The Jammu and Kashmir government is set to host its first international film festival in Srinagar, with around 135 films from 40 countries scheduled to be screened over four days. The event will bring
filmmakers, artists and other guests from India and abroad to Jammu and Kashmir, with several Bollywood names also expected to attend.
Ramesh Sippy, Pankaj Tripathi among expected guests
The inaugural International Film Festival Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK-2026), themed ‘Rang-e-Cinema’ or ‘colours of cinema’, will be held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar from Monday. Some programmes are also planned in Jammu, Gulmarg and at Srinagar’s only multiplex, Inox.
Officials said around 300 guests from across India and other countries are expected to attend. Among the prominent names expected at the festival are filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, known for Sholay, singer Palak Muchhal and actor Pankaj Tripathi.
International filmmakers are also expected from Spain, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Jordan, France and Canada. Along with film screenings, the four-day event will feature panel discussions, masterclasses and conversations on cinema and filmmaking.
J&K government hopes festival boosts film tourism
The festival is being organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) of the Jammu and Kashmir government. Officials hope the event will help strengthen the region’s position as a film destination and eventually become an annual calendar event.
Shreya Singhal, director of DIPR, said the government wants visitors to experience the local culture during the festival. “Our guests have started arriving… We feel that this event should feature local cultural themes, including flowers and their natural beauty as part of our decoration. We are expecting more than 300 guests from around the country and around the world so they can experience what J&K is all about. We are trying to ensure all our venues act as showcases for our culture,” she said.
The Department of Floriculture and Department of Culture are also assisting the DIPR with the arrangements. “Our cultural teams are deputed at key venues, airports, and railway stations so guests get an authentic feel of Jammu & Kashmir…” she said.
Festival aims to create opportunities for local filmmakers
For the J&K government, cinema is also being viewed as a way to support tourism and create opportunities for the local film industry.
“This would once again bring Kashmir on the film destination map. We are hopeful that a combination of tourism and cinema would create an opportunity for this region,” Singhal said. She added that the festival could help create a “self-sustaining ecosystem” for local filmmakers, artists and technicians.
Shahnawaz Bukhari, joint director of DIPR, said, “Our effort is to reassert our connection with Bollywood and films. This is a well intentioned effort of the government to promote film tourism.”
Security arrangements are also being reviewed ahead of the festival. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone Sujit Kumar recently chaired a meeting focused on strengthening security and ensuring the event is conducted safely.
