Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Sept 5: The upcoming J&K International Film Festival has received around 1,100 film entries from 92 countries, with 135 films shortlisted for screening, Joint Director Information and Public Relations Kashmir Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari said on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, Bukhari said the festival is aimed at strengthening the historic connection between Bollywood and Jammu and Kashmir and promoting film tourism in the region.
He said Jammu and Kashmir had played a significant role in the rise of Bollywood, with several landmark films being shot in the region, but the activity declined over the past few decades due to various circumstances.
“Our effort is to promote film tourism here,” he said, adding that the government is also working towards institutionalising the festival as an annual event.
Bukhari said the festival will be held across three major venues—SKICC, INOX and Gulmarg, with the main activities scheduled at SKICC and INOX, besides a day-long programme in Gulmarg.
At SKICC, he said, film screenings will be accompanied by master classes conducted by industry leaders, panel discussions involving media professionals and professors from local universities, and interactive sessions for students.
He said students will also get an opportunity to participate in practical exercises and interact directly with prominent names from the film industry.
According to Bukhari, the 135 shortlisted films represent more than 40 countries, while delegates associated with some of the selected films are also expected to attend the festival.
He said a special category has been created for films from Jammu and Kashmir, with the jury having shortlisted entries from the region.
The schedule of films to be screened at INOX will be released shortly, he added.
Bukhari said the festival is also intended to bring Bollywood personalities and filmmakers back to Jammu and Kashmir and provide them first-hand exposure to the region.
“We would like Jammu and Kashmir to be the film frame,” he said, underlining the administration’s broader objective of expanding the tourism potential of Kashmir through cinema.
He said the government wants to institutionalise the festival on the lines of major international film festivals and expressed confidence that, over the years, Jammu and Kashmir could develop a globally recognised film festival.
He also noted the participation and support from prominent Bollywood personalities, including filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and said the festival would have several notable jury members and “surprises” for participants and audiences. (JKNS)
