In a bid to revive theatre and film culture in the valley, a four-day International Film Festival of Kashmir (IFFK) 2014 has been organised at Srinagar's SKICC auditorium.
The film festival, which began on August 22, is being organised by Experimental Moving Images and Theatre Association (XMITA) in collaboration with the state's tourism department. This is the fourth edition of IFFK, which is marking XMITA's 10th anniversary with longest-ever line up of movies from across the globe.
The visitors were enthralled by different movies shown during the festival.
"Actually this is an international film festival. It is happening after four years. Earlier, the film festival used to happen here but this festival is special because it is taking place after four years. You must know that we live in conflict zone where such things don't happen regularly. These festivals promote our art which is very important," said Qurat-Ul-Ain, a visitor.
During the fest, around 44 movies in 10 international languages will be screened at different venues. The selected films belong to 17 countries, including Syria, Russia, Armenia, Netherlands, Iran, Portugal, Germany, France, Kazakhstan, Korea, Canada, Serbia, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Jordan and India.
One of the organisers of the event said 44 countries across the world took part with their entries in this film festival out of which 19 were selected.
"Censorship is always wrong and as a theatre person I feel censored things and censored opinions never bear results. So it's very important that we as Kashmiris create our own cinema, create our own films, create our own theatre and have spaces like this where this can be exhibited," said Arshid, a thespian.
Kashmir, once dubbed the Switzerland of the east was once heaven for skiers, honeymooners and film-makers who were drawn to its soaring peaks, fruit orchards and timber houseboats on the Dal Lake in Srinagar.
Militancy in the area over the past years has significantly affected the state but the industry is gradually picking up.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}