International
Melbourne Fest unveils 30 films on show this year
MUMBAI: The Melbourne International Film Festival, scheduled to be held from 2 to 19 August has announced its first 30 films.
Besides The Sapphires, that will be the opening night film, two other Australian thrillers have been selected in the feature film section.
While the first 100 Bloody Acres, the directorial debut by the Colin and Cameron Cairnes, is a gruesome comedy starring Angus Sampson and Damon Herriman, Last Dance, by first-time director David Pulbrook tells of the fallout of a terrorist attack on a synagogue by surviving bomber Sadiq Mohammad as he seeks shelter in the house of holocaust survivor Ulah Lippman.
Joining the Australian films will be Sundance and Cannes winner Beasts of the Southern Wild, directed by Benh Zeitlin and Wes Anderson‘s Moonrise Kingdom.
In the documentary section Paul Kelly: Stories of Me is pitted against Make Hummus Not War. They are accompanied by LCD Sound system documentary Shut Up and Play the Hits and This Ain‘t California.
Yardbird, that premiered at the recent Cannes Film Festival will screen in the short film section along with a Disney short film Paperman and The Man that Got Away.
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.
