International
Warner Bros installs screening room at US Embassy, Paris
MUMBAI: Warner Bros. has installed a renovated screening room at the US Ambassador’s Residence in Paris. The studio installed a digital screening room complete with 3D technology at the residence of current American ambassador to Paris Charles Rivkin.
“The French film industry has always been considered the gold standard,” Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Barry Meyer has been quoted to have said while on a visit to Paris to inaugurate the renovated screening room.
“One of the reasons we did this was to help to cement our long relationship with France. It’s not only a gift to the Ambassador and to the U.S. government, but it’s a gift to the French film industry as well,” he added.
The screening room is located in a former ballroom that is said to have hosted both dances and film screenings when it was a German Officers Club during World War II. After the war, the building was leased to the British Royal Air Force Club then to the United States Government who bought it in 1948 and moved the Ambassador’s residence there in 1966.
Today, the room boasts a state-of-the-art digital projector, custom-made speakers and a screen with built-in 3D technology. Curtain liners were also installed to block out light during daytime screenings. The Ambassador and his team hope the screening room will become a constructive tool to facilitate their public diplomacy efforts in France.
The Embassy plans to sponsor film series focusing on important themes and invite audiences such as students and young leaders to discover the magic of the movies. First on the agenda is a series of election-themed documentaries ahead of the U.S. presidential race.
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.
