Kashmir Opens Doors for Bollywood

With some recent notable films, including Ayan Mukerji's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Imtiaz Ali'sHighway, Rahat Kazmi's Identity Card and Vishal Bhardwaj's Haider being shot in Kashmir, the stage seems set for re-opening of movie theatres in Kashmir. And to facilitate this move towards the resurrection of movie culture like-minded filmmakers from Kashmir and concerned about the latency of cinema culture in Kashmir have organized a 5-day film festival in Kashmir.

Says Rahat Kazmi, "This festival is an initiative and effort to revive cinema in Kashmir, as we all know cinemas are closed there for 25 years or more and State has been through a bad period. Now thankfully the condition is much better. The people of the Valley are cinema and art lovers. We are making efforts to bring some excellent cinema from as many countries as we could and we would try hard to invite media from many countries to cover the event."

JKIFF will start with an opening night on 12th October and it will close on October 17. Some of the best filmmaking talents from the Valley will feature their works during the Festival.
Since the Festival is being organized in direct collusion with the J&K government the security bandobast for all the delegates and participants would be unquestionable.  Says Kazmi, "We're certain that those attending the Festival would have a wonderful time. The venue is right next to the Dal Lake. It can't get any more paradisiacal”.