SRINAGAR: The inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) will showcase 135 films from 41 countries during its four-day run from September 7 to 10, with a total prize purse of Rs 96 lakh across nine award categories.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday reviewed the final arrangements for the festival and directed all concerned departments and agencies to ensure close coordination for its smooth conduct.
The meeting reviewed the festival’s programming, international participation, venue arrangements, cultural performances, publicity strategy and responsibilities of various departments.
Dulloo stressed the need for seamless coordination among departments, saying every aspect of the event, including hospitality, protocol, venue management, civic amenities, transportation, cultural programming and public outreach, should be handled professionally.
He also asked the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) to make special efforts to bring a larger number of acclaimed filmmakers, actors and other prominent personalities from the film industry to Jammu and Kashmir.
Dulloo said the inaugural edition should set high standards as the festival is envisaged as an annual international event from this year onwards.
Director Information and Public Relations Shreya Singhal, while giving a presentation, said 135 films representing 41 countries would be screened during the festival.
India has the highest participation with 64 films, followed by France with 13 and Iran with eight. Argentina and Spain will contribute four films each, while Brazil, Germany, the Russian Federation and the United States will have three films each.
Countries including South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Qatar, Colombia and Türkiye will also contribute films, giving the festival a global character.
A major feature of IFFJK 2026 will be its Rs 96 lakh prize purse spread across nine categories. The Best Film award carries Rs 25 lakh, while Best Director and Best Debut Film of a Director will carry Rs 15 lakh each.
The Best Film – J&K Select category carries a prize of Rs 10 lakh. Best Actor (Male) and Best Actor (Female) will carry Rs 8 lakh each, while Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design and Best Editing will carry Rs 5 lakh each.
The festival will also feature a Floating Screen on Dal Lake near SKICC, providing an unconventional setting for film screenings while showcasing Jammu and Kashmir’s landscape to visiting filmmakers and delegates.
A three-day masterclass series has also been planned for aspiring filmmakers, students and cinema enthusiasts. It will feature director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, editor Namrata Rao, veteran sound designer Baylon Fonseca, Chitranjan Tripathi from the National School of Drama, Supriyo Sen of IDPA and cinematographer Anil Mehta, among others.
A Canon workshop will also be organised to showcase its latest camera equipment and technology to students and cinema enthusiasts.
The opening and closing ceremonies will feature performances by national and local artists, with the cultural programme aimed at highlighting Jammu and Kashmir’s diverse heritage alongside contemporary artistic expression.
The festival’s publicity and branding campaign is being carried out through social media, national and local media platforms and outdoor promotional activities.
The organisers said IFFJK 2026 is aimed at providing Jammu and Kashmir with an international platform for cinema, creativity, tourism promotion and cultural exchange.
