Hindi
NFDC extends deadlines for Producers’ Lab at Film Bazaar
NEW DELHI: The deadline for entries to the Producers’ Lab for producers to learn the facets of production from leading Indian and international producers at the Film Bazaar has been extended to 20 October.
At the same time, the deadline for the Work-in-Progress lab has also been extended to 10 October.
The Bazaar, organised every year by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) will as usual be held from 20 to 24 November. The festival itself is being held from 20 to 30 November.
A new feature to be included this year is a Romance Screenwriters’ Lab with six scripts in the romance genre mentored by leading Indian filmmakers and writers.
“Another new feature at the Bazaar this year is Film Offices for various states of the country for their film promotion and tourism boards, and film commissions for them to introduce their delegates to the visiting delegates,” National Film Development Corporation managing director Neena Lath Gupta told indiantelevision.com.
There will also be a co-production market for South Asian stories with international appeal that can go for pitching to international market delegates, and Industry Screenings which are aimed at exclusive film screenings at digital theatres for investors, buyers and festival programmes from other Festivals in India and overseas.
Other sections include exhibition stalls for showcasing products and meetings with other delegates, and a Screenwriters’ Lab which will also have six scripts.
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
