Jammu & Kashmir is set to host its first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) from September 7 to 10, 2026. Organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), the four-day festival will bring filmmakers, artists, industry professionals and cinema audiences together for screenings, competitions, masterclasses and discussions. It will bring more than 300 delegates to Jammu & Kashmir and offer a total prize purse of Rs 96 lakh across nine award categories.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on September 7 inaugurated the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), marking a new chapter in Jammu & Kashmir’s long and enduring relationship with cinema.
Describing the inaugural edition of IFFJK as more than a celebration of cinema, Omar said the festival shall portray Jammu & Kashmir’s as a vibrant and alluring destination for filmmakers, storytellers and creative talent from across India and the world.
The festival is being held under the theme “Rang-e-Cinema” and is designed to promote filmmaking, cultural exchange and appreciation of Indian and international cinema.
The films will be screened under categories including International Panorama, Bharat Panorama, Cinema of the World, Documentary, Hybrid Documentary and JK Select.
IFFJK 2026 Dates and Venues
The festival will take place from September 7 to 10, 2026.
The Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar, is planned as the principal venue. The inaugural, closing and award ceremonies are proposed to be held at SKICC.
Film screenings and other festival activities are proposed at several locations, including:
- SKICC, Srinagar
- INOX Cinemas, Srinagar
- Waves Cinema, Jammu
- Movie Time Cinemas KC Central Jammu
- Gulmarg Convention Centre
- Other selected festival locations
Make Your Moment. Your complete first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) schedule is here!
🍿 Pick Your Film. Make Your Moment.
— Information & PR, J&K (@diprjk) September 6, 2026
Your complete festival schedule is here! 🍿🎬
Across INOX Srinagar – Screens 1, 2 and 3, explore international cinema, special screenings and compelling stories, and make your watchlist for IFFJK 2026.
Save the schedule and pick your films!… pic.twitter.com/ByncXgObhO
The festival programme also includes live cultural performances by local artists at locations identified by the divisional administrations.
What to Expect at IFFJK 2026
The festival programme includes an International Competition, curated film showcases and dedicated sections for feature films, documentaries, short films and regional cinema.
The J&K Select and Bharat Panorama sections will highlight selected films, while documentary and short-film showcases will provide space for different filmmaking formats.
The festival will also organise masterclasses, workshops and roundtable discussions involving filmmakers, industry professionals, artists and students, including students of Mass Communication.
IFFJK 2026 Awards
The festival will recognise achievements across filmmaking, direction, acting and technical categories.
The awards listed for the International Competition include:
- Best Film
- Best Director
- Best Actor (Male)
- Best Actor (Female)
- Best Cinematography
- Best Sound Design
- Best Editing
- Best Debut Film of a Director
- Best Film on Jammu & Kashmir
These awards are intended to recognise filmmakers and films for storytelling, direction, performances and technical work.
The jury features acclaimed filmmakers and cinema professionals Santosh Sivan, Resul Pookutty, Dorothee Wenner, Keiko Bang and Himansu Sekhar Khatuaa. The jury will evaluate entries across various competition and thematic sections.
Best Film carries the top award of Rs 25 lakh, while Best Director and Best Debut Film of a Director carry Rs 15 lakh each. The Best Film—JK Select award carries Rs 10 lakh.
Emerging Filmmakers Competition 2026
DIPR has also announced the IFFJK Emerging Filmmakers Competition 2026 to encourage young filmmaking talent from Jammu & Kashmir.
Registrations began on August 6, 2026, with August 26, 2026 listed as the final submission date. Participants are required to submit original short films of a maximum duration of five minutes.
Applicants must:
- Be between 18 and 39 years of age as of September 1, 2026.
- Hold a valid Jammu & Kashmir domicile certificate.
- Submit an original short film of up to five minutes.
The competition theme is “Rang-e-Cinema: Frames of a New Jammu & Kashmir.”
The official website of the International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026 provides registration details and comprehensive guidelines. For registration and further information, please visit iffjk.org.
Who Is Leading IFFJK 2026?
