Int'l film festival in Kashmir postponed;to be held on Jun 27

Srinagar, June 22 (UNI) Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi would inaugurate the first-ever International Film Festival in Kashmir here on June 27.

The two-day festival, earlier scheduled to commence from tomorrow, has been postponed and would now be held from June 27.

Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Cultural and Languages Secretary Dr Rafeeq Masoodi stated this here.

He said the first part of the festival, being organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Cultural and Languages in collaboration with the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry, had already been held in Jammu from June 13-14.

Dr Masoodi said in total 28 international documentaries, short and animation films would be screened at the festival.

Out of these, eight films would be from Jammu and Kashmir, 11 from other states and six from foreign countries.

Dr Masoodi said the festival has been designed to provide unique opportunity to local viewers to enjoy national and international films at their own place.

It will also help local short filmmakers and viewers to access the trends world over and expand the scope of creative expressions through their chosen disciplines of films making, he added.

The Secretary said there was a great scope of employment in animation films. The state government was contemplating to open a school of animation and the technical know-how in this regard would be sought from Bulgaria, he added.

Dr Masoodi said the Institute of Fine Arts has also set up its branches at Jammu and Srinagar while Rs 2 crore have been sanctioned for establishing another at Leh.

He emphasised that films make an important medium for showcasing culture and traditions of a society and were an important source of entertainment for the people.

UNI