International
Arnold Schwarzenegger to inaugurate Busan West Film Festival in California
NEW DELHI: South Korea‘s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF is to present its films in the United States in a festival titled Busan West Film Festival. The festival will take place from 8 to 10 March is in collaboration with the Chapman University‘s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in Orange city of California.
Award-winning writer/director Kim Jee-woon and Hollywood icon Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with screenwriter and Dodge College alumnus Andy Knauer (MFA/Screenwriting‘06), will open the festival with a special presentation of their recent collaboration "The Last Stand" on 8 March at Marion Knott Studios on Chapman University‘s campus in Orange. Kim Jee-woon will be honoured with a special icon award and participate in a moderated discussion with Schwarzenegger.
The Busan West lineup will feature acclaimed films from five countries: China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and the U.S.
New to the festival this year is a competition for short films. Twenty short films are scheduled to screen during the festival and awards will be presented at the festival‘s Closing Night reception, 10 March. The two winning short films will be programmed at the 2013 Busan International Film Festival in October.
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The official Busan West 2013 lineup is comprised of the following films:
Busan West presents a unique filmmaker showcase that brings select notable Asian films and filmmakers to the U.S. to create a new and unique platform for heightened recognition outside of Asia.
Over the course of three days, the public is invited to experience a showcase of contemporary and classic Asian films, many selected from the Busan International Film Festival by Dodge College Professor Nam Lee, an expert in Pan-Asian film. The 2013 Busan West program features a special opening night event honoring director Kim Jee-woon as the Icon Award recipient and a martial arts cinema panel (Sunday, March 10) which will include renowned martial arts writer/director Haofeng Xu (The Grandmaster, The Sword Identity).
The event marks the third venture between Chapman University‘s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and South Korea‘s Busan International Film Festival to introduce the culture, look and feel of Asia‘s largest film festival to an American audience and celebrate the vibrant and emerging Korean and Pan-Asian cinema.
Previous editions of the festival have attracted some of Korea‘s most renowned filmmakers including celebrated writer/director Bong Joon-ho (Mother, Memories of Murder, The Host), award-winning writer/director Park Chan-wook (Thirst director‘s cut), writer/director Kim Jee-woon (The Good, the Bad, the Weird), director Lee Doo-yong (Last Witness), Oh Jeom-kyun (Viva, Love), Park Jin-sung (Evil Spirit: VIY), director Kim Dong-won ("Drifting Away") and writer/director Kim Young-nam (Don‘t Look Back). |
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.
