International
Oscar technical awardees announced
MUMBAI: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that eight scientific and technical achievements represented by 28 individual award recipients will be honoured at its annual Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation at the Beverly Wilshire on February 11.
The Academy Awards for scientific and technical achievements are: Technical Achievement Award (Academy Certificate), Andrew Clinton and Mark Elendt for the invention and integration of micro-voxels in the Mantra software (this work allowed, for the first time, unified and efficient rendering of volumetric effects such as smoke and clouds, together with other computer graphics objects, in a micro-polygon imaging pipeline), Scientific and Engineering Award (Academy Plaque), Radu Corlan, Andy Jantzen, Petru Pop and Richard Toftness (for the design and engineering of the Phantom family of high-speed cameras for motion picture production), Dr. Jürgen Noffke for the optical design and Uwe Weber (for the mechanical design of the ARRI Zeiss Master Prime Lenses for motion picture photography), Michael Lewis, Greg Marsden, Raigo Alas and Michael Vellekoop (for the concept, design and implementation of the Pictorvision Eclipse, an electronically stabilized aerial camera platform), E.F. “Bob” Nettmann (for the concept and system architecture), Michael Sayovitz (for the electronic packaging and integration), Brad Fritzel (for the electronic engineering, and Fred Miller for the mechanical engineering of the Stab-C Classic, Super-G and Stab-C Compact stabilizing heads).
To John D. Lowry, Ian Cavén, Ian Godin, Kimball Thurston and Tim Connolly (for the development of a unique and efficient system for the reduction of noise and other artifacts, thereby providing high-quality images required by the filmmaking process)
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on February 26.
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.
