International
Gotham award to Tom Rothman
MUMBAI: Fox Filmed Entertainment chairman and CEO Tom Rothman will be presented with the 21st annual industry tribute at the 21st Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards on 38 November in New York.
Each year, the Industry Tribute is awarded to a career veteran who has significantly influenced the motion picture business.
Anchoring the evening‘s seven competitive awards for Best Feature, Best Documentary, Breakthrough Director, Breakthrough Actor, Best Ensemble Performance, Best Film and the new Audience Award are tributes to film community icons, including the Industry Tribute, as well as a director, actor and an actress.
Tom Rothman‘s extensive experience in all facets of the film industry makes him the ideal recipient of this award. In addition to overseeing some of the biggest blockbusters in motion picture history, he has long been a steadfast supporter of independent cinema.
In 1994, Rothman founded Fox Searchlight Pictures, which is one of the most successful producers and distributors of specialised fare in the industry, and continues to receive consistent and unwavering backing from its parent studio.
The CEO is one of the longest tenured studio heads in the modern Hollywood era in the career of whom Fox released films as Black Swan, Cast Away, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Walk the Line, The Devil Wears Prada, Water for Elephants, The Simpsons Movie, the X-Men and Ice Age and the two top grossers Titanic and Avatar.
Said the Independent Filmmaker Project executive director Joana Vicente, "We are truly honoured to dedicate our Industry Tribute to Tom Rothman, who has made an indelible impact in the film community. Through his work, he has supported the spirit of independent film and given these voices the means to reach audiences, irrespective of the budget size of their work."
Previous honorees of Gotham Awards are James Schamus, Bob & Harvey Weinstein, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sheila Nevins , David Linde, Jonathan Sehring and film critic Roger Ebert; actors Robert Duval, Stanley Tucci, Natalie Portman, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet; filmmakers Mira Nair, Gus Van Sant, Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese.
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.
