Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atul Dullo (centre) during the inauguration of first International Film Festival Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK), in Srinagar on Monday
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Filmmakers, cinema enthusiasts and locals gathered at Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on Monday as Kashmir opened its first international film festival, marking an attempt to revive the Valley’s long association with the Indian film industry.The four-day festival, being held from September 7 to 10 and organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Information and Public Relations, brings films from India and abroad to local audiences. The venue overlooks Dal Lake and the Zabarwan hills.About 1,100 films from 92 countries were submitted for the festival, with 135 films from more than 40 countries selected for screening after review by a preview committee. The programme also includes master classes and panel discussions.Chief Minister Omar Abdullah felicitated prominent Bollywood filmmakers, including Ramesh Sippy and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.Experiencing CinemaEarlier, on the sidelines of an event in Srinagar, Abdullah said the festival would give local audiences, including film enthusiasts and mass communication students, an opportunity to experience cinema from different parts of the world.He said the event would also give greater exposure to Jammu and Kashmir’s film industry and encourage filmmakers to rediscover the region as a filming destination. Kashmir had been a popular location for film productions long before countries such as Switzerland emerged as major international filming destinations, he said, adding that he hoped the festival would help revive that tradition.The festival comes as the administration seeks to rebuild Kashmir’s association with the Indian film industry, which weakened after the outbreak of militancy in 1989. Before the conflict, the Valley was a popular location for Bollywood productions, with films such as Jab Jab Phool Khile, Junglee and Kabhi Kabhie shot against its scenery.Rekindling TiesChief Secretary Atal Dulloo inaugurated the festival at an INOX theatre in Srinagar, where the Lebanese film Dead Dog, directed by Sarah Francis, was screened.Dulloo said the festival was intended to strengthen Kashmir’s ties with Bollywood and reconnect Jammu and Kashmir with the wider world of cinema. It would also encourage filmmakers to explore the region’s culture, cuisine and heritage, he said.The administration is also seeking to promote Jammu and Kashmir as a film-production destination by facilitating access to shooting locations, local talent and services required by filmmakers.The government introduced its first film policy in 2021 and replaced it with a new policy in 2024. The latest policy seeks to establish Jammu and Kashmir as a centre for film production and creative activity, a government spokesperson said.The policy provides for faster administrative approvals and single-window mechanisms for shooting permissions and other clearances. It also includes financial incentives and support for organisations involved in promoting cinema.Published on September 7, 2026
