International
#JapaneseFilmFestival returns to India
Mumbai: Japan Foundation announces the launch of the sixth edition of its Japanese Film Festival #JFFinIndia in association with PVR INOX. This annual edition will be held in 7 cities, starting in Delhi from 12 to 15 October at PVR Saket (Anupam). This will be followed by Hyderabad and Chennai from 2 to 5 November at PVR Next Galleria Mall, Punjagutta, (Hyderabad), and PVR Escape, Express Avenue, (Chennai), Mumbai and Bengaluru from 7 to 10 December at PVR ICON Infinity mall, Andheri West, (Mumbai), and INOX Mantri Square Mall, (Bengaluru), and finally Kolkata and Pune from 18 to 21 January at INOX South City, (Kolkata), and PVR ICON Pavilion Mall, (Pune).
The sixth edition of the festival, in association with PVR INOX, aims to screen 10 critically acclaimed and popular titles made by award-winning casts and crews. Each title offers insightful stories about morality and human behavior, moving and thought-provoking tales about family, support, social identity and exclusion, and enlightening narratives about the realities of adult life. Beloved anime from the Detective Conan franchise and the first animation film by legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki will also be screened at the festival.
With regards to this year’s festival, Japan Foundation New Delhi director general Koji Sato stated, “Cinema fans in India are quite familiar with Japanese films and are eager to watch more of them on the big screen. In response to the demand of our Indian audience, the Japan Foundation launched the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) in 2017, and we have been committed to offering the best selection of Japanese films ever since. We are working tirelessly to ensure that the sixth edition of the Japanese Film Festival 2023 provides the best cinematic experience, with a thoughtful selection of films that capture the essence of contemporary Japanese cinema.”
The Japanese Film Festival will showcase an exciting lineup, including the much-anticipated ‘We Made a Beautiful Bouquet,’ written by screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto, who bagged the Best Screenplay award for ‘Monster’ at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in 2023. The festival will also screen a 4k remastered edition of ‘Lupin The 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro,’ a beloved anime film directed by Hayao Miyazaki in 1979. In addition, selected masterpieces such as ‘A Man, ‘Anime Supremacy!,’ ‘Father of the Milky Way Railroad,’ ‘Intolerance,’ ‘MONDAYS: See you “this” week!,’ ‘Detective Conan the Movie: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital,’ ‘Detective Conan: Episode “ONE”’, ‘Detective Conan the Movie: The Last Wizard of the Century,’ will be screened at JFF 2023. The films will be screened in Japanese with English subtitles for the viewer’s convenience across select PVR INOX’s Multiplex and will offer the Indian audience a chance to experience the culture, art, and life of Japan.
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.
