Awards: Original Screenplay for Eric Warren Singer (The International) and David O. Russell (The Fighter), Make Up & Hair, and Supporting Actress for Jennifer Lawrence (The Silver Linings Playbook). Production Design and Costume Design were awarded to The Great Gatsby.
Leading Actress was presented to Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, The Monuments Men) for playing the title role in Blue Jasmine – her third BAFTA win – and in his feature film debut Barkhad Abdi won Supporting Actor for Captain Phillips. Director and Writer Kieran Evans received the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for his first feature film Kelly + Victor.
Adapted Screenplay was awarded to Jeff Pope (Mrs. Biggs) and Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge) for Philomena, Steve Coogan also produced and starred in the film. The Great Beauty won the award for Film Not in the English Language and the BAFTA for Editing went to Rush.
The Act of Killing received the Documentary award and Frozen took home the BAFTA for Animated Film. The EE Rising Star Award, voted for by the public, was presented to Will Poulter (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Millers). Sleeping with the Fishes won the British Short Animation award and the British Short Film award was presented to Room 8.
Director Peter Greenaway whose films include The Draughtsman’s Contract and The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover received the award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. The Fellowship, the highest honour the Academy can bestow, was presented to Helen Mirren (The Queen) by HRH The Duke of Cambridge.
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.
