Kannada filmmaker P Sheshadri, known for his National Award-winning films, is set to take Kannada cinema to an international audience with his film Ruby Cube, which will be screened at the Indian Film Festival in Kazan, in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan.
The festival, scheduled for October 15 and 16, 2026, is being organised as part of the India-Russia business forum, TIME: Tatarstan Initiative Mutual Efficiency. The event aims to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries through cinema and create opportunities for filmmakers to explore collaborations.
Sheshadri will also participate in a special discussion titled ‘Filming the Future: Opportunities in India-Russia Cinema’ on October 15 at the Centre for Unique Mastery in Kazan. Invited to share his experience as a filmmaker, he will be part of a conversation on the possibilities and challenges of cinematic cooperation between India and Russia.
Ruby Cube explores the complexities of family relationships, fractured bonds and the process of reconciliation. At the heart of the narrative is the Rubik’s Cube, which becomes a metaphor for the challenges of life and relationships. Much like the puzzle, putting the pieces of life together calls for patience, understanding and perseverance.
Based on a story by Prathama S, the film features Dattanna, Vidyamurthy, Radhya and Dev Devaiah. Its screening at the festival offers an opportunity for Kannada cinema to reach audiences beyond India and introduce them to stories rooted in the region’s cultural and social experiences.
The festival, organised at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan, will showcase selected contemporary Indian films with Russian subtitles. Beyond screening films, the initiative seeks to encourage conversations between Indian filmmakers and Russian audiences, while exploring avenues for future cooperation in film production and distribution.
The event also positions cinema as a means of cultural exchange, allowing audiences from different backgrounds to engage with one another through stories and shared human experiences.
With Ruby Cube featuring in the line-up and Sheshadri joining discussions on the future of filmmaking between the two countries, the festival provides a platform for Kannada cinema to be part of a wider cultural conversation between India and Russia.