International
Up There tops at Santara Barbara Intl film fest
MUMBAI: The 2012 Santa Barbara International Film Festival ended recently with Zam Salim‘s directorial debut Up There annexing the top prize.
The film that received the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema, is all about the deceased Martin, who‘s stuck in a dead-end afterlife job but dreams of ascending “up there” — a hope that‘s dashed when he loses a soul and must figure out how to recover the new arrival.
The award included a Panavision camera package worth $60,000.
The Audience Choice Award, sponsored by the SB Independent, was lapped up by director Ken Scott’s Starbuck. The film is about a former sperm donor who discovers that he‘s the father of 533 children, 142 of whom have filed a class action lawsuit to determine the identity of their biological father, known only by the pseudonym Starbuck.
The best Documentary Film Award went to Walter Matteson’s Pretty Old that follows four women aged 67 to 94, competing in the 30th year Anniversary of the Ms. Senior Sweetheart Beauty Pageant.
A special jury prize for Artistic Distinction was given to Barrymore directed by Erik Canuel and starring Christopher Plummer. The Best International Film Award went to Free Men that is all about an Algerian Muslim immigrant who joins the French Resistance to save Algerian Jews.
The jury included actor/comedian Dave Koechner; actor/director Brad Hall; actor/writer W. Earl Brown; actor Anthony Zerbe and his wife Arnette Zerbe; SBIFF originator Phyllis de Picciotto; director Glenn Jordan; actor Tim Matheson; online awards columnist Kris Tapley and writer/ director Perry Lang.
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.
