Vidhu Vinod Chopra Hopes IFFJK Puts Kashmir On Global Cinema Map

Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra has expressed confidence that the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) can open the Union Territory to international cinema while giving local filmmakers a platform to take Kashmir’s stories to the world.

Speaking at the festival’s opening at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on September 7, Chopra described the event as a “homecoming” and said he was grateful to the government for taking the initiative. He said he was “very optimistic” about the festival’s potential to bring international cinema to the region.

Chopra, who grew up and studied in Srinagar, recalled his journey from a humble background to becoming one of Indian cinema’s prominent filmmakers. Known for ‘Parinda’, ‘Mission Kashmir’ and ‘12th Fail’, he has also produced popular films including the ‘Munnabhai’ series and ‘3 Idiots’.

Highlighting the creative talent in Kashmir, Chopra urged young filmmakers from the Valley to pick up a camera, make films and showcase their work. He said IFFJK offers Kashmiri students and filmmakers an opportunity to interact with leading filmmakers and artists and demonstrate their capabilities to wider audiences.

Drawing a comparison with Cannes, Chopra said the festival’s presence in Kashmir could help bring the region’s distinctive stories to audiences across India and abroad. “We have our own stories,” he said, stressing the importance of telling them from a local perspective.

Actor Fatima Sana Sheikh, who hosted the festival, also underlined the importance of regional cinema. With her mother hailing from Kashmir, Sheikh said returning to the Valley brought back childhood memories. She noted that Kashmir is often portrayed through an outsider’s perspective, while regional cinema can capture its local realities and nuances.

Taha Shah Badussha, who also hosted the event, praised Kashmir’s natural beauty and said filmmakers would be mesmerised by the Valley.

The four-day IFFJK 2026, organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Jammu and Kashmir, is being held from September 7 to 10 under the theme ‘Rang-e-Cinema’. The festival is showcasing 135 films from 41 countries, selected from around 1,100 submissions, with screenings and programmes spread across Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg.