KWFF Founder Criticises Government’s “Parallel” Film Festival, Seeks Support for Established Festival

Srinagar, September 18: Founder-director of the Kashmir World Film Festival (KWFF) has criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Government for organising a film festival earlier this month, questioning its projection as the first international film festival of J&K.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the KWFF founder said that while efforts to promote cinema in the region were welcome, the recent festival was “not” the first film festival of Kashmir. He claimed that the first international film festival of its scale in the Valley was conceived and organised by him in 2017, when there were no functional cinema halls in Kashmir.

According to the statement, KWFF has since hosted filmmakers and films from several countries, including the USA, Italy, Spain, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Afghanistan, Poland, Turkey, Korea, Nepal, Tajikistan, Tunisia and Bangladesh. It has also showcased films in several Indian languages.

The founder said KWFF had organised five editions in Srinagar and had hosted interactions with film personalities, filmmaking workshops and masterclasses aimed at nurturing local talent. He further claimed that the festival had received more than 500 national and international media coverages.

He also cited his involvement in other film festivals, including an edition of the J&K International Film Festival in Pune in 2022 and participation as a member of the international jury at the Nepal Cultural International Film Festival in Kathmandu in 2024.

The KWFF founder alleged that he had been submitting proposals to the government for nearly two years seeking financial and institutional support for the festival. He questioned the decision to organise what he described as a “parallel festival” instead of strengthening an existing platform.

The statement further alleged that the recent government-organised festival did not adequately involve the local film fraternity. The founder said a successful international film festival should facilitate cultural exchange while also providing a platform for local filmmakers and artists.

He called upon the elected government to provide reasonable financial support to local filmmakers and festival directors, arguing that professional film festivals should be organised with the involvement of people with experience in the field.

The KWFF founder also said filmmakers from across India and abroad had contacted him regarding submission deadlines for the government’s festival, claiming that some assumed he was associated with its organisation because of KWFF’s established network.

Reiterating his commitment to promoting cinema in Kashmir, the founder said KWFF would continue working towards creating a platform for local talent and connecting Kashmir’s filmmakers with the national and international film community.