Santosh Sivan, Dorothee Wenner, Keiko Bang, Sriram Raghavan, Himansu Sekhar Khatua to Evaluate Competitive Entries; Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Ramesh Sippy to Join as Special Guests
*Union Ministers, Governors, CMs, LGs, Bollywood Personalities to Attend Inaugural Event; Iconic Kashmir-Shot Films to Be Screened at Floating Cinema
Festival Receives 1,100 Entries From 92 Countries; 135 Films Shortlisted
Srinagar, Sept 6 (JKNS): The first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK)–2026 is set to bring together an eminent jury of acclaimed filmmakers, cinematographers, curators, producers and cinema professionals from India and abroad, with the panel tasked with evaluating films in the competitive sections and deciding the festival awards.
An official privy to arrangements of the festival told news agency JKNS that, the jury comprises acclaimed cinematographer and filmmaker Santosh Sivan, German filmmaker and curator Dorothee Wenner, Japanese media entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker Keiko Bang, filmmaker and screenwriter Sriram Raghavan, and National Film Award-winning filmmaker and educator Himansu Sekhar Khatua.
Official said the composition of the jury reflects the international character of the maiden edition of IFFJK and brings together diverse cinematic perspectives spanning cinematography, filmmaking, documentary production, curation, sound, production and film education.
Prominent filmmakers Ramesh Sippy, known for the iconic film Sholay, and Jammu and Kashmir-born filmmaker, producer, screenwriter and editor Vidhu Vinod Chopra, known for films including 3 Idiots, PK and Mission Kashmir, will also join the festival as special guests.
All jury members will evaluate films across the competitive sections and collectively decide the awards of the festival, officials said.
Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan, an acclaimed Indian cinematographer, filmmaker, producer and actor, is a founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC).
An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Sivan is among India’s most decorated Directors of Photography and became the first cinematographer from the Asia-Pacific region to join the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).
His celebrated body of work includes The Terrorist, which earned him international recognition. His contribution to world cinema was further acknowledged with the Pierre Angénieux Tribute at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024.
Sivan has also served on several prestigious international juries, including as Chairperson of the Best Debut Director of Indian Panorama Jury at IFFI 2024. He has also served on the International Jury of the Chennai Film Festival and the New Currents Jury at the Busan International Film Festival.
Dorothee Wenner
Dorothee Wenner, a German filmmaker, curator, writer and journalist, brings a strong international and cross-cultural dimension to the IFFJK jury.
Associated with the Berlin International Film Festival since 1990, Wenner has served as a programmer and delegate for India and Sub-Saharan Africa. She was also associated with the Berlinale Talent Campus and served as its Director for the 2006 and 2008 editions.
A founding jury member of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Wenner has worked extensively with feature films and filmmakers from India, Africa and Germany.
Her filmmaking and curatorial work includes Peace Mission, Drama Consult and Kinshasa Collection. She is recognised for promoting cross-cultural collaborations and supporting emerging voices in world cinema.
Keiko Bang
Japanese media entrepreneur, documentary filmmaker, producer and international curator Keiko Bang brings more than three decades of experience in the global media industry.
As founder and CEO of Bang Singapore Pte. Ltd., she has produced more than 50 award-winning documentaries, including Zheng He: Emperor of the Seas, Guge: The Lost Kingdom of Tibet and Secrets of the Samurai.
Bang has worked with governments, broadcasters and media organisations across more than 25 countries and has been involved in international co-productions, documentary programming and film curation.
She served as a jury member at MIFF 2024 and was appointed to the Institutional National Selection Committee at MIFF 2026. She has also worked as a primary coordinator and selection leader for the factual programming forum Asian Side of Doc.
Sriram Raghavan
Acclaimed Indian filmmaker and screenwriter Sriram Raghavan is known for his distinctive neo-noir style and gripping thrillers.
His critically acclaimed films include Ek Hasina Thi, Johnny Gaddaar, Agent Vinod, Badlapur and Andhadhun. Known for sharp storytelling, atmospheric visuals and complex characters, Raghavan is regarded as one of the prominent contemporary filmmakers in Hindi cinema.
Himansu Sekhar Khatua
National Film Award-winning filmmaker, director, educator and journalist Himansu Sekhar Khatua completes the distinguished jury panel.
An FTII alumnus, Khatua has directed acclaimed films including Shunya Swaropa and Ishanu, besides several award-winning regional productions.
He has also served as a faculty member and mentor, contributing to film education and mentoring successive generations of filmmakers.
Khatua previously served as Director of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) and has been associated with prestigious film juries, including the Indian Panorama Feature Films Jury at IFFI 2024 and the Features Award Jury at the Kautik International Film Festival 2021.
Jury Adds International Credibility to Maiden Festival
“The stature and diversity of the jury underline the vision behind the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir, which seeks to create a meaningful platform for cinematic excellence, cultural dialogue and international exchange,” official said.
With expertise spanning cinematography, documentary filmmaking, production, direction, curation and film education, the jury is expected to bring independent, nuanced and globally informed perspectives to the evaluation of the competitive entries.
The participation of distinguished cinematic personalities is also expected to strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s emergence as a destination for filmmakers, artists, storytellers and cinephiles from across India and the world.
1,100 Entries From 92 Countries
Meanwhile, Joint Director Information and Public Relations Kashmir Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari as per JKNS said the festival has received around 1,100 film entries from 92 countries, with 135 films shortlisted for screening.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Saturday, Bukhari said the four-day festival, being held from September 7 to 10, is aimed at reviving the historic connection between Bollywood and Jammu and Kashmir, promoting film tourism and institutionalising the festival as an annual event.
He said the 135 shortlisted films represent more than 40 countries, with delegates associated with several selected films also expected to attend the festival.
Bukhari said Jammu and Kashmir had played a significant role in the rise of Bollywood, with several landmark films being shot in the region, but film-related activity declined over the past few decades due to various circumstances.
“Our effort is to promote film tourism here,” he said, adding that the administration wants to encourage Bollywood personalities and filmmakers to return to Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the festival will be held across SKICC, INOX and Gulmarg, with masterclasses by industry leaders, panel discussions involving media professionals and professors from local universities, and interactive programmes for students.
“We would like Jammu and Kashmir to be the film frame,” Bukhari said, underlining the objective of expanding the tourism potential of Kashmir through cinema.
He also said the government intends to institutionalise the festival every year and gradually develop it into a major international film festival.
Bollywood Icons to Join Festival
Bukhari also highlighted the participation of prominent Bollywood personalities, including Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and said several notable jury members would be associated with the festival.
The festival will also feature a special category for Jammu and Kashmir films, with entries from the region shortlisted by the jury.
The inaugural IFFJK 2026 is being organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Jammu and Kashmir, from September 7 to 10 across Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg.
Screenings and festival activities will be held at SKICC Srinagar, INOX Srinagar, Wave Jammu and Gulmarg.
Officials said the festival is envisioned as a landmark cultural initiative celebrating cinema as a universal language while providing established and emerging filmmakers an opportunity to connect, collaborate and present their stories to a wider audience. (JKNS)
