Srinagar, September 13, 2026: Filmmakers from Jammu and Kashmir made a strong mark at the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026, winning three of the nine awards presented during the festival.
The achievement has emerged as a significant moment for the region’s growing film community, with local filmmakers earning recognition alongside artists, technicians and cinema professionals from across India and abroad.
Three Major Awards for Local Filmmakers
Baba Tasaduq Hussain received the Best Cinematography Award for his documentary Naqsh-e-Daur (The Story of Ghulam Nabi Dhar). The film was appreciated for its visual treatment and storytelling, highlighting the strength of documentary filmmaking emerging from the region.
The Best Emerging Filmmaker Award went to Ajit Singh Bhasin for Askini: The Guiding Darkness. The recognition acknowledged the film’s distinctive cinematic approach and Bhasin’s emerging creative voice.
The third honour went to filmmaker Kapil Matto, whose Tasrufdar – The Jinns of Kashmir was named Best Film in the Jammu & Kashmir Select Category. The film draws upon Kashmir’s folklore and cultural storytelling traditions.
Local Stories Find Wider Audience
The awards were not the only highlight for J&K filmmakers at the festival. Several locally produced films received appreciation from audiences and industry personalities.
Batt Koch (The Lost Lane), directed by Siddarth Koul and Ankit Wali, was screened as the closing film and received a positive response from audiences and filmmaker Ramesh Sippy. Meanwhile, Love in Vietnam, made by J&K-based filmmaker Rahat Shah Kazmi, was also screened during the festival and drew appreciation.
The participation and recognition of these films demonstrated the range of stories being explored by filmmakers from Jammu and Kashmir, from folklore and cultural traditions to contemporary narratives and documentary subjects.
IFFJK Opens New Platform for J&K Cinema
The success of local filmmakers at the first edition of IFFJK comes as the region seeks to strengthen its presence in the wider film and creative industries.
The festival provided filmmakers with an opportunity to present stories rooted in Jammu and Kashmir before national and international audiences. The three awards also underline the creative diversity within the region’s filmmaking community.
With local talent accounting for one-third of the nine awards, the inaugural festival has given considerable visibility to filmmakers from the Union Territory and could encourage more young artists to explore cinema as a medium for storytelling, cultural expression and creative enterprise.
The IFFJK 2026 thus concluded with a notable achievement for J&K’s filmmaking fraternity, showcasing that stories from the region can find recognition on an international platform.
