Omar opens first J&K film fest, seeks to reclaim Kashmir’s place in Indian cinema

SRINAGAR: CM Omar Abdullah inaugurated the maiden edition of the International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) on Monday evening, calling it a new chapter in the region’s enduring relationship with cinema. Reminding filmmakers across the country that Kashmir had long been a destination for cinema, much before Switzerland and other international locations became popular, Omar said, “We would like that trend to start again.”Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who grew up and studied in Srinagar, said IFFJK was an emotional homecoming for him. He urged young and aspiring Kashmiri filmmakers to “show the world what you can do”. For actor Fatima Sana Shaikh, whose mother is from Kashmir, returning to the Valley after many years has brought back childhood memories.

Filmmakers from 30 countries are participating in the four-day (Sept 7-10) event, with more than 130 movies being showcased. The IFFJK has brought together an eminent jury comprising Santosh Sivan, Dorothee Wenner, Keiko Bang and Himansu Sekhar Khatua.