International film festival beginning September 7, 2026
Why in News? Jammu & Kashmir hosted its first-ever four-day international film festival beginning September 7, 2026, with the Lebanese film Dead Dog as the inaugural screening. The festival features 135 films from 41 countries and seeks to revive J&K’s historic connection with cinema while promoting the region as a global filmmaking and cultural destination.
• Revival of cinema in Kashmir: Kashmir, which had 15 cinema halls before militancy led to their closure over three decades ago, has witnessed a gradual revival of its cinema culture; the reopening of the Inox multiplex in Srinagar in 2022, the Valley’s first functional cinema hall after 23 years, marked an important step in this process, with the 2026 festival taking this revival to an international level.
• International character of the festival: The festival received around 1,100 entries, of which 135 films from 41 countries were shortlisted, including more than 60 foreign films. India leads participation with 64 films, followed by France with 13 and Iran with eight, while countries such as Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Russia and the U.S. are also represented.
• Opening film and venues: The festival opened with Dead Dog, a Lebanese drama directed by Sarah Francis, and screenings are being held at SKICC and Inox in Srinagar, Gulmarg and Jammu city. A distinctive feature is a floating cinema screen on Dal Lake near SKICC, adding a unique cultural and tourism dimension to the event.
• Cinema as cultural revival: The festival seeks to reconnect J&K’s people, particularly its young population, with cinema while providing aspiring local talent opportunities to interact with filmmakers and professionals from India and abroad. It also aims to showcase traditional arts, cuisine, handicrafts and the region’s rich cultural heritage, presenting cinema as an instrument of cultural engagement rather than merely entertainment.
• Reviving Kashmir as a film destination: Kashmir had emerged as a popular filmmaking destination during the 1960s, with films such as Junglee (1961), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Jab Jab Phool Khile and Arzoo popularising its landscapes. The present festival seeks to revive this historic association by positioning Kashmir not merely as a film location but as a creative destination for Indian and international filmmakers.
• Tourism and economic potential: By combining film screenings with the promotion of J&K’s landscapes, heritage, cuisine, handicrafts and tourist destinations, the festival can strengthen film tourism, attract filmmakers and visitors, create opportunities for local youth and contribute to the broader revival of the region’s cultural and creative economy.
