Floating screens on Dal Lake to mark first J&K film fest
Iconic Bollywood films shot in the Valley, Kashmir Ki Kali, Kabhi Kabhie, Arzoo and Junglee, will be screened on floating screens installed on Dal Lake starting Monday as part of the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK).
The four-day festival, themed “Rang-e-Cinema,” runs from September 7 to 10 and will feature 135 films from more than 40 countries.
Organisers say the floating cinema will give the event a distinctive visual and experiential character, with audiences watching from shikaras against the lake and the Zabarwan hills.
Director Information and Public Relations, J&K, Shreya Singhal said the initiative is expected to provide an iconic setting for screenings while showcasing the unique cultural and natural landscape of Jammu and Kashmir to visiting filmmakers, artists and delegates from across India and abroad. She added that the festival seeks to revive J&K’s cinematic legacy and position the Union Territory as a destination for filmmaking and cultural exchange.
Main venues include SKICC and INOX in Srinagar, with additional programmes in Jammu and a dedicated day in Gulmarg.
The festival received around 1,100 submissions from dozens of countries before a preview committee shortlisted the final 135 titles. Categories include International Panorama, Bharat Panorama, Cinema of the World, Documentary, Hybrid Documentary and J&K Select. A prize purse of `96 lakh will be distributed across nine award categories. The opening screening at INOX Srinagar is the Lebanese film Dead Dog, directed by Sarah Francis. Masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions and cultural performances will run alongside the films, giving local students and emerging filmmakers a chance to interact with industry professionals.
More than 300 delegates are expected. Officials say IFFJK aims to rebuild that connection, promote film tourism and create economic opportunities in the creative sector. Preparations have included beautification and sanitation drives around Dal Lake and key routes, along with security and hospitality arrangements for visiting guests.
Union Ministers, Governor, Chief Minister, Lieutenant Governors, Tourism Secretaries of different States/UTs and many Bollywood personalities are scheduled to attend the first International Film Festival in Srinagar.
A five-member international jury comprising distinguished personalities from the world of cinema, including internationally acclaimed filmmakers, cinematographers, sound artists and film curators, will evaluate the entries.
The jury, headed by acclaimed cinematographer-director Santosh Sivan, includes Oscar- and BAFTA-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty, German film curator Dorothee Wenner, media entrepreneur Keiko Bang and National Award-winning filmmaker Himansu Sekhar Khatua.
