SRINAGAR: Kashmir will be easier and cheaper for filmmakers as it rebuilds its relationship with cinema, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said while unveiling the logo for International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah said on Friday that Jammu and Kashmir is ready to rebuild its historic relationship with the film industry, asserting that the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) will help restore the Valley as a preferred filmmaking destination and position it once again on the global cinema map.
Launching the logo of the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026 at the Royal Springs Golf Course here, the Chief Minister recalled Kashmir's deep association with Indian cinema, saying there was a time when Bollywood and the Valley were inseparable.
"There was a time when filmmaking in Bollywood and Kashmir was synonymous. No film was considered complete unless it had at least one sequence filmed in the Valley. If you couldn't shoot an entire movie here, you at least shot one song," he said.
The Chief Minister added that the primary objective of the film festival is to revive that long-standing relationship and create a lasting platform for filmmakers.
"The idea behind this film festival is to rebuild the bond that existed between this part of the country and the film industry. I believe we are again at the cusp of restarting that relationship," he said.
Stressing that scenic beauty alone is no longer enough to attract productions, Omar Abdullah said the Union Territory (UT) government is focused on making Jammu and Kashmir a filmmaker-friendly destination.
"We need to make it easier and cheaper for filmmakers to come here and also develop local youngsters who can support filmmaking activity," he added.
Referring to noted filmmaker Muzaffar Ali's long-delayed film 'Zooni', Omar Abdullah said he was pleased to learn that Ali's son had completed the project.
"If what he has done is even a patch on what his father had started, I have no doubt it will present Kashmir in a way it hasn't been presented in the last four decades," he added.
Expressing hope that the festival would become an annual event, Omar Abdullah said the UT government wants it to evolve into a globally recognised platform.
"This is the first, but we definitely don't want it to be the only one. We want filmmakers from across the world to look forward to participating here," he added.
The Chief Minister also welcomed the Union government's decision not to close Srinagar Airport during the proposed festival period, saying it had come as a major relief for organisers.
"Thankfully, the Government of India changed its mind. That was a huge relief for us," he said.
Omar Abdullah also thanked filmmakers Muzaffar Ali, Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Ali for supporting the initiative, saying their association would provide a significant boost to Jammu and Kashmir's efforts to revive its film industry and promote the region as a premier filmmaking destination.
The inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK 2026) will take place from September 7 to 11, organized by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
The venues of the festival will include SKICC Srinagar as the main venue, INOX Multiplex Srinagar, Gulmarg Convention Centre and selected locations in Jammu.
Entries were open on FilmFreeway through July 31, 2026.
Categories and highlights of the festival include International Competition, Cinema of the World, J&K Select, Bharat Panorama, Documentary/Hybrid, Horror, and Short Films.
The objective of the festival is to revive the region's historic ties to cinema and promote local talent alongside global filmmakers.
--IANS
