J&K gear up for international film fest Rang-e-Cinema

After successfully hosting the G-20 delegates in May 2023, the Union Territory administration in Jammu and Kashmir is fully geared up for hosting Rang-e-Cinema, its first international film festival beginning September 7 on the banks of world-famous Dal Lake amid tight security arrangements.

During the four-day film festival, officials will make an all-out effort to hardsell the image of Jammu and Kashmir as a “major international destination for cinema, filmmaking, creative collaboration and cultural exchange”.

Ahead of rolling out the red-carpet welcome for the star-studded audience and international filmmakers, J&K Government’s Information and Public Relations Department is working hard to ensure the grand success of the festival and boost the image of the region as one of the safest destinations for shooting films in the lap of Mother Nature.

According to official sources, elaborate security arrangements have been planned in and around the main venues of the film festival. To secure the Sher-e-Kashmir Convention Centre, located on the banks of Dal Lake, the elite commandos will be deployed alongside quick reaction teams of the central paramilitary and J&K police teams.

The marine commandos of the Indian Navy are also likely to be stationed in Dal Lake and frequently launch long-range patrols to secure the venue from any form of threat.

A total of 135 entries from 41 countries have been shortlisted for the festival. Out of these, 64 entries have been shortlisted from India, 13 films from France and eight from Iran would be a part of the international festival. The other participating countries include Türkiye, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Spain, Brazil, Qatar, Argentina, United States, South Korea, Columbia and Taiwan. The shortlisted films and programmes would be showcased at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) and INOX PVR in Srinagar, Waves Cinema in Jammu, and at Gulmarg health resort. Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting with senior officials and assessed the security apparatus and strategic preparedness across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Nalin Prabhat, DGP; Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary, Home Department; SJMGillani, Special DG Coordination PHQ; Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; M.K. Sinha, ADGP, CID; Sujit Kumar, IGP Kashmir; Tejinder Singh, IGP Jammu; Ms Sarah Rizvi, IGP, Crime Branch; Divisional Commissioners; DIGs and other senior officials. During the meeting, the DGP and Principal Secretary Home apprised the Lieutenant Governor of the overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. IGPs, DIGs and Divisional Commissioners briefed the Lieutenant Governor on the security situation in their respective areas, anti-terror operations, law and order, drug smuggling and other emerging challenges.

The meeting also held comprehensive and detailed deliberations on a wide range of other critical issues.

The Lieutenant Governor instructed the senior officials to maintain sustained pressure on terror networks and enhance ground-level operational synergy, calling for an aggressive area domination strategy to decisively eliminate emerging threats.

The Lieutenant Governor directed officials to carry out close monitoring of social media platforms to counter anti-national propaganda, digital misinformation and online blackmailing.  The Lieutenant Governor instructed all officers to maintain heightened operational vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination and a proactive approach to safeguarding peace and maintaining law and order in the UT.