After a long hiatus of seven years, the much-awaited Kashmir World Film Festival (KWFF) is set to make a grand return to Srinagar with its 5th edition. The seven-day cinematic celebration will be held from November 1 to November 7 at Tagore Hall, Srinagar.
The previous edition of the festival took place in December 2018. Since then, it had been on hold due to the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic
At a press conference held in Srinagar on Friday, Festival Director Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan formally announced the dates and details of the upcoming event. “We are going to start the seven-day festival from Saturday, and everyone is welcome to be a part of it,” said Khan.
Reflecting on the festival’s journey, Khan added, “Our previous four editions received an overwhelming response from filmmakers, audiences, and especially the youth. Encouraged by this, we decided to return with fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm.”
Khan revealed that for this year’s edition, 123 films were submitted, out of which 60 films have been shortlisted for screening – 55 in the competition section and 5 in the non-competition category.
“We have received films from several countries including Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, Iran, Nepal, Palestine, Sri Lanka, and the UAE,” he said.
“Entries from across India represent a rich linguistic diversity including Kashmiri, Dogri, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Ladakhi, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Pahadi, Punjabi, Tamil, Tibetan, and Urdu.”
The festival will confer awards across multiple categories such as feature films, feature-length documentaries, short films, short documentaries, animation films, experimental films, and student films. Prominent TV actor Jayati Bhatia, also present at the press conference, shared her excitement about returning to the valley.
“I first visited Kashmir in November 2022, and it was a magical experience. We’ve always seen Kashmir in films, but the real beauty of the place is beyond words. I fell in love with it then, and I’m thrilled that destiny brought me back for this festival,” she said.
Actor Shishir Sharma, known for his role in Raazi, also expressed his enthusiasm for the event.
“I was so eager to attend the festival that my travel plans to Kashmir came together in just a day,” he said, recalling an earlier visit. “Some years ago, when I was injured in Pahalgam, I was treated in Srinagar – the kindness and warmth of the Kashmiri people left a deep impression on me.”
According to the organizers, the first half of each festival day will feature interactive sessions and discussions with film experts, providing valuable learning opportunities for students and film enthusiasts alike.
As anticipation builds, the people of the valley are eager to gather once again at Tagore Hall to celebrate cinema, culture, and the enduring spirit of Kashmir.
