Hindi
South African film Lucky wins top prize at Bengaluru fest
MUMBAI: South African film Lucky has won the State Government‘s Golden Bherunda for best film at the recently concluded 4th Bangalore International Film Festival. The award carried a purse of Rs 1 million.
Feo Aladag of Germany bagged the Silver Berunda and Rs 500,000 for his directorial venture When We Leave. Flying Fish from Sri Lanka by Sanjeewa Pushpa Kumar got the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, with a purse of Rs 200,000.
Speaking on behalf of the international section jury, Vishwanath said that Lucky was selected for its portrayal of the socio-political situation in South Africa. “We focussed on the film‘s ability to communicate rather than artistic quality. In fact, Lovely Man by Teddy Soeriaatmadja of Indonesia came close to winning. When We Leave was the natural choice as it is a schematic drama about a woman trying to free herself from the emotional and physical violence of the cruel patriarchal system,” he said.
The jury comprised of Sturla Gunnarsson of Canada, Xie Fei of China, Jan Erik Holst of Norway, Gunilla Burstedt of Sweden, Sun Shaoyi of China, Dang Nhat Minh of Vietnam and Kesari Harvoo of India.
Noble Chor, a Bengali film by Suman Ghosh, got the Suchitra Sanman (and Rs 200,000) in the Indian cinema section. The jury of the section comprised Rafique Baghdadi, George Mathew, Manoj Barpujari, Rekha Deshpande and Subhash Desai.
Gandhi Smiles by Krish Joshi and Puttakkana Highway by B Suresh shared the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy award while Chintu School by Sheshagiri Yelameli got the jury‘s special mention. The jury comprised Subash Chougle, KR Manoj and Pradipta Nag.
Hindi
Shekhar Suman opens acting academy in Mumbai
The veteran actor-presenter launches SSFA, promising immersive, mentorship-led training for aspiring actors and storytellers
Mumbai: Forty years in front of the camera, and Shekhar Suman still isn’t done. The actor, host, writer and director, one of Indian entertainment’s most restless polymaths, is now training his sights on the next generation, launching the Shekhar Suman Film Academy (SSFA) in Mumbai on 22nd April 2026. Registrations for the inaugural batch are already open.
SSFA pitches itself squarely against formula-driven acting schools, leading with an intensive three-month programme that Suman says he personally designed and will largely conduct himself. The curriculum blends voice and speech work, emotional access, body awareness and camera technique with the Linklater Voice Method, film language and on-set discipline, and rounds off with a student film, giving trainees their first taste of a real set.
Masterclasses with actors, casting directors and filmmakers sit alongside the core course. The academy is conceived as a platform that will eventually sprawl into screenwriting, direction, cinematography, music production and post-production: a full creative ecosystem rather than a single acting school.
“For me, this academy is not just an institution. It is a very personal way of giving back to the craft that has given me everything,” said Suman. “Over the years, acting has taught me discipline, imagination, resilience, and the importance of truth in performance. Through this academy, I hope to create something that goes beyond training and becomes a true creative journey for every student who walks in.”
Behind the scenes, the academy is backed by GBM Studios. Dharmesh Sangani, founder and visionary, is the driving force, bringing what the academy describes as “a focused approach to creating meaningful opportunities within the industry.” Adhyayan Suman, founder and director and Shekhar’s son, adds a performer’s perspective honed across acting, music and direction. Ekant Babani, partner and chief operating officer, handles strategy and operations.
Entry is deliberately low-barrier. No prior training is needed: applicants sit a basic self-audition test, shifting the focus firmly to potential rather than polish. The academy says it aims to stay accessible while delivering a premium, hands-on experience.
In a country where acting schools multiply almost as fast as OTT platforms, Suman’s personal stamp and his willingness to stand in the room and teach may be the sharpest edge SSFA has. For those ready to test that promise, the curtain is already up. Apply at shekharsumanfilmacademy.com
