Omar Abdullah reviews preparations for inaugural International Film Festival

Srinagar, Aug 18 (IANS) J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed final preparations for the inaugural International Film Festival of J&K (IFFJK), scheduled for September 7 to 10 across Srinagar and Jammu.

An official statement said the Chief Minister chaired a high-level meeting to foster cultural exchange and creative collaboration through the festival.

The four-day event is envisioned as a premier international platform celebrating cinematic excellence, cultural exchange, creative collaboration and emerging filmmaking talent, while providing opportunities to forge partnerships with the global film fraternity and showcase the rich cultural and cinematic heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.

Commissioner Secretary Information R. Alice Vaz briefed the Chief Minister on the festival, which will include screenings across categories such as International Competition, Cinema of the World, Bharat Panorama, J&K Select, Best Debut Film, Documentary/Hybrid and Short Films.

The programme will also feature masterclasses, panel discussions, in-conversation sessions, round tables and workshops involving filmmakers, actors, critics, scholars and other prominent personalities from the film industry.

Arrangements at the principal venues, Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), INOX Shivpora Srinagar and Waves Cinema Jammu, were reviewed, along with the proposed floating cinema at Lalit Ghat.

The group also discussed preparations for the Gulmarg excursion for a select group of filmmakers, including visits to the Gondola, Golf Course, Gulmarg Club and other attractions.

The Chief Minister emphasised close inter-departmental coordination and timely completion of arrangements to ensure a seamless experience for filmmakers, artists, delegates, guests and audiences. He directed departments and agencies to remain fully geared up and ensure readiness well ahead of commencement.

Omar Abdullah called for prominently showcasing Jammu and Kashmir’s heritage, cuisine, handicrafts, traditional art forms and tourist destinations during the festival. He stressed that meticulous planning and coordination among stakeholders would be essential to establish IFFJK as a premier annual event on the global film calendar.

The meeting also reviewed security and traffic arrangements, airport facilitation, hospitality and protocol, accommodation, transportation, medical facilities, power supply, sanitation, beautification, venue preparedness, and other logistical requirements.

Dedicated liaison and nodal officers are being appointed to facilitate coordination with the Information Department and visiting guests. The department was tasked with maintaining a consolidated action matrix covering responsibilities, timelines, progress, and pending issues, as well as coordinating invitations, participant facilitation, and media arrangements.

The department also discussed plans for extensive publicity and branding of IFFJK at regional and national levels through print, electronic, digital, and outdoor media.

The festival is expected to bring together filmmakers, artists, storytellers, industry leaders, policymakers, academicians, students and audiences from across the country and abroad, creating opportunities for dialogue, networking and collaboration through cinema.

The Chief Minister stressed that IFFJK should emerge as a flagship international event showcasing Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural richness and creative potential to the wider world, while creating meaningful opportunities and a wider platform for local filmmakers and emerging talent.

--IANS

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