A new script: Kashmir hosts its inaugural international film festival

The festival aims to promote Kashmir as a prominent film destination; it is the second major event to be held in the valley after a G20 meeting in 2023

Updated - September 07, 2026 09:47 pm IST - SRINAGAR

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah during inaugural International Film Festival Jammu and Kashmir at SKICC banks of Dal lake in Srinagar on September 7, 2026. | Photo Credit: Imran Nissar

Kashmir, where all 15 cinema halls had closed down in the wake of militancy over three decades, on Monday (September 7, 2026) hosted its first-ever four-day international film festival with the screening of the Lebanese film ‘Dead Dog’, a drama on the reunion of an estranged couple.

Under a multi-layer security cover, director Sarah Francis’ movie, the first among 135 films to be screened from 41 countries, was shown at the Inox theatre in Srinagar’s Shiv Pora area. The multiplex is the first functional cinema hall to reopen in the valley after 23 years in 2022.

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressed a gathering at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar and called the festival “a new chapter in the long-standing relationship between J&K and cinema”.

“To stand here today under the majestic shade of the chinar trees, surrounded by the sentinel peaks of the Himalayas, is to be reminded that some places on earth do not merely boast stories. They are born of them,” said Mr. Abdullah.

He said the festival’s clear message is about “Kashmir’s potential as a global filmmaking destination”. “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,” he said.

The Chief Minister said cinema was more than the landscape of Kashmir. “Cinema is culture, and the true beauty of J&K lies in its soul, its culture and ethos, built on Kashmiriyat, warmth, hospitality, and a rich artistic tradition,” he added.

He said the four-day festival would provide young people with opportunities to learn from filmmakers and cinema professionals from around the world. “This festival is not just a celebration of cinema, it is a declaration of intent,” he added.

Inaugurated by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Directorate of Information and Public Relations director Shreya Singhal, the festival will screen movies at venues in Srinagar’s SKICC and Inox, Gulmarg, and Jammu city. It is tipped to be a major “landmark cultural initiative that celebrates the universal language of cinema”.

“We received around 1,100 entries for the festival. After screening, 135 entries were shortlisted, including more than 60 foreign films. This is an opportunity to reconnect J&K with the world of cinema and invite the film industry not only from the country but abroad. And make Kashmir once again a prominent film destination,” said Mr. Dulloo.

He said the festival will offer “opportunities to talented and aspirational local youth related to cinema”. “This is a win-win situation for cinema and J&K, as we re-establish the connection,” said Mr. Dulloo.

Kashmir, which remained in the shadows for outside filmmakers, had seen its heyday in the 1960s in the wake of a changed political atmosphere. Hindi superhits shot in Kashmir, such as Shammi Kapoor-starrer ‘Junglee’ (1961) and ‘Kashmir ki Kali’ (1964), Shashi Kapoor’s ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’, and the Rajendra Kumar-starrer ‘Arzoo’ turned the valley into a favourite destination for honeymooners.

The festival aims to revive local life too. “We want the youth (of Kashmir) to visit the theatres and enjoy the movies,” said Ms. Singhal.

A distinctive visual and experiential dimension to the festival is a floating screen on the waters of Dal Lake near the SKICC. The event is tipped to be the second major event after the 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting held in Srinagar in 2023. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the film festival in his recent meeting in New Delhi.

Mr. Abdullah has directed the departments to “showcase J&K’s rich heritage, cuisine, handicrafts, traditional art forms and iconic tourist destinations during the festival”.

India leads the country-wise participation with 64 films, followed by France with 13 and Iran with eight. Argentina and Spain will contribute four films each, while Brazil, Germany, the Russian Federation, and the U.S. will have three films each.

An eminent jury of acclaimed filmmakers Santosh Sivan, Dorothee Wenner, Keiko Bang, Sriram Raghavan, and Himansu Sekhar Khatua will evaluate the entries to decide the awards. The ‘best film’ award carries the top prize of ₹25 lakh, while ‘best director’ and ‘best debut film of a director’ has a prize of ₹15 lakh each.