International
Isabelle Huppert wins BBC Four World Cinema award
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC‘s channel BBC Four has announced that actor Isabelle Huppert is to be the recipient of the World Cinema Achievement Award at the eighth BBC Four World Cinema Awards, celebrating the best of international film-making and highlighting the channel‘s commitment to international cinema.
Huppert is famous for fearlessly embracing challenging roles – most notably in ‘The Piano Teacher‘. Huppert has worked with numerous great directors such as Chabrol, Godard, Haneke and Tavernier.
BBC Arts commissioning editor Mark Bell said, “It is a privilege to welcome the extraordinary Isabelle Huppert to this year‘s awards. She has delivered outstanding performances through her long career, and we are honoured that she has accepted this year‘s Achievement Award.”
Huppert will receive her award at a special BBC Four television ceremony, presented by Jonathan Ross on 15 November at the BFI Southbank in London, to be aired on 20 November.
BBC Four will also showcase Isabelle Huppert‘s talents by broadcasting her film ‘White Material‘ immediately after the World Cinema Awards in November.
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.
