Hindi
Mumbai fest set to welcome French film personalities
MUMBAI: With the confirmed participation of French film personalities like renowned Delphine Coulin, Muriel Coulin, Nassim Amouache, Martin Provost, Jose Alcala and Stephane Robelin, the 13th Mumbai Film Festival is all set to welcome some of the best new French cinema and artistes for the 4th edition of the ‘Rendez-vous with French Cinema‘, co-organised with the French Embassy in India and Unifrance.
Totally, ten films will be screened during the course of the festival, including some of the acclaimed and award winning new films. The festival will see renowned French cinema personalities such as Delphine Coulin, Muriel Coulin, Nassim Amouache, Martin Provost, Jose Alcala and Stephane Robelin amongst others in attendance.
Said Consul General of France Jean-Raphael Peytregnet, “We are happy to be associated with the Mumbai Film Festival that has certainly etched a place for itself, to be recognized as one of the best film festivals both in India and internationally. The ‘4thRendez-vous with French Cinema‘ section will showcase some of the best new French Cinema, with the participation of some well-known French stars.”
The special section seeks to establish an exhilarating platform for showcasing the various facets of French contemporary cinema, helping Indian distributors to promote new French films and celebrate the growing Indo-French ties.
Averred 13th Mumbai Film Festival director Srinivasan Narayanan, “Mumbai Film Festival is committed to showcasing the best of world Cinema, this only validates our efforts. We are delighted to be welcoming some of the fine French talents and thank the French Embassy in India and Unifrance for their support to the Mumbai Film Festival in scaling up the festival with brand new films and celebrity participation from France.”
The section will open with The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius – a new silent film that pays thoughtful tribute to the traditions of the past while creating fun for modern audiences.
Other films that will be screened include Beloved, Fabienne, The Conquest, The Minister, The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Tomboy.
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
