DIPR hosts Storytellers’ Meet ahead of first IFFJK-2026

Film fraternity invited to participate in festival in large numbers

Jammu Tawi, August 10: The Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) on Monday organised “Frame by Frame: The Storytellers’ Meet” at the DIPR Media Complex here as a precursor to the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK)-2026.

Commissioner Secretary, Information, R Alice Vaz, who was the chief guest, interacted with filmmakers, actors, producers, artists and other stakeholders from the film and media fraternity.

Director Information Shreya Singhal, Special Secretary Information Pawan Singh Rathore, Director Floriculture Nagendra Jamwal, Director Tourism Jammu Vikas Gupta, Additional Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Sonali Arun Gupta, and Joint Director Information Jammu Deepak Dubey were among those present.

Prominent members of the film fraternity, including Padma Shri awardee and artist Mohan Singh Slathia, actor Ajay Pal Andotra, director-producer Tariq Khan, line producer Atul Duggal, artist Kusum Tickoo and Rajesh Khajuria of Cine Association of J&K, besides media persons, artists and writers, also attended the meet.

Addressing the gathering, R Alice Vaz described the first IFFJK as a landmark initiative aimed at opening a new chapter in the cultural and creative journey of Jammu & Kashmir.

“Jammu and Kashmir has a rich and enduring association with cinema. The first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir is an important step towards building on this legacy and creating new opportunities for the film fraternity,” she said.

She said the department had taken note of the suggestions and expectations shared by members of the film fraternity and assured that these inputs would be considered while framing policies and initiatives for the growth of the film sector in J&K.

“The department is committed to creating a more conducive and enabling environment for filmmakers, artists and other creative professionals,” she added.

R Alice Vaz said the festival, being organised by DIPR, was envisioned not merely as a platform for film screenings but also as a space for dialogue, interaction, collaboration and cultural exchange.

She invited filmmakers, producers, directors, actors and other members of the film fraternity to participate in the festival in large numbers, saying that arrangements had been made for screenings and associated activities.

The Commissioner Secretary also highlighted the potential of the festival to promote J&K as an attractive destination for filmmakers and visitors.

“While cinema remains at the heart of the festival, we also expect important collateral benefits, particularly in terms of tourism and showcasing the breathtaking landscapes, culture and creative potential of Jammu & Kashmir to audiences across the country and the world,” she said.

Director Information Shreya Singhal said the first IFFJK marked a significant moment for J&K, which had shared a deep and historic association with cinema.

“Jammu & Kashmir has been closely associated with films for decades. For many people across the country and the world, the landscapes and identity of Jammu & Kashmir have been introduced through cinema. It is therefore fitting that Jammu & Kashmir now hosts an International Film Festival of its own,” she said.

Giving an overview of the festival, she said IFFJK-2026 would be held from September 7 to 10 in Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg, bringing together actors, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers and other professionals from India and abroad.

She said the festival sought to establish J&K as a premier filmmaking destination while reigniting the spirit of filmmaking in the region and providing greater opportunities to local talent.

“The festival seeks to reignite the spirit of filmmaking in Jammu & Kashmir and establish it as a premier destination for filmmakers. At the same time, one of our key objectives is to celebrate and empower the immensely talented young people of J&K associated with the film industry,” she said.

Shreya Singhal said the festival would provide local filmmakers and artists opportunities to interact with leading voices from the industry, hone their skills and develop professional networks.

She informed that the maiden edition had received entries from more than 80 countries, describing the response as an indication of global interest in Jammu & Kashmir as a cultural and cinematic destination.

The festival will feature screenings of feature films, short films and documentaries from international, national and regional cinema, besides masterclasses and technical sessions on contemporary aspects of filmmaking. The sessions will cover areas including filmmaking, sound and editing, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence in filmmaking and animation.

Emphasising sustained outreach, the Director Information said DIPR had undertaken an extensive publicity and social media campaign to give the festival a distinct identity and reach audiences beyond the region.

“Our endeavour is that IFFJK should not remain merely a local or regional celebration. We want it to develop its own identity as a distinctive international platform that creates value for filmmakers, artists, audiences, tourism stakeholders and the wider creative ecosystem,” she said.

She added that a dedicated website and application had also been developed to facilitate registrations, film submissions and dissemination of festival updates.

The gala opening and closing ceremonies will be held on September 7 and 10, respectively, with participation of acclaimed members of the film fraternity.

Earlier, the storytellers’ meet provided members of the film and creative community an opportunity to share their views and suggestions regarding development of the film sector and the upcoming festival. Participants appreciated the Government and DIPR for organising the first IFFJK and stressed the need to ensure greater promotion and exposure for local artists through the event.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to encourage emerging filmmaking talent, DIPR has announced the IFFJK Emerging Filmmakers Competition 2026. Registrations for the competition commenced on August 6.

The competition is exclusively open to aspiring filmmakers from Jammu & Kashmir and seeks to provide young storytellers a platform to showcase their creativity, cinematic vision and technical skills through original short films. The last date for submission is August 26, 2026.