Hindi
NFDC restarts production with eight films in two years
PANAJI: The annual Film Bazaar, organised by the National Film Development Corporation, concluded with several countries such as the United Kingdom showing interest films produced by the Corporation.
There was also considerable progress in co-production discussions with foreign filmmakers, with nine Indian films shortlisted for this purpose.
The Bazaar was held for three days to coincide with the 40th International Film Festival of India which commenced on 23 November and will continue till 3 December. About 200 Indian and foreign films are being screened in various sections.
NFDC managing director Nina Lath Gupta told indiantelevision.com that there had been sales to the United Kingdom and talks had been initiated with some others. She also said the NFDC had for the first time made forays into new and non-traditional markets as well. She said the results were being processed and would be in a position to give more details later.
Gupta said co-production projects take longer to finalise as those who come here have to hold discussions with others back home.
She claimed that there was ‘a world of difference’ compared to last year’s budget because it was more business-oriented this time.
Answering another question, she admitted that the NFDC had stopped production for many years but had re-entered this field in 2007 and had so far made eight films in different languages.
The Bazaar was attended by more than 350 delegates from 20 countries spread over 3 days and witnessed some successful meetings of filmmakers with International and National co-producers, bankers, agents and other potential financiers from India and abroad in the Co- Production Segment.
Prominent Exhibitors like Pixion, Toonz Animation, Hong Kong Trade Development Corporation, Magic Lantern Foundations and others participated in the Bazaar. International Partners like Europa Cinemas, American Film Institute’s project 20/20, CineMart, BingerLab, Locarno Film Festival and others also had an active presence in the Bazaar.
The NFDC Knowledge Series was launched in Film Bazaar this Year and included discussions with Mani Ratnam, Om Puri , Manish Acharya, Prashant Pethe and presentations by Dina Dattani on Decoding India’s audio visual on production treaties with UK, Brazil, Germany, Italy and France. This included International Film Financing by Juliane Schulze, Partner in Peacefulfish, and Digital Distribution on web and mobile platforms by Janet Brown of Cinetic Rights Management.
Representatives from international film festivals like Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Cannes’ Semaine de la Critique and Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles interacted with delegates in connection with the forthcoming editions of these festivals.
The Bazaar was aimed to create opportunities for networking and business for producers, filmmakers and distributors from across the world.
The feature films selected this year for the Co production Market were ‘Ceylon’ by Santosh Sivan; ‘I Am’ by Onirban; ‘Inside-Out’ by Ketan Mehta; ‘Keep off the Grass’ by Ben Rekhi; ‘Manjunath’ by Sandeep Varma; ‘Obsession’ by Suman Ghosh, ‘The Return of the Tiger’ by Mike Pandey; ‘The Virgin Goddess’ by K.N.T. Sastry, and ‘Twosome’ by Siddharth Sinha.
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
