International
Fox 2000 makes changes in staff
MUMBAI: Fox Filmed Entertainment has announced that Elizabeth Gabler has renewed her deal as president of Fox 2000 Pictures. The studio has also announced that Jessica Goodman has joined Fox 2000 Pictures as executive vp production and Marisa Paiva has been promoted from creative executive to director of development.
In about 12 years that Gabler has been in charge, Fox 2000 has consistently produced at least one or two sizable hits most years. “For the past 12 years, Elizabeth’s savvy, vision and taste has taken Fox 2000 Pictures to a level of success and accomplishment that exceeded our already high expectations,” Fox said in a statement.
Among the films she has overseen are Walk the Line, The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me and the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies, which the studio says have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.
Forthcoming films that would come out of the Fox 2000 stable this year include Life of Pi, directed by Ang Lee; Guernsey, directed by Kenneth Branagh and the sequel Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters.
Goodman was recently with Warner Bros. where she was executive vp production overseeing projects such as Contagion, I Am Legend, Oceans 11 (and its two sequels), Michael Clayton and The Informant.
Paiva is working on Life of Pi. Last year, she was creative executive on Water for Elephants.
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.
