International
Five debut films nominated for European Film Awards
MUMBAI: Five debut films have been nominated to be presented at the 24 European Film Awards on 3 December.
The film films are: ‘Adem‘ (Oxygen), Belgium/The Netherlands (director Hans Van Nuffel); ‘Atmen‘ (Breathing), Austria (writer and director Karl Markovics), ‘Michael‘ Austria (writer and director Markus Schleinzer); ‘Smukke Menesker‘ (Nothing‘s All Bad), Denmark (writer-director Mikkel Munch-Fals) and ‘Tilva Ros‘ Serbia (writer-director Nikola Ležaic).
The Europen Discovery 2011 – Prix are presented by FIPRESCI
(International Federation of Film Critics) as part of the European Film Awards to a young and upcoming director for a first full-length feature film.
This year‘s nominations were determined by a committee consisting of observer Yves Marmion (EFA Chairman, France), Board Members Els Vandevorst (the Netherlands) and Cedomir Kolar (France), EFA Members Pierre-Henri Deleau (France) and Jacob Neiiendam (Denmark), as well as Alin Tasciyan (Turkey), Paulo Portugal (Portugal), and László Kriston (Hungary), all of them members of FIPRESCI, the International Federation of Film Critics.
The nominated films will now be made available to all 2,500 members of the European Film Academy. They will vote for the winner who will be announced at the 24th European Film Awards on 3 December in Berlin.
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.
