International
Dustin Hoffman to receive Donostia award at Spanish film fest
MUMBAI: Hollywood actor Dustin Hoffman will be honoured with a special lifetime achievement award by Spain‘s top film festival, the San Sebastian International Film Festival. The festival will take place from 21 to 29 September.
Seventy five year old Hoffman will receive the Donostia award marking the 60th anniversary of the festival in northern Spain, the oldest and most prestigious event of its kind in the Spanish-speaking world.
“The award will be a tribute to one of Hollywood‘s greatest actors, winner of two Academy Awards and a brilliant career behind him,” according to a statement from the festival organisers.
Hoffman has starred in films like The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Straw Dogs, All the President‘s Men, Marathon Man, Kramer vs. Kramer, Tootsie and Rain Man. Hoffman will also show his directorial sensibilities at the San Sebastian festival where he will present his directorial debut Quartet; a film set in a home for retired opera singers.
The film centers around three of the residents organise a concert every year to celebrate Giuseppe Verdi‘s birthday. But their peaceful life is disrupted by the arrival of one of the trio‘s ex-wife, and the potential of her expanding their group to a quartet.
Others to be honoured with awards during the festival are director Oliver Stone, John Travolta, Tommy Lee Jones and Scottish actor Ewan McGregor.
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.
