Five J&K Films Selected for Competitive Section of First IFFJK
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 8: Five films directed by filmmakers from Jammu and Kashmir have been selected for the J&K Select Section, the competitive category of the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026.
The films were recommended by the Preview Committee constituted for the festival after reviewing the submissions and assessing their artistic merit and suitability for the competitive section.
The selection brings together diverse narratives, genres and perspectives, with a focus on stories rooted in Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural heritage, social realities and human experiences.
The selected films are Searching for the Grandpa, directed by Mohammad Wali; Arifa, directed by Rohin Ravendran Nair; Batt Koch (The Lost Lane), directed by Siddarth Koul and Ankit Wali; Tasrufdaar (Djinns of Kashmir), directed by Kapil Mattoo; and Naqsh-e-Daur (The Story of Ghulam Nabi Dhar), directed by Baba Tassaduq Hussain.
Spanning Kashmiri and Hindi languages, the films explore themes including childhood, family, memory, displacement, identity, heritage, resilience and Kashmir’s changing social landscape.
Searching for the Grandpa follows two young siblings in a Kashmiri village during Eid. Arifa centres on a woman returning to her ancestral home in Kashmir, where she confronts memories of her childhood and father.
Batt Koch explores displacement, identity and the enduring idea of home through the story of a Kashmiri migrant family. Tasrufdaar (Djinns of Kashmir) combines mystery and memory while reflecting on the scars of Kashmir’s past.
Naqsh-e-Daur portrays the life and legacy of Padma Shri awardee and renowned woodcarver Ghulam Nabi Dhar, highlighting Kashmir’s traditional craftsmanship, cultural heritage and resilience.
The five films will form part of the competitive programming of the four-day festival, providing audiences and filmmakers an opportunity to engage with distinctive cinematic voices and stories emerging from Jammu and Kashmir. ANB
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