SRINAGAR: The third day of the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) on Wednesday focused on nurturing local cinematic talent, international co-productions, regional cinema, artificial intelligence and the craft of filmmaking.
The sessions held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) brought together filmmakers, actors, editors, students and cinema enthusiasts for discussions and masterclasses on the evolving landscape of filmmaking and opportunities for Jammu & Kashmir’s storytellers.
An In-Conversation session titled “Echoes of the Chinar: Empowering J&K’s Next Generation of Storytellers” discussed the role of youth, local institutions and emerging cinematic voices in shaping the representation of Jammu & Kashmir on screen.
The session was moderated by Danish Renzu, while filmmaker and writer Rahhat Shah Kazmi was the speaker.
Another session, “Global Partnerships in the Valley: Co-Producing Jammu and Kashmiri Cinema for the World,” explored possibilities for international collaboration, sustainable financing, creative partnerships and festival-market strategies for taking regional cinema to global audiences.
Moderated by Indian director and editor Rabi Ranjan Maitra, the session featured Kapil Matoo, Munjal Shroff and Saba Bhat.
Speakers stressed that Jammu & Kashmir has a wealth of stories and talent that need to be nurtured through stronger local opportunities and a sustainable cinematic ecosystem.
They also underlined the need to engage young people from diverse academic and professional backgrounds and provide them with the direction, training and platforms required to develop their creative potential.
A panel discussion, “The Gentle Truth: AI and the Beautiful Soul of Jammu and Kashmir,” examined the growing role of artificial intelligence in documentary filmmaking.
The discussion touched upon ethics in documentary cinema, observational filmmaking, hybrid forms and the ways emerging technologies can complement authentic human stories and the cultural landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
The session was moderated by Sanskar Desai and featured Subbiah Nallamuthu, Arun Chadda, Yadu Vijaykrishnan, Supriyo Sen and Raja Shabbir Khan.
Another panel, “Local Voices, Global Hearts: Celebrating Regional Cinema in the Valley,” explored the potential of regional cinema and how distinctive stories from Jammu and Kashmir can find wider audiences.
Moderated by Arfi Laamba, the panel featured Tribeny Rai, Dr Pradeep Kenchanuru, Haobam Paban Kumar and Madhavi Tangella.
The festival also featured masterclasses focusing on the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking.
The masterclass “Cutting Visuals, or Cutting Emotions” focused on film editing, including rhythm, spatial continuity, temporal manipulation and the emotional impact of cuts.
Rabi Ranjan Maitra shared insights into the craft and psychology of editing, explaining how technical choices can shape the emotional experience of a film.
Another masterclass, “Beyond the Stage: Inside the Actor’s Craft,” explored theatrical training, embodied performance and contemporary approaches to cinematic acting.
Noted actor and director Chittaranjan Tripathy led the session and discussed the evolving dynamics of screen performance and the actor’s craft.
The masterclasses provided students, aspiring filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts an opportunity to interact with experienced practitioners and gain insights into the creative and technical processes involved in filmmaking.
The third day of IFFJK also saw active participation from students and film enthusiasts, who engaged with speakers through questions and discussions on filmmaking practices, emerging technologies and opportunities in the film industry.
The festival, through its discussions and training sessions, continued to position Jammu & Kashmir as a platform for local storytelling while creating links between regional filmmakers and the wider national and international cinematic ecosystem.
