Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Filmmakers Hail First International Film Festival in Kashmir
Filmmakers Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Hussain Khan, along with actor Mir Sarwar, welcomed the first International Film Festival in Srinagar as a major opportunity for local and global cinema.
Srinagar hosted its first-ever international film festival, inaugurated by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The four-day event opened with the screening of the Lebanese film Dead Dog, a drama about an estranged couple's reunion.
Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, known for 1942: A Love Story, attended the opening ceremony and praised the initiative. "We are back," he said, adding that the festival offers a remarkable chance for filmmakers from Kashmir and around the world to collaborate and engage with local audiences.
Filmmaker Hussain Khan also expressed enthusiasm, noting that the government-backed festival is a significant step for the region's film industry. "This will give a boost to our local film industry and will be a step forward," he said.
Actor Mir Sarwar welcomed the event but urged attendees to be patient with its first edition. He encouraged constructive feedback and highlighted the importance of understanding the jury's selection process for films. "I would request everyone to welcome this event... so that filmmakers from around the world keep coming here," he said.
The festival is seen as a platform to promote cinema and cultural exchange in Kashmir, with hopes that it will become a recurring event.