IFFJK Day-3: Filmmakers, actors discuss local storytelling, AI, regional cinema

Srinagar, Sep 9: The third day of the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) on Wednesday brought together filmmakers, actors, writers and cinema professionals for discussions on local storytelling, filmmaking, technology and the future of cinema in Jammu and Kashmir.
Advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Nasir Aslam Wani, at Inox Srinagar called for strengthening the longstanding relationship between Kashmir and Bollywood, while urging filmmakers to return to the Valley and provide greater opportunities to local talent.
“Our relations with Bollywood will become stronger. Kashmir and Bollywood have had a very old relationship, and that relationship will become stronger,” Wani said, while talking to reporters here,
“Filmmakers should come here, make films and give opportunities to our local talent,” he added.
The day featured ‘Echoes of the Chinar: Empowering J&K’s Next Generation of Storytellers’, an in-conversation session on Jammu and Kashmir cinema.
The session focused on youth-led storytelling, local institutions and new cinematic voices shaping how Jammu and Kashmir is represented on screen. It was moderated by Danish Renzu, with filmmaker and writer Rahhat Shah Kazmi as the speaker.
Another session, ‘Thrillers in the Valley: Crafting Suspense in J&K’, explored how landscape, atmosphere, locations and local context can become active elements in suspense and thriller storytelling.
The session was moderated by Ritesh Shah, with Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket participating.
The festival also featured ‘Global Partnerships in the Valley: Co-Producing Jammu and Kashmiri Cinema for the World’, a panel discussion focusing on international co-production, sustainable financing, creative partnerships and festival-market strategies for Jammu and Kashmiri cinema.
The panel was moderated by Rabiranjan Maitra and featured Kapil Matoo, Munjal Shroff and Saba Bhat.
Screenplay writing was another focus of the day through ‘A Writer’s Story: Penning the Warmth of Jammu and Kashmir’.
The panel explored structural economy, subtextual dialogue and character arcs while writing stories rooted in the Valley. It was moderated by Tripti Sundar Abhikar, with Neeraj Mishra, Shankar Ramakrishnan and Biplab Goswami as speakers.
The festival turned its focus towards emerging technology with ‘The Gentle Truth: AI and the Beautiful Soul of Jammu and Kashmir’.
The documentary cinema panel explored how artificial intelligence and documentary cinema can work together, while also discussing the ethics of non-fiction storytelling, observational filmmaking and hybrid forms.
The session was moderated by Sanskar Desai, with Subbiah Nallamuthu, Arun Chadda, Yadu Vijaykrishnan, Supriyo Sen and Raja Shabbir Khan participating.‘Catching the Light: Cinematography in the Valley’ focused on natural lighting motifs and lens choices in contemporary framing. The session was moderated by Modhura Palit, with Shehnad Jalal and Suresh Bharadwaj as speakers.
Another panel, ‘Local Voices, Global Hearts: Celebrating Regional Cinema in the Valley’, explored how regional stories are told across India and how the traditions of Jammu and Kashmir can become part of the wider regional cinema landscape.
The day also featured ‘The Moving Image: From Sensor to Frame’, a workshop on camera technology and optical engineering.
The workshop focused on large-format sensors, colour science and advancements in cinematic lens engineering and was organised by Canon.
Meanwhile, the festival also saw a joint media interaction of movie crew of ‘Main Vaapas Aunga’, with playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, actor-producer Sanjay Suri, actor Vedang Raina and actress Sharvari speaking about Kashmir, cinema and the Valley’s renewed engagement with filmmaking.
Sanjay Suri said the return of a filmmaking atmosphere to Kashmir after decades was significant for both the Valley and the film industry.
Actor Vedang Raina spoke about his personal connection with Kashmir, saying his family is from Rainawari. “I have not seen as much of Kashmir as I wanted to. Kashmir will always be home. My family is from Rainawari. I can understand a little Kashmiri, but I cannot speak much. It feels really good to be here,” he said.
Playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan, whose voice is associated with the popular ‘Bumro Bumro’, recalled her experience of singing the song. “I feel lucky that I got the opportunity to sing ‘Bumro Bumro’,” she said, adding that she had learnt the language for the song.
Chauhan said she had always dreamed of visiting Kashmir and that returning to the Valley had left a deep impression on her. “I always dreamt of coming to Kashmir and, after so many years, I finally got the opportunity. After coming here, I realised the power of this place,” she said.
Describing Kashmir as “very deep”, she said she would like to return and perform a concert in the Valley.
Chauhan also spoke about Kashmiri music and its lyrics, saying the region’s musical traditions offered interesting possibilities. She later sang a few lines from ‘Bumro Bumro’ during the interaction.
Actress Sharvari said language should not become a barrier for artists and highlighted the opportunities cinema can create for actors.
The INOX Srinagar screening schedule for September 9 featured films including ‘Main Vaapas Aunga’, ‘Laila Majnu’, ‘Dear Father’, ‘Bramhakamal’, ‘Nyingma.. Through her eyes’, ‘Promised Sky’, ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Shape of Momo’, ‘Obraz (The Tower of Strength)’ and ‘Ikkis’. (KNO)