Jammu and Kashmir is hosting its first International Film Festival Jammu Kashmir (IFFJK 2026) from September 7 to 10, stepping onto the global film stage for the first time.
A Festival Born From Global Interest
The response to the very first call for entries has been striking. The festival will bring 135 films from over 40 countries to the region, part of a broader effort to revive its cinematic legacy and position it as a hub for filmmaking, cultural exchange and film tourism. Organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations under the theme “Rang-e-Cinema,” the event received around 1,100 film submissions from 92 countries, out of which 135 films representing more than 40 countries were shortlisted after review.
The scale of participation reflects real ambition. More than 300 delegates — including filmmakers, actors, producers, critics, academicians and students — are expected to attend, with a programme built around interactions between industry professionals and aspiring filmmakers through masterclasses and discussion sessions. A senior official overseeing the event has spoken of wanting to eventually institutionalise it as one of the region’s signature cultural exports, comparing the long-term vision to festivals like Cannes.
Where the Films Will Screen
The festival’s geography mirrors the region’s own diversity. Major activities will be held at SKICC and INOX in Srinagar, alongside a dedicated one-day programme in Gulmarg, while a floating cinema on Dal Lake is also planned as part of the experience. The Jammu leg of the event runs on September 8 and 9 at Waves Cinema, giving the festival a genuinely UT-wide footprint rather than confining it to a single city.
Beyond screenings, masterclasses by leading filmmakers and academicians are being organised at SKICC, with media professionals and university professors also joining panel discussions — a structure designed to give local students direct access to voices from the wider film industry.
Prizes With Real Weight
This isn’t a ceremonial affair. The festival carries a prize purse of Rs 96 lakh spread across nine award categories, with Best Film taking the top prize of Rs 25 lakh, Best Director and Best Debut Film of a Director each worth Rs 15 lakh, and the Best Film—J&K Select award carrying Rs 10 lakh. The size of the purse signals an attempt to draw serious filmmaking talent rather than simply host a showcase event.
Gulmarg Steps Into the Frame
For Gulmarg, the festival doubles as a tourism opportunity. Plans include an excursion for a select group of filmmakers, with proposed visits to the Gondola, Golf Course, Gulmarg Club and other prominent attractions. On the ground, special attention has gone into branding and beautification along the Narbal-Gulmarg stretch, alongside sanitation, cleanliness, healthcare and emergency response arrangements, while Dal Lake has been inspected ahead of the arrival of filmmakers and guests.
Backing From the Top
The festival hasn’t been left to run on its own momentum. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah personally reviewed final preparations, stressing the importance of showcasing J&K’s culture, heritage and local filmmaking talent, and directed departments to ensure close coordination and timely completion of arrangements.
More Than a Film Festival
Ultimately, IFFJK is being framed as something larger than a screening calendar. It is intended to use cinema as a vehicle to showcase Jammu and Kashmir’s landscapes, cultural heritage, handicrafts, tourism potential and creative talent before a national and international audience. If the first edition delivers on its ambitions, it could become an annual fixture — one that puts the Valley’s scenery, and its stories, in front of audiences well beyond its borders.
