International
Film Production Capital opens offices in Australia
MUMBAI: Tax credit-based financier Film Production Capital (FPC), owned by Will French, has opened its office in Australia to capitalise on growing government tax incentives behind the boom in Australian film and television production.
The company has begun the search to hire a local head of operations and is currently finalising plans for a syndicate of US and Australian banks to provide a credit facility that FPC will then use to lend against two schemes.
The schemes are the Producer Offset programme, a refundable offset of up to 40 per cent of the Australian production spend for films with significant Australian content and the Location Offset programme, a refundable offset of up to 15 per cent of the Australian production spend for any producer shooting in Australia, regardless of the film‘s Australian content.
FPC launched in Louisiana in 2003 and till date sources close to the company said it had financed or acquired tax credits for nearly 70 productions including the upcoming The Expendables, Stone and Father Of Invention as well as previous releases such as Premonition and Ray.
FPC also has branches in Arizona, Georgia, Massachusetts and Michigan and currently has 12 films in various stages of production.
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.
