SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attended the screening of the popular crime-drama Mirzapur at INOX Srinagar on Tuesday as the International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) entered its second day, with prominent actors, filmmakers, and cinema enthusiasts participating in screenings and interactive sessions across the summer capital.

During the event, the Chief Minister interacted with acclaimed actors Pankaj Tripathi and Divyenndu Sharma, celebrated for their iconic portrayals of Kaleen Bhaiya and Munna Tripathi. Renowned Bollywood playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan was also present on the occasion.

The screening was part of the festival’s packed schedule at INOX, which also showcased Laila Majnu along with several other national and international films across both competitive and non-competitive categories. The star-studded presence drew aspiring artists, cinephiles, and local storytellers together under one roof.

Engaging Regional Cinema & Local Voices

Earlier in the day at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Pankaj Tripathi and Divyenndu Sharma engaged in media interactions, praising the region’s immense cinematic potential. They underlined the growing reach of theatrical releases and OTT platforms, urging greater institutional support and creative collaborations with local youth.

Sharing their personal impressions, both actors expressed admiration for Kashmiri hospitality, traditional cuisine, and the warmth of the local populace, remarking that their visit felt deeply welcoming and inspiring.

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali also highlighted Kashmir’s untapped cinematic treasures during his session at SKICC. Emphasizing that Kashmir should be celebrated far beyond its scenic vistas, Ali noted that its music, humor, everyday resilience, and living heritage present fertile ground for authentic filmmaking. Drawing upon his own experiences filming in the valley—including for Rockstar—he reiterated that initiatives like IFFJK will serve as vital bridges connecting local storytellers to global platforms.

5 Regional Films Picked for J&K Select Competition

In a significant milestone for regional creators, the festival’s Preview Committee recommended five films helmed by directors from Jammu and Kashmir for the competitive J&K Select Section, recognizing their artistic merit and technical finesse:

Workshops, Masterclasses & Floating Cinema

Simultaneously at SKICC, day two hosted specialized masterclasses: director Sriram Raghavan helmed an intensive session on Direction and Screenplay Writing, veteran cinematographer Anil Mehta anchored an in-depth conversation on visual grammar, and acclaimed editor Rabi Ranjan Maitra led a masterclass on post-production craft.

Other sessions included acting pedagogy by Chittaranjan Tripathy, sound architecture and acoustic design led by Baylon Fonseca, as well as panel discussions on artificial intelligence, animation, and single-window clearance frameworks under the J&K Film Policy.

Adding a nostalgic touch, the festival’s open-air Floating Cinema on Dal Lake revisited the valley’s historic cinematic heritage with an evening screening of the 1965 classic Arzoo, with screenings of Junglee (1961), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), and Kabhi Kabhie (1976) slated across the festival schedule.