International
KASHISH 2023 to open with Onir’s feature Pine Cone
Mumbai: The edition 14 of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival will open on 7 June at Liberty Cinema with filmmaker Onir’s latest film Pine Cone, which will have its world premiere at the festival.
National Award winning filmmaker Onir said, “I and the entire team of Pine Cone are thrilled that our film will have the world premiere at KASHISH which I consider to be home. This is for the first time that any of my films is having a world premiere in India and it’s special for many reasons. It comes at a historic time when the Supreme Court of India is debating Marriage Equality. Our film is a celebration of queer love seen from a queer gaze, and it gives me immense pleasure to bring it to my city at this very precious festival”.
The festival will close on 11 June with the Canadian feature film When Time Got Louder, directed by Connie Cocchia, who identifies as an LGBTQ+ director, producer, and writer. The film is a coming of age drama of a young lesbian girl, and her family bonding with her autistic brother starring Willow Shields (Hunger Games), Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Lochlyn Munro (Riverdale), and the debut performance of Jonathan Simao. The film also involved the autistic and LGBTQ+ communities throughout production in casting, crew and music selections.
Founder festival director Sridhar Rangayan said, “The Opening Film and Closing Films are really special as they bookend the festival and mark the beginning of a conversation and also flag off ideas for future conversations. We are opening and closing with films by queer filmmakers, involving queer artists and technicians! That is surely the right way ahead”,
“In that sense Pine Cone from India and When Time Got Louder from Canada are two films that are unique, because the first is about contemporary gay relationships in India post Sec377 reading down; and the second is a film that explores intersectional relationships between queerness and disability. Both films are sure to leave a mark long after you have exited the theatre and make you reflect upon life”, he elaborated.
KASHISH 2023 will screen 127 films from 45 countries out of which 110 films from 41 countries will play at the on-ground edition at Liberty Cinema and Alliance Française de Bombay.
The festival will also have panel discussions, performances by the queer community and allies, workshops, interactive sessions and a film pitching session for your LGBTQ+ filmmakers to make their next short film.
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.
