Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said Jammu and Kashmir must move beyond being merely a filming destination and emerge as a place where stories originate, talent is discovered and films are conceived and created.

Addressing the gathering during the closing ceremony of the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK), CM Omar said the inaugural edition had brought filmmakers and audiences together while connecting established professionals with young aspirants from the region.

“Four days ago, we gathered here to raise the curtain on the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir. At that time, the festival was an idea being tested, an invitation, an experiment and, above all, a hope that Jammu and Kashmir could create a meaningful platform for cinema,” he said.

He said the festival had found both an audience and a purpose, with conversations spanning storytelling, craft, technology and collaboration.

“120 films from over 30 countries reflect the festival’s scale, but its deeper value lies in the connections it has created—a young writer meeting a director, an aspiring filmmaker learning from a professional or two people meeting here who may one day make a film together,” Omar said.

Congratulating those recognised........

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