International
IMAX & Lumière sign 10-theatre revenue share agreement in China
MUMBAI: IMAX Corporation, IMAX China Holding Inc., and Sichuan Lumière Pavilions Company Ltd. (Lumière), a leading exhibitor in China, announced a full revenue share agreement for 10 new IMAX® theatres. The theatres will be added to new projects located in tier one and tier two cities throughout China and are slated to be installed by the end of 2019. The deal brings Lumière’s IMAX total to 19 theatres.
“We consider IMAX a key competitive advantage for our business and today’s agreement is a direct result of the success we’ve experienced to date with IMAX, which generates incremental box office for our complexes,” said Jimmy Wu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Sichuan Lumière Pavilions Company Ltd. “IMAX has become a part of the movie going mindset of people in China and we look forward to offering our patrons more of the best films around worldwide in the premium, state-of-the-art IMAX format.”
“We are delighted to expand our relationship with Lumière – a valued partner that will bring new IMAX theatres to popular shopping malls in excellent locations across the country,” said IMAX Corp. CEO Richard L Gelfond. “In the first quarter of this year, our signings growth in China was up 171% from last year. Today’s agreement, along with our recently announced 40-theatre deal in China, signals that this momentum continues. With our end-to-end technology, high brand awareness in China, and the steady rapid expansion of the cinema business, we believe there is a sizable opportunity for us to continue expanding in China well beyond our current footprint.”
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.
