Srinagar, Aug 30: The International Film Festival of Kashmir (IFFK) will showcase 28 films from 24 countries during its sixth edition, scheduled to be held at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, on September 1 and 2.
The festival, which marks 20 years of cinema, culture and conversation since its inception in 2006, received more than 200 entries from across the world for this year’s edition.
Festival Director Yaqut Mushtaq said the two-day festival aims to provide a platform for diverse cinematic voices and perspectives while bringing filmmakers and audiences together for screenings, discussions and interactions.
The Kashmiri feature film Baand, directed by Ali Emran and produced by Yaqut Mushtaq, will open the festival. The 65-minute film explores the traditional Kashmiri folk theatre form of Baand-e-Pather.
The organisers said the decision to open the festival with a Kashmiri feature reflects IFFK’s commitment to promoting regional cinema and providing local filmmakers with an opportunity to engage with audiences and filmmakers from across the world.
The official selection has been divided into four thematic sections – ‘Voices’, ‘People & Identity’, ‘Landscapes & Memory’ and ‘Contemporary Shorts’. Three sections feature five films and six films respectively, while six additional films take the overall selection to 28.
The selected films cover a range of subjects, cinematic approaches and perspectives, reflecting contemporary filmmaking across different cultures and geographical regions.
The opening day on September 1 will feature the inaugural ceremony, screening of Baand, selected films and filmmaker interactions.
On September 2, screenings will continue from 11 am to 6:30 pm, followed by the closing programme.
The festival will also feature Q&A sessions with filmmakers, allowing audiences to interact directly with the creators and discuss their films, ideas and creative processes.
Founded in 2006, IFFK has sought to create a space for cinema in Kashmir while connecting local audiences with diverse cinematic voices and encouraging conversations around film, culture and society.
The sixth edition will be held under the theme, “Real Stories. Real People. Real Impact”, with organisers inviting filmmakers, cinema enthusiasts, artists and students to participate in the two-day festival.
