Online Web Editor Haamid Bala
Srinagar, Oct 31 (K Pen): The much-awaited 5th Edition of the Kashmir World Film Festival (KWFF) is set to commence on November 1 at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, marking another milestone in the Valley’s growing cinematic and cultural engagement. The festival, which runs till November 7, will open on Saturday at 3 PM and promises a vibrant lineup of screenings, workshops, and celebrity interactions.
According to a press release issued by the organizers, the previous four editions of KWFF received an overwhelming response from audiences—particularly the youth—with a collective participation of around 15,500 attendees. The festival has gained significant recognition across regional, national, and international media platforms for its diverse film selections and inclusive programming.
Over the years, KWFF has showcased more than 460 films from 15 countries, including the USA, Italy, Spain, Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Jordan, Poland, Turkey, Korea, Nepal, Tajikistan, Tunisia, and Bangladesh. In addition, films in multiple Indian languages—such as Bengali, Malayalam, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, Dogri, Ladakhi, and Kashmiri—have enriched the festival’s multilingual and multicultural spirit. So far, 30 films from India and abroad have received awards in various categories.
For the current edition, the festival received 123 film submissions, of which 60 films have been shortlisted for screening. Among these, 55 films will compete in the competition section, while 5 films will be showcased in the non-competition category. Entries this year include films from Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, Iran, Nepal, Palestine, Sri Lanka, and the UAE, as well as a rich mix of Indian regional cinema in languages such as Kashmiri, Dogri, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Punjabi, Pahadi, Ladakhi, and Urdu.
Awards will be presented across multiple genres and categories, including Feature Films, Documentaries, Short Films, Animation, Experimental Films, and Student Films.
Several well-known film personalities have confirmed their participation in the upcoming festival. Notable guests include Raza Murad, Rajit Kapur, Jayati Bhatia, Shishir Sharma, Madhur Bhandarkar, Lalit Parimoo, and Sunit Tandon. Invitations have also been extended to Nana Patekar, Aadil Hussain, Vijay Raaz, Bhagyashree, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and others, whose confirmations are awaited.
Special guests from Jammu & Kashmir’s film and television fraternity include Tariq Javaid, Dr. Aiyash Aarif, Ashraf Shawl, G.M. Wani, Deepak Kumar, D.K. Kohli, Shekhar Bunty, Ameen Bhat, Mushtaq Bala, Waheed Jeelani, Dr. Asrar Sultanputi, