J&K opens its doors to world cinema: Inaugural International Film Festival to bring global filmmakers, cinema, culture and conversations to Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg

• Four-Day IFFJK 2026 from September 7–10 to showcase films from across the world, celebrate J&K’s cinematic heritage, spotlight local storytellers and explore the region’s potential as a global film hub

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is set to step onto the international cinematic stage with the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026, a four-day celebration of cinema, creativity, culture and storytelling scheduled to take place from September 7 to 10, 2026, across Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg.

Organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the festival is conceived as a meeting point for filmmakers, audiences, artists, industry professionals and creative voices from Jammu and Kashmir, India and around the world. Under the theme “Where Stories Come Alive — Cinema • Conversations • Cultures”, IFFJK 2026 seeks to create a shared space for cinematic expression, cultural exchange and dialogue.

The festival, branded “Rang-e-Cinema,” carries the promise of “4 Days. Countless Stories. One Cinematic Celebration” and combines international film screenings with masterclasses, panel discussions, in-conversation sessions, workshops, special screenings, retrospectives and a distinctive Floating Cinema experience.

A new celebration of world cinema

The inaugural edition has been designed to bring together diverse cinematic traditions while placing Jammu and Kashmir's own filmmakers, artists, stories and landscapes at the heart of the festival.

The festival's vision extends beyond film screenings. It seeks to create opportunities for creative exchange, professional networking, talent discovery and industry development, while exploring how Jammu and Kashmir can emerge as a sustainable cinematic destination.

Among its key features are a curated showcase of films from Jammu and Kashmir and around the world, conversations with filmmakers and artists, the Floating Cinema concept, a celebration of the region's cinematic legacy and the proposed J&K Library—a growing talent pool and cinematic database documenting filmmakers, artists, stories and creative talent from the region.

The festival programme encompasses a broad range of categories, including International Competition (IC), Best Debut Director (BD), Jammu & Kashmir Select (JKS), Bharat Panorama (BP), Cinema of the World (CW), Documentary/Hybrid (DOC/HYB), Short Films (SF), Masterclass (MC), In-Conversation Sessions (ICS), Panel Discussions (PD), Special Screenings (SS) and Retrospectives (R).

Srinagar to host grand opening

The festival will begin in Srinagar on September 7 with a ceremonial opening at INOX, Srinagar, at 12:30 PM, followed by the formal Opening Ceremony at 6:30 PM at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC).

The opening film, “Dead Dog,” directed by Sarah Francis of Lebanon, will be screened under the International Competition category at INOX Srinagar. The film is scheduled for 1:00 PM on September 7, with a listed duration of 1 hour and 32 minutes.

The closing film, meanwhile, will be “Simsim,” directed by Sondos Al-Smerat of Jordan, representing Cinema of the World. It will be screened at 1:00 PM on September 10 at INOX Srinagar, with a listed duration of 1 hour and 22 minutes.

The festival will formally conclude with the Closing Ceremony at 6:30 PM on September 10 at SKICC, Srinagar.

A truly international cinematic canvas

The programme reflects the international scope of IFFJK, with films and filmmakers represented from countries including Lebanon, Malaysia, Iran, Portugal, Indonesia, Mexico, Mali, Türkiye, France, Qatar, Tunisia, Cuba, Belgium, Argentina, Spain, Russian Federation, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, United States, China, Uruguay, Germany, Poland, Chile, Morocco, Italy, Canada, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Taiwan and Montenegro, alongside a substantial representation from across India.

The screening programme includes films such as The Last Rites, Sudden Rise, And the God who is close, Stone Beach, Tugas Sedih Yang Panjang, The Stiff Fingers (Daun yang Merekah), Somos Agua, Painted Memories, Ricard Dance, Arifa, Promesse sacrée, Room at the Farm (Khooh Waala Ghar), Ancessao (Aceção), The Scientist Who Runs at Night, Rehaan Special, Photosensitive, Jo’s Turn! (Tumhari Baari, Jo), Guest For A Day, In Between (Iss Beech), In the Name of Fire, The Redemption (Veendeduppu), The Pissing Tale, Tasrufdaar (Djinns Of Kashmir), The Unknown Filmmaker, Batt Koch, The Slow Man and His Raft (Nadharer Bhela), Shadows Of The Moonless Nights (Parchhaave Massia Rataan De), Tick Tick Dhak Dhak, Little Big Dreams, Junglekanya (Daughters of the Forest), Kalari Kid, Land We Carry (जगत का देस), Baburao in Love with Ella, Aabiskar - The Debut, I was a dream, Ek Safa, Free as a Bird, Songs of the Mist, Negative Remorse, Kunemechi, The Tide Turns, Love In Vietnam, As Time Echoes, Saath Paar Zindagi (Life Beyond 60), Tungabhadra, Watermark (Jalamudra), An Attempt at Grief, The Haunted Room And The Ant, The Prayer, An Evening Ballad Mwnabili, September 21, Shringaar, Chyimi, Khaani, Taaleem, Naqsh-e-Daur, The Music Shop - Symphony Of The City, Unlocked (Riha), Raman Kutty is not a Coward!, Neelam and Taarikh, among many others.

The international programme at INOX Srinagar Screen 2 includes films such as To the West, in Zapata; Aboard Paban’s Boat; Insomnia; Family Party (Fête de famille); Pentest; The Algorithm of Curdled Milk; God is Shy (Dieu est timide); Wild Sound (Son Seul); Strong as a lion (Fort comme un lion); Dammen; Venkya; Gülizar (Gulizar); Collective Monologue; Kumhar’s Magic Clay Weeps Softly; La Barraca; Chhaya O Smriti (The Shadow and Memory); The Writer’s Inn; Magellan; Têtes Brûlées; and The Message.

At Waves Jammu, the international line-up includes The Song Sustxotin, Under My Skin, Hard Shell, Nenya / Margarita, Making a movie about Flora, Bad Tree, Revolt (Re-volta), Habibi, Marilak, Mesopotamia, TX, Stream of Consciousness in Bamboo Lodge, God knocks at the door, Snorri - Catch me if you Candy!, Paperheart (Cuore di Carta), Whispering Grass & Silver Bones, Wingless Dreams, Feminine Singular (Femenino Singular), “Me and the one I used to be”, Unspoken, The Strange Case...., The Boy, Gavagai, Poirot, the last witness, Corridor and Muddy Foot.

Jammu and Kashmir's cinematic identity takes centre stage

A defining feature of the festival is its strong emphasis on the cinematic identity of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jammu & Kashmir Select category provides a dedicated platform for regional voices, while several sessions directly examine the future of cinema in the Union Territory.

One of the central discussions is titled “Unlocking Jammu and Kashmir: The Next Big Cinematic Hub.” The panel will explore how the J&K Film Policy, incentives, single-window clearances and local partnerships can help create a sustainable film ecosystem in the region.

The session will be moderated by Mayank Shekhar, with speakers including Shri Atal Duloo, Chief Secretary, J&K, and R Alice Vaz, Commissioner & Secretary, Information Department, J&K.

Another major session, “Echoes of the Chinar: Empowering J&K’s Next Generation of Storytellers,” will examine youth-led storytelling, local institutions and emerging cinematic voices shaping the representation of Jammu and Kashmir on screen. It will be moderated by Danish Renzu, with Rahhat Shah Kazmi, film director and writer, as speaker.

The programme will also feature “Thrillers in the Valley: Crafting Suspense in J&K,” exploring how the region's landscape, atmosphere, locations and local context can become active elements in suspense and thriller storytelling. The session will be moderated by Ritesh Shah, with Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket as speakers.

Taking Kashmiri stories to the world

IFFJK also looks beyond the region's borders through a session titled “Global Partnerships in the Valley: Co-Producing Jammu and Kashmiri Cinema for the World.”

The panel will address international co-production, sustainable financing, creative partnerships and festival-market strategies for Jammu and Kashmiri cinema. It will be moderated by Rabiranjan Maitra, Indian director and editor, with Kapil Matoo, Munjal Shroff and Saba Bhat as speakers.

Another session, “A Writer’s Story: Penning the Warmth of Jammu and Kashmir,” will focus on structural economy, subtextual dialogue and character arcs while developing stories rooted in the Valley. The discussion will be moderated by Tripti Sundar Abhikar, with Neeraj Mishra, Shankar Ramakrishnan and Biplab Goswami participating.

AI, animation and the future of J&K's visual identity

The festival will also engage with one of the defining technologies of contemporary cinema—artificial intelligence.

The panel “Resurrecting Heritage: Animation, AI, and the Jammu and Kashmiri Visual Identity” will explore how traditional Jammu and Kashmiri art forms can intersect with animation, AI and CGI to create contemporary visual identities and new authorial voices.

Moderated by Dhwani Desai, the session features Sanat P. C., Ujjwal Nirgudkar, Hetal Soliya, Jitin Masand, Bharath Laxmipati, Jividha Sharma and Kanika Gautam.

Another session, “The Gentle Truth: AI and the Beautiful Soul of Jammu and Kashmir,” will examine the relationship between AI and documentary cinema, including the ethics of non-fiction storytelling, observational filmmaking and hybrid forms. The discussion will be moderated by Sanskar Desai, with Subbiah Nallamuthu, Arun Chadda, Yadu Vijaykrishnan, Supriyo Sen and Raja Shabbir Khan.

Masterclasses featuring leading cinematic practitioners

The festival's academic and professional component is equally substantial.

At SKICC Hall 1, the programme includes the masterclass “The Trouble with Fairy-tale Endings: Direction & Screenplay Writing,” focusing on character, comic rhythm, dramatic conflict, coincidence and genre conventions in directing romantic comedy. The session features Sriram Raghavan, Indian film director and screenwriter.

