• IFFJK brings global filmmakers to region under theme ‘Rang-e-Cinema’
• Festival aims to create opportunities for young writers, actors and musicians
Srinagar|Sept, 7: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday said that Jammu and Kashmir is seeking to strengthen its position on the global cinema map with the inaugural Jammu and Kashmir International Film Festival (IFFJK), which brings filmmakers, cinema enthusiasts and creative professionals from India and abroad to the region under the theme ‘Rang-e-Cinema’.
After formally opening IFFJK-2026 at INOX Multiplex here on Monday, describing the festival as an important opportunity to showcase Jammu and Kashmir’s landscapes, cultural wealth and creative talent to the wider world.
Dulloo said the festival, the first international film festival hosted in J&K, could take the region’s long association with cinema to a new level by bringing the global film fraternity to the Union Territory and creating opportunities for meaningful engagement, creative exchange and collaboration.
He welcomed visiting filmmakers, delegates and cinema enthusiasts, saying their presence would help strengthen J&K’s emergence as a filmmaking and film-tourism destination.
The Chief Secretary recalled J&K’s enduring relationship with the film industry, noting that the region has provided the backdrop for memorable productions including Kashmir Ki Kali, Junglee, Betaab and Kabhi Kabhi. He said IFFJK could now help build a new chapter in that relationship by connecting J&K with filmmakers and creative professionals from across the world.
The international response to the festival, he said, was encouraging, with entries received from more than 80 countries. The participation, according to Dulloo, reflects the potential of J&K as a global cinematic destination and provides an opportunity for filmmakers to experience the region first-hand.
“Cinema is much more than entertainment,” Dulloo said, highlighting its potential to promote tourism, showcase cultural wealth and connect people and communities across geographical and cultural boundaries.
He said the presence of filmmakers from different parts of India and the world could also help harness the creative potential of J&K’s youth. The region, he noted, has aspiring writers, actors, singers, composers and musicians who are looking for platforms and opportunities to take their work forward.
Dulloo said IFFJK could serve as a bridge between young and emerging talent from J&K and established filmmakers and professionals from India and abroad. Such interaction, he added, could lead to new ideas, conversations, collaborations and professional opportunities for local talent.
The opening film of the festival is ‘Dead Dog’, directed by Sarah Francis of Lebanon, and being screened under the International Competition section.
As many as 135 films have been shortlisted for screening at several venues across Jammu and Kashmir during the festival. Over four days, the event will feature film screenings, conversations and cinematic exchanges involving filmmakers, artists, enthusiasts and creative professionals.
Dulloo said the visiting filmmakers would have an opportunity to experience J&K beyond cinema venues and discover its landscapes, heritage and cultural diversity. Their first-hand experience, he said, could generate greater international visibility for the region’s natural and cultural assets as well as its creative potential.
He expressed hope that the festival would result not only in screenings but also in lasting conversations, friendships and collaborations among filmmakers and creative professionals.
The Chief Secretary said the future belonged to those who believed in the beauty of dreams and expressed confidence that IFFJK would provide a platform for creative aspirations while strengthening J&K’s engagement with the international film community.
The festival is being held under the theme ‘Rang-e-Cinema’, with four days of screenings, discussions and cinematic interaction planned across the region.
CS was accompanied by Commissioner Secretary, Information; Commissioner Secretary, Education; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Director Information; and other senior divisional and district officers.
