Kashmir Hosts Inaugural International Film Festival

The inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) began on 7 September 2026 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. The four-day festival, themed “Rang-e-Cinema”, is scheduled from 7 September to 10 September 2026.

Festival Venue and Organisation

The SKICC is a convention venue on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The festival is organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Government of Jammu and Kashmir, in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC).

Film Submissions and Shortlisting

Festival entries were received from multiple countries, with official figures mentioning 1,100 submissions from 80 countries in one set of reports and entries from 92 countries in another. A total of 135 films from 41 countries were shortlisted for screenings.

• India led the shortlist with 64 films.
• France had 13 shortlisted films.
• Iran had 8 shortlisted films.

Floating Cinema and Related Features

A floating cinema was installed on Dal Lake near the SKICC for festival screenings. The venue allows audiences to watch films on shikaras, which are traditional wooden boats used on Kashmir’s lakes.

The curtain-raising ceremony for the festival took place on 24 July 2026. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and filmmaker Imtiaz Ali launched the event.

Important Facts for Exams

• IFFJK is the first international film festival of Jammu and Kashmir.
• SKICC stands for Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre.
• Dal Lake is one of the best-known lakes in Srinagar and is associated with shikara rides.
• NFDC stands for National Film Development Corporation of India.

Local Language Films

Only two Kashmiri-language films reached the final selection, and both were made by Kashmiri Pandit filmmakers. The short film Tasrufdaar by Kapil Mattoo was among the selected titles.