International
European Film Academy and Asia Pacific Screen Academy to work together
NEW DELHI: The European Film Academy (EFA) and the Asia Pacific Screen Academy (APSA) have announced an alliance between the two organisations and the first event will be the participation on the 2011 APSA International Jury by Israeli director Samuel Maoz, member of the European Film Academy and the Asia Pacific Screen Academy.
EFA Director Marion Doering said: “The EFA and APSA share remarkably similar ambitions and ideals including our determination to actively promote the films and filmmakers of our culturally diverse territories to a worldwide audience. We each embrace a multiplicity of languages and cultures within our memberships. We therefore very much enjoy having found in APSA a partner facing similar challenges and joys that
such initiatives bring. We wish Des and his team a very successful 5th Awards Ceremony in November!”
APSA Chairman Des Power said today that he was delighted that Samuel Maoz would join the APSA International Jury in 2011: “We are deeply indebted to Marion Doering and the EFA. When we first contemplated APSA some seven years ago, the European Film Academy had been in existence for almost two decades and we looked to it for advice. Marion generously shared her knowledge built over 20 years of
experience in developing an Academy and in presenting a major Awards program and ceremony to acclaim the work of filmmakers from a culturally diverse region.”
Both academies are discussing possibilities to develop screening programmes whereby APSA-winning films, such as the Best Feature film or Jury Grand Prize winner, would screen at special presentations in Europe hosted by the EFA and vice versa.
The 5th Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be held on Australia‘s Gold Coast on 24 November; the 24th European Film Awards will be held in Berlin on 3 December..
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.
