International
Celebrating 10 years of LGBTQIA+ Voices: Five Films For Freedom
Mumbai: British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, in partnership with BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, has announced the return of Five Films for Freedom for its tenth anniversary. This global event showcases five captivating short films from the Philippines, India, Spain, the UK, and the USA. In India, in partnership with The Queer Muslim Project, 12 screenings of the films will be held across ten cities across India with ten partners.
Free to watch online from 13 March to 24 March, Five Films for Freedom shines a spotlight on LGBTQIA+ narratives that embody resilience and authenticity. Through these films, the audience will get to know more about the emerging LGBTQI+ cinema across the world and understand the life and challenges faced by the community, with themes including identity, love, family, and acceptance.
From the historic defiance captured in Compton’s 22 in San Francisco to the heartfelt exploration of love and understanding in Halfway, this year’s selection promises to captivate audiences with its diverse and impactful stories. Each of the films touches upon themes of family, identity, and the universal pursuit of acceptance, this lineup offers powerful perspectives on the LGBTQIA+ experience.
One of the films is the award-winning “Halfway,” directed by Kumar Chheda (India), a moving portrayal of love and reconciliation set against the backdrop of Juhu Beach in Mumbai.
The other films on the list are:
- Little One, Directed by Clister Santos (Philippines)
- Cursive, Directed by Isabel Steubel Johnson (UK)
- The First Kiss, Directed by Miguel Lafuente (Spain)
- Comptons’22, Directed by Drew de Pinto (USA)
The films will be available to the audiences to view online from 13-24 March. Audiences in India are encouraged to watch the films and share their experiences using the hashtag #FiveFilmsForFreedom. For more information and to access the films, visit the British Arts YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@britishartschannel/featured
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.
