- Mega Four-Day Event To Showcase Global Cinema, Local Talent, Kashmir’s Cultural Heritage
Srinagar: Kashmir is set to witness a major cultural milestone as Jammu and Kashmir prepares to host its first International Film Festival, bringing together 135 films from 41 countries and offering the Valley an opportunity to position itself on the global cinematic map. The four-day International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJ&K), beginning September 7, is being positioned by the administration as more than a celebration of cinema, with the event expected to provide a platform for filmmakers, artists, industry professionals and local creative talent while showcasing Jammu and Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage. The festival has generated significant international interest, with organisers receiving more than 1,100 submissions from over 80 countries. Of these, 135 films from 41 countries have been shortlisted for screening during the inaugural edition. The festival will feature 64 Indian entries, while the international selection includes 13 films from France and eight from Iran. Films from Türkiye, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Spain, Brazil, Qatar, Argentina, the United States, South Korea, Colombia and Taiwan are also part of the selection. The scale and diversity of the participation underline the growing international interest in Kashmir as a destination not only for tourism but also for cinema, filmmaking, cultural exchange and creative collaboration.
From Cinematic Backdrop To Global Film Destination: For decades, Kashmir has served as a natural film set for the Indian film industry, with its mountains, lakes, meadows and landscapes featuring prominently in popular cinema. From the iconic films of the 1960s and 1970s to more contemporary productions, the Valley has maintained a close relationship with filmmaking. The inaugural international festival seeks to take that relationship a step further—by transforming Kashmir from primarily a location for shooting films into a destination where films from across the world can be screened, discussed and celebrated. The event is expected to provide a platform for interaction between international filmmakers and local artists while creating greater visibility for Jammu and Kashmir’s emerging creative ecosystem. The Government’s larger objective is to promote the region as a hub for filmmaking, film tourism and cultural exchange.
Star-Studded Jury And Industry Participation: The festival has also attracted an eminent five-member jury drawn from the international and Indian film industries. The jury includes acclaimed cinematographer and director Santosh Sivan, Oscar-winning sound designer and sound mixer Resul Pookutty, German film curator and journalist Dorothee Wenner, founder and CEO of Bang Singapore Keiko Bang, and filmmaker Himansu Sekhar Khatua. The presence of professionals with experience across different areas of cinema adds an international dimension to the inaugural festival. Leading filmmakers and industry professionals are also expected to participate in the programme, including Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Namrata Rao, Baylon Fonseca, Chitranjan Tripathi and Supriyo Sen, among others. Their participation is expected to provide local filmmakers and aspiring artists an opportunity to interact with established names from the industry. In an effort to give the festival a distinctly Kashmiri character, the administration is planning a floating cinema on Dal Lake, allowing visitors enjoying Shikara rides to experience film screenings against one of Kashmir’s most recognisable landscapes. The proposed floating screen could become one of the festival’s most visually distinctive attractions, combining Kashmir’s tourism experience with international cinema. The festival will also showcase Jammu and Kashmir’s handicrafts, handloom, cuisine, music, traditional arts and cultural heritage, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the region beyond its cinematic landscapes. This integration of cinema with local culture is expected to strengthen the festival’s tourism and cultural dimensions.
Multiple Venues Across J&K: The festival programme will extend beyond Srinagar. Screenings and programmes are scheduled at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) and INOX PVR in Srinagar, Waves Cinema in Jammu and the Gulmarg Health Resort. The spread of venues will allow audiences in different locations to participate in the festival and also expose visiting filmmakers and delegates to different facets of Jammu and Kashmir. The selection of Gulmarg as one of the festival locations further links cinema with the region’s tourism potential.
₹96 Lakh Prize Purse : The festival will also recognise excellence across nine categories, with a total prize purse of ₹96 lakh. The Best Film Award carries a prize of ₹25 lakh, while the Best Director and Best Debut Director awards carry ₹15 lakh each. The Best Film – J&K Select category carries a ₹10 lakh prize. Best Actor awards for male and female performers carry ₹8 lakh each, while Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design and Best Editing awards carry ₹5 lakh each. The awards are expected to add a competitive dimension to the festival while encouraging quality filmmaking and providing greater recognition to emerging talent.
