Srinagar, Sep 7: The first-ever International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) was inaugurated here on Monday, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressing hope that the event would revive the Valley’s cinematic legacy and attract filmmakers back to the region.
“Before Switzerland and other destinations became popular, films were shot in Kashmir. We want to bring that era back,” CM Omar Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural function as per Kashmir Convener.
The four-day festival, themed “Rang-e-Cinema,” features 135 films from over 40 countries and offers a total prize purse of Rs 96 lakh across nine categories. A floating cinema on Dal Lake is among the key attractions, officials said.
The Chief Minister said the initiative would help expose local audiences, film enthusiasts and mass communication students to international cinema while also providing visibility to the region’s own film industry.
“We are trying to remind the country’s film fraternity of Kashmir’s cinematic heritage,” said, adding that the government was committed to encouraging filmmakers to return to the Valley.
The festival has been organised by the Jammu and Kashmir government in collaboration with the Directorate of Film Festivals, with an aim to position the Union Territory on the global cultural map, officials added.
CM Omar Abdullah also expressed concern over the ongoing standoff with MBBS interns, who are on a 48-hour hunger strike demanding a hike in their monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000.
The matter falls under the Health Department’s purview and should be resolved early, he said, noting that the protest was affecting the interns’ own training.
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