SRINAGAR: The Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Jammu and Kashmir Government, on Thursday announced a five-member jury for the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK), scheduled to be held from September 7 to 10.
The jury comprises noted personalities from the fields of filmmaking, cinematography, sound design, documentary filmmaking and film curation, who will assess entries across various competition and thematic sections of the festival.
The panel includes acclaimed cinematographer, filmmaker and producer **Santosh Sivan**, who is a founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers. His directorial works include *The Terrorist*, while he was honoured with the Pierre Angénieux Tribute at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024.
Also on the jury is **Resul Pookutty**, an Academy Award and BAFTA winner for *Slumdog Millionaire*. A Padma Shri and National Film Award recipient, Pookutty is an internationally acclaimed sound designer and has also served on the executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
**Dorothee Wenner**, a German filmmaker, curator, writer and journalist, is another member of the jury. Associated with the Berlin International Film Festival since 1990, she has worked as a programmer and delegate for India and Sub-Saharan Africa and has contributed to promoting Asian and African cinema internationally.
The panel also includes **Keiko Bang**, a Japanese media entrepreneur, documentary filmmaker, producer and international curator with more than three decades of experience in the global media industry. She has produced over 50 award-winning documentaries and has worked on international co-productions across Asia.
**Himansu Sekhar Khatua**, a National Film Award-winning filmmaker and educator, is the fifth member. An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, Khatua has worked on acclaimed films and served as Director of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI).
The jury will evaluate films submitted under international, national and Jammu and Kashmir-focused categories, with DIPR stating that their collective expertise would ensure an independent and internationally informed assessment of the entries.
The maiden edition of IFFJK is being organised with the objective of positioning Jammu and Kashmir as a destination for cinema, creative expression and cultural exchange. The festival will feature film screenings, masterclasses, in-conversation sessions, panel discussions and other cinematic engagements.
It will also provide filmmakers, students, film professionals and audiences an opportunity to interact and exchange ideas while showcasing the cultural heritage and creative potential of Jammu and Kashmir.
