First international film festival opens in Srinagar with 130+ films, CM Omar Abdullah inaugurates

Filmmakers from over 30 countries to participate; 130+ films to be screened over four days

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 07: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday inaugurated the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), marking a new chapter in the region’s longstanding association with cinema.

The four-day festival has brought together filmmakers, artists, delegates and cinema enthusiasts from across the world, with participants from more than 30 countries and over 130 films scheduled to be showcased.

In his inaugural address, Omar Abdullah described the festival as more than a celebration of cinema, saying it was intended to position Jammu & Kashmir as a vibrant destination for filmmakers, storytellers and creative talent from India and abroad.

“Today, as we launch this festival, bringing together filmmakers from over 30 countries and showcasing over 130 extraordinary films, we are not just opening a cinema event. We are opening a new chapter in the longstanding romance between Jammu & Kashmir and the silver screen,” he said.

Welcoming the international guests and delegates, the Chief Minister said Kashmir was a place where stories were not merely hosted but born.

He described Kashmir as “the world’s most breathtaking natural canvas” and said the festival marked Jammu & Kashmir’s readiness to welcome the global creative community.

“We are declaring to the world that Kashmir is not just a location on a call sheet; it is a creative sanctuary, a home for global storytellers, and a voice that is ready to speak to the world,” Omar Abdullah said.

Kashmir’s enduring cinematic legacy

Recalling Jammu & Kashmir’s deep imprint on Indian cinema, the Chief Minister referred to iconic films including Junglee, Kashmir Ki Kali, Aradhana and Bobby, which helped establish Gulmarg and Dal Lake as enduring images in the visual imagination of generations of Indians.

He recalled Shammi Kapoor’s iconic “Yahoo!” sequence in Junglee on the snow-covered slopes of Gulmarg, as well as Sharmila Tagore’s appearances against Dal Lake in Kashmir Ki Kali and the romance of Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in Bobby, including the iconic Bobby Hut in Gulmarg.

Omar Abdullah also acknowledged the contribution of filmmaker Yash Chopra in creating a distinctive cinematic language around Kashmir through films such as Silsila, Kabhi Kabhie and Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

“Directors like Yash Chopra did not just film here—they built a visual language around this land,” he said.

He said Kashmir’s changing seasons, from the greens of spring and golden hues of autumn to the white landscape of winter, had enabled filmmakers to reflect a wide spectrum of human emotions.

The Chief Minister also referred to more recent films including Mission Kashmir, Haider, Rockstar, Highway and Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and praised filmmakers Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Vishal Bhardwaj, Imtiaz Ali and Kabir Khan for bringing different dimensions of the region to the screen.

‘Do not just film our mountains; seek out our stories’

Omar Abdullah stressed that Jammu & Kashmir’s cinematic appeal extended beyond its landscapes, urging filmmakers to explore its culture, people and living traditions.

“Cinema is more than landscapes; cinema is culture. And the true beauty of Jammu and Kashmir lies in its soul—its cultural ethos, built on Kashmiriyat, warmth, hospitality, and a rich artistic tradition,” he said.

Highlighting the region’s traditions of music, crafts and oral storytelling, he referred to the Santoor and Rabab, Sufiyana Kalam and Rouff, besides walnut wood carving, carpet weaving, Kahwa and the saffron fields of Pampore.

Addressing participating filmmakers, he said they should look beyond the mountains and engage with the region’s people and cultural heritage.

“When you bring your cameras to Jammu and Kashmir, do not just film our mountains. Seek out our stories. Talk to our artisans, listen to our musicians, walk through our old city lanes, and let the living, breathing culture of this land infuse your narratives,” he said.

Film policy offers single-window clearance, incentives

The Chief Minister said nostalgia alone could not create a sustainable film industry and stressed the need for a modern ecosystem supporting filmmakers throughout the production process.

“Under our comprehensive Jammu & Kashmir Film Policy, we have transformed J&K from a beautiful location into one of the most filmmaker-friendly destinations in the world,” he said.

He highlighted the single-window clearance mechanism introduced under the policy to simplify permissions required for film shoots.

Through a dedicated online portal, filmmakers can apply for location approvals and other permissions, including security coordination, through a streamlined system involving designated nodal officers.

The policy also provides financial incentives and production subsidies linked to shooting days and local expenditure, covering both independent filmmakers and larger productions.

Omar Abdullah said the policy also encourages productions to employ local artists, technicians and crew members while promoting Jammu & Kashmir’s cultural heritage.

“We are building a robust local workforce of cinematographers, line producers, sound engineers, and actors so that you can arrive with a script and find everything else right here,” he said.

He added that the government intends to invest in modern post-production facilities, equipment banks, film studios and film education institutions to create an end-to-end production ecosystem.

The Chief Minister said cinema was being viewed not merely as entertainment but as an industry capable of generating employment, nurturing young talent and strengthening cultural ties.

‘This festival belongs to our young people’

Calling the inaugural IFFJK a “declaration of intent”, Omar Abdullah said the festival would provide young people of Jammu & Kashmir an opportunity to interact with filmmakers and creative professionals from around the world.

He urged young participants to engage with the films, masterclasses, panel discussions and informal interactions taking place during the festival.

“This festival belongs to them as much as it belongs to our distinguished international guests,” he said.

The Chief Minister also urged national and international delegates to carry their experience of Jammu & Kashmir back to the global filmmaking community.

“Carry a piece of J&K back in your hearts. Tell your fellow filmmakers that Kashmir is open, safe, vibrant, and eager to welcome your crews,” he said.

Encouraging local youth to use the festival to discover opportunities and tell their own stories, he said, “Your stories matter. Your voices matter. The world is listening, and now, the world’s screen is right here in your home.”

Omar Abdullah concluded by describing cinema as a universal language capable of transcending borders and connecting people through shared human experiences before formally declaring the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir open.

Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh, several Governors and Lieutenant Governors, members of the Council of Ministers, former J&K Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, Members of the J&K Legislative Assembly, filmmakers, eminent artists, jury members and other distinguished guests attended the inaugural ceremony.