Srinagar, September 7, 2026– Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday inaugurated the first-ever International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, marking a historic moment for the Union Territory’s cultural and creative landscape. The four-day festival, running from September 7 to 10, brings together filmmakers, actors, artists and delegates from across India and abroad in what officials are calling a landmark step toward reviving Kashmir’s long-standing bond with the film industry.
The opening ceremony at SKICC, situated on the banks of Dal Lake, drew a star-studded gathering of Indian cinema personalities, alongside ministers and senior government officials. Guests expected to attend the festival’s various events include actors Pankaj Tripathi, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sadia Khateeb, Vedang Raina, Sanjay Suri, Mir Sarwar and Ashwath Bhatt, along with filmmakers Imtiaz Ali, Muzaffar Ali and Sajid Ali, who have all lent their support to the initiative.
Organised jointly by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Jammu & Kashmir, and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), IFFJK 2026 is themed “Rang-e-Cinema” and has been conceived as a premier international platform for cinematic excellence, cultural exchange and creative collaboration. The festival’s programming spans several competitive and non-competitive sections, including the International Competition, Cinema of the World, Bharat Panorama, J&K Select, Best Debut Film, Documentary/Hybrid and Short Films categories. Organisers said the inaugural edition has drawn 135 films from 41 countries, reflecting strong global interest in the region’s debut cinematic showcase.
Beyond film screenings, the festival will also feature masterclasses, panel discussions, in-conversation sessions, round tables and workshops involving actors, directors, critics and scholars from the film fraternity.
While SKICC serves as the principal venue, the festival extends across multiple locations to showcase Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural and scenic diversity. These include INOX Shivpora, the Union Territory’s lone multiplex in Srinagar, Waves Cinema in Jammu, and a proposed floating cinema at Lal Ghat. A select group of filmmakers and delegates is also being taken on an excursion to Gulmarg, with visits planned to the Gondola cable car, Golf Course and Gulmarg Club, aimed at highlighting the region’s tourism appeal alongside its cinematic ambitions.
Speaking ahead of the inauguration, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier reflected on Kashmir’s historic ties to Bollywood, recalling an era when the Valley and Hindi cinema were inseparable before years of conflict disrupted that relationship. He expressed hope that IFFJK would help re-establish Jammu and Kashmir as a preferred filmmaking destination and restore its place on the global cinema map, while also generating tourism and employment opportunities for local communities.
In the run-up to the event, the Chief Minister chaired several high-level review meetings to ensure preparedness across security, hospitality, transportation, medical facilities and venue logistics. Officials from departments including Tourism, Culture, Education, Transport, and Hospitality & Protocol, along with police and administrative heads from both Kashmir and Jammu divisions, were involved in coordinating arrangements for the influx of visiting filmmakers, artists and delegates.
Government officials have expressed optimism that the festival will become an annual fixture on the international film calendar, positioning Jammu and Kashmir as a hub for cinematic storytelling while showcasing its heritage, cuisine, handicrafts and traditional art forms to a global audience. As the opening ceremony got underway on Monday evening, expectations were high that IFFJK 2026 would set a strong benchmark for future editions of the festival.
