SRINAGAR : With the first International Film Festival of J&K (IFFJK) scheduled to be held from September 7 to 10, the administration has begun working on tourism, sightseeing and hospitality arrangements for national and international guests attending the festival.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Monday chaired a meeting to review preparations for the festival, which is being organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations, J&K.
The meeting focused on the festival’s programme, objectives and coordination among various government departments and stakeholders for its smooth conduct.
Director Information and Public Relations Shreya Singhal gave a detailed presentation on the festival’s vision, highlighting its focus on cinematic excellence, cultural exchange, creative collaboration, emerging filmmaking talent and international industry engagement.
The festival will feature opening and closing ceremonies, curated film screenings, masterclasses, panel discussions, jury and filmmaker interactions, film tourism initiatives, networking and business meetings, besides dedicated engagements with students and young filmmakers.
Reviewing the arrangements, Garg directed all concerned departments to designate nodal officers for effective inter-departmental coordination. He also asked the Director Information and Public Relations to prepare a comprehensive work chart for the event manager and participating departments, clearly defining their roles, responsibilities and timelines.
Emphasising Kashmir’s tourism potential, particularly its emerging destinations, the Divisional Commissioner directed the Tourism Department to undertake focused branding of new tourist locations to attract filmmakers and international visitors. He also called for appropriate branding of shikaras and boats to be used during the festival.
Garg stressed the need to integrate cultural programmes with the festival and showcase Kashmir’s rich handloom and handicraft products at identified venues.
He also directed officials to prepare food menus suited to national and international guests and ensure the availability of bilingual service providers through outsourced agencies to facilitate communication.
The Divisional Commissioner further called for heritage tours to locations identified by JKTDC and the Handicrafts and Handloom Department. Plans for customised tour packages, sightseeing programmes and transportation arrangements for visiting festival guests were also reviewed.
Officials from the Airport Authority, Srinagar and Baramulla district administrations, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Floriculture, KPDCL, Transport, Health, LCMA, AACL, Handicrafts and Handloom, Hospitality and Protocol, Education and Police departments were given specific directions regarding their roles and responsibilities.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar and Baramulla, Commissioner SMC, Director Information and Public Relations J&K, Director Floriculture, Director Airport, Managing Director KPDCL, Vice Chairman LCMA, Joint Director Information Headquarters, Joint Director Information Kashmir and senior officers from the Information Department and other concerned departments.
