Bilal Bashir Bhat
Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Under the shade of chinar trees, against the backdrop of the Himalayas and the tranquil waters of Dal Lake, Jammu and Kashmir opened a new chapter in its long and enduring romance with cinema on Monday as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), bringing together filmmakers, artists, delegates and cinema enthusiasts from more than 30 countries. More than 130 films will be screened during the four-day festival.
More than a film festival, the event seeks to project Jammu and Kashmir as a vibrant destination for filmmakers, storytellers and creative talent from across India and the world. More than 130 films will be screened during the four-day festival.
“Some places on earth do not merely host stories—they are born of them,” Omar Abdullah said, describing Kashmir as one of the world’s most breathtaking natural canvases and declaring that the region was ready to welcome the global creative community.
The Chief Minister also appealed to international filmmakers and delegates to carry their experience of Jammu and Kashmir back home and share the message that the region is ready to welcome production crews from around the world.
“Carry a piece of J&K back in your hearts,” he said, describing Kashmir as open, safe, vibrant and eager to welcome filmmakers.
Concluding his address, Omar Abdullah described cinema as a universal language capable of transcending borders and connecting people through shared human experiences.
He then formally declared the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir open.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by 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, Jammu and Kashmir Waqb Board Chairperson Dr. Syed Darakshan Andrabi, Members of the J&K Legislative Assembly, filmmakers, eminent artists, jury members and other distinguished guests.
