Hindi
Bangalore fest to screen 130 films from 40 countries
MUMBAI: The fourth edition of the Bangalore International Film Festival will feature 130 foreign films from 40 countries.
The festival will be held from 15-22 December.
“This year‘s festival, with four categories of awards in the competitive section, will feature 175 feature films of which 130 will be foreign films from 40 countries, 30 from Indian cinema and 15 from Kannada,” said Festival Director and Chairman, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy T S Nagabharana.
The following are the awards in the four categories: Golden Berunda for the Best Film (Rs 1 million) and Silver Berunda for Best Director (Rs 500,000) in world cinema; NETPAC Jury award (Rs 200,000) for the Best Film in Asian Cinema; Critics‘ award titled Suchitra Sanman for the Best Film (Rs 200,000) in Chitrabharati (Indian Cinema) and film societies‘ pick for the Best Film (Rs 200,000) in Kannada cinema.
The festival will focus on Polish cinema, Egyptian cinema, Asian cinema, Chitrabharati (contemporary Indian) and Kannada cinema (contemporary Kannada).
The retrospective section will comprise films of Michael Cacoyannis and Theo Angelopoulos of Greece; Hsiao-hsien Hou of Taiwan; Dariush Mehrjui of Iran, G Aravanidan from Malayalam cinema and Puttanna Kanagal from Kannada.
The 175 films to be screened will be chosen from 350 entries.
The festival is organised by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, set up two years ago to promote cinema culture and education in the state. The government has sanctioned Rs 30 million for this purpose.–
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