The cinematography-focused “Deconstructing Visual Subtext” will explore how framing, light, space and movement generate subtext, emotional tension and narrative meaning beyond dialogue. It will be moderated by Rafey Mahmood, with Anil Mehta, Indian cinematographer and film director.

Editing receives its own masterclass, “Cutting Visuals, or Cutting Emotions,” examining rhythm, spatial continuity, temporal manipulation and the psychological impact of editing. The speaker is Rabi Ranjan Maitra, Indian director and editor.

Other masterclasses include “Beyond the Stage: Inside the Actor’s Craft,” featuring Indian actor and director Chittaranjan Tripathy, and “Building the Aural World,” a sound masterclass with Baylon Fonseca, production mixer and sound designer, focusing on immersive acoustic environments and psychological soundscapes.

A platform for regional cinema and creative dialogue

IFFJK's conversations extend into the broader Indian regional cinema ecosystem.

The panel “Local Voices, Global Hearts: Celebrating Regional Cinema in the Valley” will explore how regional stories are told across India and how Jammu and Kashmir's traditions can become part of India's wider regional cinematic landscape.

Moderated by Arfi Laamba, the session features Tribeny Rai, Dr. Pradeep Kenchanuru, Haobam Paban Kumar and Madhavi Tangella.

The festival will also host “Catching the Light: Cinematography in the Valley,” moderated by Modhura Palit, with Shehnad Jalal and Suresh Bharadwaj, focusing on natural-lighting motifs and lens choice in contemporary framing.

A dedicated festival-selection round table titled “The Global Canvas: Who Gets to Be Seen?” will examine contemporary festival curation, discovery, access and the changing ecosystem of independent cinema. Sourav Kanti Datta will moderate the discussion featuring C. S. Venkateshwaran, Siladitya Sen, Nirmal Dhar and Reema Borah.

Acting, sound and technology also in focus

The festival will feature “Faces of the Valley: The Beautiful Craft of Acting,” examining preparation, performance, collaboration and the creative demands of building memorable characters for the camera. The panel will be moderated by Mandar Bam, with Sulakhyana Barua, Rahul Bhatt and Ashoke Viswanathan.

Technology also gets a dedicated workshop through “The Moving Image: From Sensor to Frame,” a workshop on camera technology and optical engineering organised by Canon. The session will examine large-format sensors, colour science and advances in cinematic lens engineering.

Cinema returns to iconic J&K landscapes

Among IFFJK's most distinctive concepts is its Floating Cinema, which seeks to take the cinematic experience beyond conventional theatre spaces and into Jammu and Kashmir's iconic landscapes and waterscapes.

The Floating Cinema programme includes screenings of four well-known films associated with the region and Indian cinema:

• Junglee (1961) — September 7, 8:00 PM–10:00 PM

• Arzoo (1965) — September 8, 8:00 PM–10:00 PM

• Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) — September 9, 8:00 PM–10:00 PM

• Kabhi Kabhie (1976) — September 10, 8:00 PM–10:00 PM

The selection creates a bridge between the region's enduring relationship with cinema and its contemporary emergence as a platform for new filmmaking.

A festival designed as both cultural event and industry platform

Beyond screenings and artistic dialogue, the festival's programme signals an ambition to contribute to the development of a sustainable film ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

Discussions on film policy, incentives, single-window clearances, local partnerships, international co-production, financing, festival-market strategies, youth storytelling, AI, animation and cinematic technology collectively place the festival within a wider conversation about the future of the region's creative economy.

The proposed J&K Library further reinforces this ambition by envisioning a growing repository of filmmakers, artists, stories and creative talent from the Union Territory.

For young filmmakers and emerging storytellers, the festival provides multiple entry points—from the Jammu & Kashmir Select category and Best Debut Director segment to masterclasses, panel discussions and opportunities for engagement with established professionals.

A four-day cinematic bridge between J&K and the world

From international films arriving from multiple continents to conversations about the Valley's future as a film hub, IFFJK 2026 seeks to position Jammu and Kashmir not merely as a backdrop for cinema but as an active participant in the global cinematic conversation.

Its programme brings together international competition, Indian and regional cinema, documentary and hybrid filmmaking, short films, debut directors, special screenings and retrospectives with conversations on artificial intelligence, animation, cinematography, acting, screenplay writing, editing, sound, camera technology and international co-production.

The festival will unfold across Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg from September 7 to 10, with the schedule spanning INOX Srinagar, SKICC Srinagar and Waves Jammu, alongside the Floating Cinema experience.

The organisers have also cautioned that the schedule is subject to change and have advised audiences to scan the QR code provided in the festival brochure or visit the official festival platform for the latest updates.

With its combination of global cinema, local storytelling, professional knowledge, cultural heritage and the distinctive landscapes of Jammu and Kashmir, IFFJK 2026 is poised to make the Union Territory a meeting ground where the world's cinematic voices can encounter the stories, people, places and creative imagination of Jammu and Kashmir.

Festival website: International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir — IFFJK