Srinagar, Sept 7 (JKNS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday described the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) as a new chapter in the long-standing relationship between Jammu & Kashmir and cinema, saying the Valley is not merely a filming location but a “creative sanctuary” and a home for global storytellers.
Addressing the gathering at the inaugural edition of IFFJK 2026 at SKICC Srinagar, as pwr news agency JKNS, CM Omar welcomed filmmakers, artists and delegates from across the world and said the festival was a declaration to the world that Jammu & Kashmir was ready to tell its own stories.
“To stand here today under the majestic shade of the Chinar trees, surrounded by the sentinel peaks of the Himalayas, is to be reminded that some places on earth do not merely boast stories. They are born of them,” Omar said.
Recalling Kashmir’s popular description as “Jannat-e-Firdous”, the Chief Minister said that for people associated with moving images, Kashmir had always represented something more.
“It is the world’s most breathtaking natural canvas, a place where reality itself is lived by the cinematographer’s touch,” he said.
Referring to the participation of filmmakers from more than 40 countries and the screening of over 130 films, Omar said the festival was much more than a cinema event.
“Today, as we launch this festival, bringing together filmmakers from more than 40 countries and showcasing over 130 extraordinary films, we are not just opening a cinema event. We are opening a new chapter in the long-storied romance between Jammu and Kashmir and the silver screen,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the festival sends a clear message about Kashmir’s potential as a global filmmaking destination.
“We are declaring to the world that Kashmir is not just a location on a call sheet. It is a creative sanctuary, a home for global storytellers, and a voice that is ready to speak to the world,” he said.
Tracing the historical association between Kashmir and Indian cinema, Omar recalled the iconic films and songs that helped shape the popular cinematic image of the Valley.
“In the golden era of Indian cinema, to fall in love on screen meant falling in love in Kashmir,” he said, referring to memorable films including Kashmir Ki Kali, Bobby, Kabhi Kabhie, Jab Tak Hai Jaan and other productions shot in the region.
He said filmmakers over the decades had used Kashmir’s changing seasons, landscapes and cultural settings to create memorable cinematic imagery.
“From the vivid greens of spring, the golden hues of autumn, and the quiet white of winter, Kashmir could mirror the entire spectrum of human emotion,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister also recalled the contribution of contemporary filmmakers who brought Kashmir back into mainstream cinema and explored more nuanced narratives.
Referring to filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who is participating in IFFJK, Omar said Chopra demonstrated that films could once again be shot in Kashmir, while filmmakers such as Vishal Bhardwaj, Imtiaz Ali and Kabir Khan had also used the Valley and its people in distinctive ways.
Omar said Kashmir’s appeal for filmmakers extended beyond its mountains and landscapes, stressing that its culture and people were equally important.
“Cinema is more than landscapes. Cinema is culture, and the true beauty of Jammu and Kashmir lies in its soul, its culture and ethos, built on Kashmiriyat, warmth, hospitality, and a rich artistic tradition,” he said.
He said Kashmir had always been a land of storytellers, with its heritage preser…
