International
Kirsten Dunst’s film to open 57th San Francisco International Film Festival
MUMBAI: In a statement released this week, the 57th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) held from 24 April – 8 May, announced its highly-anticipated Opening Night and Closing Night selections.
SFIFF kicks off with the Opening Night presentation of Hossein Amini’s (The Wings of the Dove, Drive) gripping adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s bestselling novel, The Two Faces of January starring Oscar Issac (Inside Llewyn Davis), Viggo Mortensen (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Kirsten Dunst (Spiderman trilogy) gorgeously filmed on location in Greece and Turkey. The film is set in 1962 where a well-heeled couple (Mortensen and Dunst) come to know an American expatriate acting as an Athens tour guide (Isaac). But an incident at the couple’s hotel puts all three in danger and creates a precarious interdependence between them.
The Festival will come to a stirring conclusion with Chris Messina’s (The Mindy Project, Argo) drama Alex of Venice, starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), Messina and Don Johnson (Django Unchained). With this film, Messina creates a winning mix of wistful comedy and heartfelt drama in this tale of accepting the unexpected. The film revolves around Alex (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), an environmental lawyer whose job often keeps her away from the home she shares with her son, husband (Messina) and actor father (Don Johnson). When her husband rebels against being a stay-at-home dad and takes a time out from the marriage, Alex’s world quickly becomes very complicated.
“We are delighted to offer these exceptional films by first-time directors who are best known for their work in other areas of the film world,” said San Francisco Film Society Executive Director Noah Cowan in the statement. “Championing talented artists who aren’t afraid of taking risks is at the heart of the Film Society’s mission and our ongoing support of filmmakers around the world. I can’t think of a better pair of films to kick off and wrap up what is going to be an amazing festival.”
The 57th San Francisco International Film Festival, organised by the San Francisco Film Society, runs at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, Castro Theatre and New People Cinema in San Francisco and the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley. Held each spring for 15 days, the festival is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in one of the country’s most beautiful cities, featuring 200 films and live events, 14 juried awards and nearly $40,000 in cash prizes, upwards of 100 participating filmmaker guests and diverse and engaged audiences with more than 65,000 in attendance.
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.
