Srinagar- The 5th edition of the much-awaited Film Festival commenced today at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, marking a vibrant celebration of cinematic art, creativity, and cultural exchange.

The inaugural ceremony witnessed an impressive turnout of film enthusiasts, artists, and students of cinema. Veteran film and television personalities Raza Murad, Shishir Sharma, Jayati Bhatia, and Sunit Tandon graced the occasion as chief guests. They were felicitated with traditional Kashmiri shawls and mementos in recognition of their contributions to the entertainment industry.

Renowned actors and filmmakers Rajit Kapur, Madhur Bhandarkar, and Lalit Parimoo are expected to join the festival in the coming days, adding further charm to the star-studded celebration.

Prominent names from Jammu and Kashmir's own film and television fraternity - including Tariq Javaid, Dr. Aiyash Aarif, Ashraf Shawl, G. M. Wani, Deepak Kumar, Ameen Bhat, Mushtaq Bala, Shahzad Rasool, Waheed Jeelani, Gul Javaid, Mir Sarwar, and Shahid Lateef - were also invited and felicitated for their creative work and contributions to regional cinema.

This year's edition attracted an impressive 123 film submissions from across India and abroad. Of these, 60 films have been shortlisted for screening - 55 in the competition section and 5 in the non-competition category.

Reflecting its global outlook, the festival features international entries from Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, Iran, Nepal, Palestine, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. The Indian section showcases linguistic and cultural diversity with films in Kashmiri, Dogri, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Ladakhi, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Pahadi, Punjabi, Tamil, Tibetan, and Urdu.

Starting tomorrow, the festival will host a series of interactive sessions, masterclasses, and filmmaking workshops led by acclaimed Bollywood directors, actors, and technical experts - offering aspiring filmmakers a platform to learn, network, and exchange ideas.

With its blend of cinematic excellence, cross-cultural participation, and creative dialogue, the 5th edition of the Film Festival promises to be a memorable celebration of storytelling and artistic collaboration in the heart of Kashmir.

Thirty films from 14 countries have been shortlisted for screening at the three-day International Film Festival of Srinagar (TIFFS), set to open on November 12, organisers said on Saturday.

The festival, now in its fourth edition, aims to turn the J-K's summer capital into a vibrant hub of global cinema, bringing together filmmakers, artists, and cinephiles.

A statement from festival Directors Rohit Bhat and Rakesh Roshan Bhat said that the opening ceremony will be held on the evening of November 12 at the historic Tagore Hall, Srinagar.

“This year, TIFFS received over 100 film entries from 20 countries, out of which 30 projects from 14 countries have been shortlisted by an eminent jury panel for screening. These include 20 short films, six feature films, and four documentaries,” it said.

MENAFN02112025000215011059ID1110281522