Hindi
About 45 films to participate at the Voices from the Waters International Filmfest
NEW DELHI: About 45 short and feature length films from over 20 countries will be screened at the ninth Voices from the Waters International Film Festival to be held in Bangalore from 11 to 14 September.
In addition to the films, conferences will also be held in multiple venues. The aim is to encourage more documentary filmmakers focus their creativity on water
The selected films are out of 145 films received from 27 countries. Some of the countries which have sent films include the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Iran, Israel, Canada, the Czech Republic, Lebanon, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Poland, Italy, Ukraine, Spain, Germany and Norway besides India.
Organised by the Bangalore Film Society, the venue of the festival is the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA).
The inauguration will be studded with cultural events like dance performances, water songs and so on, and prominent people working on water issues from across the country will be present along with film directors and water activists. There will be photography and painting exhibitions, eco bazaars and organic food courts.
The festival comes at a time when the world is going through a phase of uncertain climatic conditions of unseasonal gale and storm, heat wave and cold wave, melting Antarctica and rising seas gobbling up the landmass, increasing desertification and so on. The festival offers you a glimpse into all these and more – the struggle, the hopes and despair, the success stories etc.
Civilizations through the ages harnessed water and grew around it. However, contemporary civilizations have seen it as an economic utility and a dumping ground for all the waste they generate and polluted it. The festival is also the stories of restoration of water to its pristine beauty. Viewing these visual narratives gives us all an opportunity to focus on the global water crisis and engage in deep reflection to conserve this life sustaining nectar for posterity. Water brings us all together.
Apart from films, the other avenues of engagement at the festival would be painting and photo exhibition, art installations, water songs, lectures, roundtables, eco-conscious product bazaar and interaction with film directors, water activists and water scholars.
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
