Int'l film festival begins in Kashmir

Srinagar, June 27 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad inaugurated the first-ever international film festival held in the Valley here today.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi was scheduled to inaugurate the two-day festival.

However, the Union Minister did not turn up and instead a message from him was read out on the occasion.

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

In all, 40 documentaries, short and animation films would be screened at the festival, earlier scheduled to start from June 23.

The festival has been designed to provide a unique opportunity to local viewers to enjoy national and international films.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Azad said Jammu and Kashmir was the best example of composite culture and reflected unity in diversity in all spheres.

The people of different faiths and languages reside in the state in perfect harmony, he added. ''We have a very rich and diverse culture apart from abundant and unprecedented scenic beauty.'' The festival would provide a good scope for documentary and short films, the Chief Minister said, adding film producers should come and highlight these aspects of the life and ethos of the state.

Mr Azad said urged the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to set up the proposed production centre of documentaries here.

The Chief Minister said the festival could encourage local producers as there was no dearth of talent among the youth of the state. ''But, the only problem is that we have not been able to channelise that talent properly,'' he added.

Referring to 'Little Terrorist', an inaugural short film which highlighted the spirit of humanity and brotherhood, Mr Azad said the theme need to be highlighted on a bigger scale as 99 per cent of the people in India believed in pluralism and harmony.

UNI