Security Architecture In Place: With an international gathering involving filmmakers, delegates, dignitaries and visitors, security has emerged as a key component of the preparations. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Sujit Kumar, on Friday chaired a high-level security review meeting at Police Control Room Kashmir to assess and strengthen arrangements ahead of the festival. The meeting brought together senior officers from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, CID, Traffic Police and SDRF, besides officials from the Information, Tourism and Fire & Emergency Services departments. The multi-agency participation reflects the administration’s focus on ensuring a secure and professionally managed environment throughout the event. Security arrangements reviewed during the meeting included venue security, deployment plans, traffic management, crowd control, emergency response and coordination among participating agencies. Kumar stressed strategically planned deployment in view of the expected movement of visitors, participants and dignitaries. He also directed officers to ensure route clearance and appropriate deployment of Road Opening Parties along designated routes, besides maintaining heightened alertness throughout the festival.
Traffic And Crowd Management: Traffic management has also been accorded importance, with officials directed to prepare comprehensive plans for the movement of visitors and participants. Traffic Police have been asked to ensure adequate deployment at vulnerable, sensitive and congested points to facilitate smooth vehicular movement and minimise inconvenience to the public. At festival venues, emphasis has been placed on regulated entry and exit arrangements and effective crowd management.Real-time information sharing among agencies has also been stressed to ensure that any emerging requirement can be addressed promptly. The coordinated security framework is aimed at allowing visitors, filmmakers, delegates and the general public to enjoy the festival in a safe and secure environment.
Government Enters Final Phase Of Preparations: Alongside security arrangements, the civil administration has entered the final phase of preparations for the festival. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg chaired a high-level meeting at the Directorate of Information and Public Relations to review arrangements involving multiple departments and stakeholders. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo, Secretary Information, Director DIPR, SSP Srinagar, SSP Security, SSP Traffic, heads of departments, nodal officers and liaison officers attended the meeting. Garg stressed disciplined execution, close coordination and a clear sense of ownership among officers entrusted with different responsibilities. He directed officials to maintain a continuous flow of information and ensure that there were no communication gaps between departments and field teams. The preparations cover the entire visitor experience—from arrival and transportation to accommodation, sightseeing, film screenings and participation in festival events.
50 Officers Assigned To Facilitate Delegates: The Government has also appointed 50 civil service officers as liaison officers to facilitate visiting dignitaries and delegates. Their responsibilities extend across the movement and facilitation chain, beginning with Jammu Airport and Srinagar Airport and covering major festival venues, including SKICC and INOX. The arrangement is aimed at ensuring that visiting filmmakers, guests and delegates receive coordinated assistance throughout their stay. The Government has also reviewed parking facilities, beautification of parks and venues, help desks, selfie points, stalls and other arrangements connected with the festival. The emphasis on detailed planning reflects an effort to ensure that the inaugural edition is conducted professionally and creates a positive experience for both visitors and local audiences.
Opportunity For Local Creative Economy: Beyond the four-day event itself, the festival could have wider implications for Jammu and Kashmir’s creative economy. A successful international festival can create opportunities for local filmmakers, actors, technicians, photographers, artists, hospitality businesses and cultural practitioners. The presence of filmmakers and industry professionals from different countries can also facilitate new professional connections and collaborations. For local aspiring filmmakers, access to an international audience and established industry professionals can provide exposure that is otherwise difficult to obtain. The festival’s focus on J&K Select is particularly relevant in this context, offering local filmmaking talent a dedicated platform within an international event.
A New Chapter For Kashmir And Cinema : The inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir represents an important moment in the region’s cultural calendar. With 135 films from 41 countries, an internationally experienced jury, participation from leading filmmakers, a ₹96 lakh prize purse and programmes spread across Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg, the event has acquired a scale that goes beyond a conventional film screening programme. The Governmen’s extensive arrangements, meanwhile, indicate an effort to ensure that the event is secure, professionally coordinated and welcoming to visitors. For Kashmir, the festival offers an opportunity to renew its historic association with cinema while creating a new identity as a destination for international filmmaking and cultural exchange. The coming days will see filmmakers, artists, delegates and audiences converge in Jammu and Kashmir for an event that seeks to put the region at the centre of a global cinematic conversation.
