Producer Vivek Singhania, through his production company Picture Perfect, has signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saidam Baryl, led by Sakha filmmaker Stepan Burnashev, and Sakhafilm, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)’s state film company, to explore the development and potential production of the Indian romantic drama Weekend in Yakutia. The project will be developed in collaboration with the region’s filmmakers, drawing on Saidam Baryl’s local production expertise and Sakhafilm’s infrastructure and technical resources.
The agreement was signed during the 9th Yakutsk International Film Festival, which took place from November 4 to 9, 2026. It signals a potential new production partnership between India’s film industry and Yakutia, a remote region of Russia’s Far East, that has developed one of the country’s most distinctive independent cinema scenes.
Weekend follows two young people, Varun and Kaya, whose unexpected encounter leads to a life-changing weekend. Originally developed with locations in India, the project is now being considered for a possible adaptation that would incorporate Yakutia’s landscapes, culture and environment.
Under the proposed arrangement, Saidam Baryl and Sakhafilm would serve as the project’s principal local production partners, providing the foundation for potential shooting in Yakutia. Picture Perfect will explore the film’s development and potential Indian production partnerships, while Saidam Baryl will assess opportunities for local production, creative adaptation and on-the-ground coordination. Sakhafilm will examine ways to support the project through production infrastructure, technical resources, local expertise and access to filming locations.