SRINAGAR: A delegation representing members of the Kashmir film industry on Monday met former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar and raised concerns over the alleged lack of involvement of local film professionals in a recently held government-sponsored film festival.
The delegation, led by Kashmir World Film Festival (KWFF) founder and director Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan, submitted a memorandum to Mehbooba outlining its concerns and seeking her intervention on issues affecting the local film community.
The delegation included Zameer Ashai, G. M. Wani, Hussein Khan, Hassan Javaid and Aarif Zeeshan, among others.
According to a press release issued by the Kashmir Film Industry’s Media Cell, the members alleged that Kashmiri artists and film professionals had not been involved in the planning and execution of the recently held government-sponsored festival.
The delegation also disputed the description of the government event as the first international film festival of Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that the Kashmir World Film Festival was organised in 2017 and represented the first international film festival of its scale in Kashmir.
The delegation said the KWFF was conceived and organised by Khan in 2017, when, according to the memorandum, no cinema hall was operational in the Valley.
The memorandum also questioned the decision to organise a separate government-supported festival instead of strengthening existing private initiatives such as the KWFF, which the delegation described as an established platform.
Among its demands, the delegation sought clarification on the expenditure incurred on the recent government-sponsored festival and called for greater government support for existing film initiatives.
It also urged that future film festivals in Jammu and Kashmir be organised with greater involvement of local film professionals and talent.
After hearing the delegation’s concerns, Mehbooba assured its members of her support and said she would raise the issues at appropriate platforms, according to the press release.
The meeting was held at the PDP headquarters in Srinagar on Monday.