The Jammu & Kashmir Government has appointed IAS officer Shreya Singhal as Festival Director for IFFJK 2026. Singhal, a 2020-batch AGMUT cadre officer serving as Director Information, J&K, will oversee the festival’s planning, coordination and execution.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reviewed preparations for the festival. The curtain-raiser ceremony was held on July 17, 2026, when the Chief Minister formally launched the first international film festival of Jammu & Kashmir.
The Government has also indicated that the festival is intended to become an annual event.
More Than 1,100 Film Entries
The International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026 has received an overwhelming response from filmmakers worldwide, with more than 1,100 film entries reported from across the globe. An earlier report had cited over 900 entries from around 50 countries, reflecting the festival’s growing international reach.
The four-day festival will feature 135 films from more than 40 countries, showcasing diverse cinematic talent and strengthening Jammu & Kashmir’s position on the international film map. The event aims to revive J&K’s rich cinematic legacy and promote the Union Territory as an attractive destination for filmmaking and film tourism.
The international participation gives the inaugural festival a broad programme while creating opportunities for filmmakers and industry professionals to interact with audiences and emerging talent from Jammu & Kashmir.
Jammu & Kashmir’s Regional Cinema
The festival also provides an opportunity to look at the region’s own filmmaking history, particularly Dogri cinema from Jammu and Kashmiri-language films from the Valley.
Notable Dogri Films
Here are some of the Dogri films:
Gallan Hoyian Beetiyan (1966) — Directed by Kuldip Kumar, it is described as the first black-and-white Dogri feature film and was released at Shanker Theatre in Jammu.
Chanchlo (1999) — Directed by Shanker Bhan, it is described as the first Dogri tele-film and was produced for Srinagar Doordarshan (DD Kashir).
Maa Ni Mildi (2010) — Directed by Roop Sagar and produced by Amit Choudhary, the film is described as the first full-length colour Dogri feature film.
Lakeer (2011) — A Pahari/Dogri feature directed by Shiv Dutt Sharma, focusing on the impact of the 1947 Partition on a family.
Kuggi Maar Duaari (2011) — Directed by Neelam Kumar Phull and described as an early notable commercial feature in the language.
Reet (2012) — Produced and directed by Pankaj Khajuria.
Geetiyan (2014) — A Dogri feature featuring actors including Yashpal Sharma and Tanveer Dar.
Aaun Aan Shinda (2022) — A community-focused feature released at KC PVR Jammu.
Shah Shahni (2026) — A modern Dogri feature that premiered in Jammu cinemas.
Notable Kashmiri-Language Films
Several films associated with Kashmiri-language cinema.
These include Mainz Raat (1964), described as the first feature film made in the Kashmiri language; Bub (2001), a National Award-winning drama directed by Jyoti Sarup; Harud (2010), directed by Aamir Bashir; and Valley of Saints (2012), a drama set around Dal Lake.
The list also includes Batt Koch (2026), described as an independent drama following an ageing Kashmiri Pandit who revisits his homeland after decades.
IFFJK 2026 and Jammu
Although SKICC in Srinagar will host the major inaugural, closing and award ceremonies, Jammu has a significant role in the festival programme.
Waves Cinema and Movie Time Cinemas KC Central Jammu are among the proposed screening venues. The festival also includes activities involving filmmakers, artists, students and media professionals in Jammu.
DIPR recently organised “Frame by Frame: The Storytellers’ Meet” at the DIPR Media Complex in Jammu as a precursor to IFFJK 2026. Commissioner Secretary Information R Alice Vaz attended the event and interacted with filmmakers, actors, producers, artists and other members of the film and media fraternity.
Why IFFJK 2026 Matters for Jammu & Kashmir Cinema
The inaugural IFFJK brings international, national and regional cinema together in Jammu & Kashmir. Its programme combines film screenings with competitions, workshops, masterclasses and industry discussions.
For Jammu, the festival also provides a platform to showcase Dogri cinema, local filmmakers and the region’s creative talent alongside films from India and other countries.
The first edition of the International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir is scheduled for September 7-10, 2026, with events planned across Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg.
