Kashmir, September 7,2026-Kashmir is set to roll out the red carpet for some of the biggest names in Indian cinema as the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026 gets underway in Srinagar today, bringing actors, filmmakers, and film professionals together in a major push to reconnect the Valley with the film industry.
A Star-Studded Lineup
The four-day festival, running from September 7 to 10, will see participation from a galaxy of names across Indian cinema. Leading the guest list are celebrated filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, known for films like 3 Idiots, PK and Mission Kashmir, and Padma Shri awardee Ramesh Sippy, the legendary director behind Sholay, both attending as special guests. Acclaimed director Imtiaz Ali and actor Pankaj Tripathi are among the other prominent figures expected at the festival, alongside actors Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sadia Khateeb, Vedang Raina, Sanjay Suri, Mir Sarwar and Ashwath Bhatt.
Adding further cinematic weight to the proceedings is an eminent jury comprising Santosh Sivan, Dorothee Wenner, Keiko Bang, Sriram Raghavan and Himansu Sekhar Khatua — professionals whose careers span cinematography, documentary filmmaking, curation, production, sound design and film education. The jury will evaluate all films in the competitive sections and decide the festival’s awards.
Massive Global Response
The scale of interest in this maiden edition has been striking. Organisers received more than 1,100 film entries from 92 countries, out of which 135 films from over 40 countries were shortlisted following review by a preview committee. The selected films span multiple sections, including International Panorama, Bharat Panorama, Cinema of the World, Documentary, Hybrid Documentary and J&K Select — offering audiences a wide-ranging showcase of global and regional storytelling.
Where It All Happens
The festival will be inaugurated at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, ministers and senior government officials expected to attend the opening ceremony. Screenings and events will also take place at INOX Srinagar, Waves Cinema in Jammu, and select sessions in Gulmarg, with a floating cinema experience planned on Dal Lake to add a distinctly Kashmiri touch to the festival.
More Than Just Films
Beyond the screenings, IFFJK 2026 is packed with masterclasses, panel discussions, workshops, music performances and cultural showcases designed to give local students and aspiring filmmakers direct access to some of the biggest names in the industry. Officials have described the goal as reconnecting the film industry with Jammu & Kashmir, while also using the festival to boost film tourism in the region.
A Push to Revive a Cinematic Legacy
For decades, Kashmir’s dramatic landscapes served as a favoured backdrop for Bollywood productions before the region’s film industry presence waned. IFFJK 2026 is being positioned as a deliberate effort to reverse that trend, using star power and international participation to draw film industry attention back to the Valley. Officials have indicated that the festival is envisaged as an annual event going forward, with this first edition expected to set the benchmark for future years.
With traffic advisories already issued in Srinagar ahead of the influx of celebrities and delegates, anticipation is high as the Valley prepares to host its biggest cinematic event yet. If successful, organisers hope IFFJK can join the ranks of major international film festivals, offering Jammu & Kashmir a new identity — not just as a filming location, but as a global meeting point for cinema, culture and conversation.
📍 Sept 7–10 | Srinagar & other venues
🎥 Cinema | Masterclasses | Music | Culture
