Hindi
10th Siliguri International Film Festival starts 19 November
MUMBAI: Siliguri Cine Society, along with the West Bengal‘s information and culture department, will kick start the 10th Siliguri International Film Festival on 19 November.
The week-long festival will screen 18 foreign films, along with an Indian film at Dinabandhu Mancha in Siliguri. The film festival ends on 25 November.
Radio Misty 94.3FM has partnered with The 10th Siliguri International Film Festival The film festival will be inaugurated by eminent director Tarun Majumdar.
“Documentary films based on environment, wildlife and other burning issues of the contemporary age will be shown during the festival. Apart from the 19 films, Madhumati and Do Bigha Amen, directed by Bimal Roy, will also be screened at Ramkinkar Hall during the event,” said Siliguri Cine Society chief patron and urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya.
Radio Misty CEO Nishant Mittal said, “This is a proud moment for us to be a partner with International Film Festival. This is the biggest event for cine lovers on this region, where people can see films from all over world. We are making a big buzz around this festival. Apart from interviews of film makers RJ will talk about films to be screened in this event.”
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
