Hindi
IFFI Preview Committee includes film certification panel members
NEW DELHI: A 40-member preview committee with Vivek Agnihotri as the convenor has been set up to continue the process of shortlisting of films for the International Film Festival of India 2017 being held in November this year.
Indiantelevision.com had reported yesterday that the preview committee for shortlisting films for IFFI which had already seen around 150 films had also been dissolved. These changes have coincided with Smriti Zubin Irani taking on additional charge of the information and broadcasting ministry after M Venkaiah Naidu resigned.
The preview committee not merely shortlists films from all entries received, but recommends films for competition section which will then be seen by the International jury, and for the Country Focus section of the Festival.
IFFI, which is considered as one of the top ten film festivals of the world will be held from 20 to 28 November at Panaji in Goa.
The festival is organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in collaboration with the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) on behalf of the state government.
A four-day Film Bazaar will also be organized from 20 November by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
Generally most members of the preview committee are from Delhi as the process of shortlisting takes more than a month and the preview is done at one of the auditoriums in the Sirifort complex in the capital.
Furthermore, the names of members are not revealed to prevent any external influences.
However a majority of the members this time are from different parts of the country and this will entail infrastructural arrangements including travel and stay of the members. Only a handful of members are from Delhi.
The list reveals that the names have been shortlisted on the recommendations of the Central Board of Film Certification and regional certification panels and many are members of CBFC and regional panels. Furthermore, just a few members have exposure to international cinema.
The Preview Committeee now comprises:
|
1. |
Vivek Agnihotri |
|---|---|
|
2. |
Khalid Mohamed |
|
3. |
Aarti Bajaj |
|
4. |
Ramesh Patange |
|
5. |
Naresh Chander Lal |
|
6. |
Narendra Kohli |
|
7. |
Saibal Chatterjee |
|
8. |
Abhimanyu Singh |
|
9. |
Bhawana Somaaya |
|
10. |
Jeevitha Rajasekhar |
|
11. |
Gautami Tadimalla |
|
12. |
Nitesh Tiwari |
|
13. |
G.S. Bhaskar |
|
14. |
Pallavi Joshi |
|
15. |
Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury |
|
16. |
Raja Krishna Menon |
|
17. |
Siddharth Kak |
|
18. |
Bela Segal |
|
19. |
Tarun Katial |
|
20. |
Abhishek Basu |
|
21. |
Hrishitaa Bhatt |
|
22. |
Abhishek Jain |
|
23. |
Santwana Bordoloi |
|
24. |
Bhaskar Hazarika |
|
25. |
Pradip Kurbah |
|
26. |
Dominic Megam Sangma |
|
27. |
Maipaksana Haorongbam |
|
28. |
Zuala Chhangte |
|
29. |
Dr. Sachidanand Joshi |
|
30. |
Dr. Bharat Gupt |
|
31. |
Nirmala Sharma |
|
32. |
Rathi Vinay Jha |
|
33. |
Parvathi Menon |
|
34. |
Rajesh Kumar Singh |
|
35. |
Anil Rastogi |
|
36. |
Punit Asthana |
|
37. |
Ajay Malkani |
|
38. |
Bhumenjoy Konsam |
|
39. |
Sangee Dorjee Thongdok |
|
40. |
Lavlin Thadani |
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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
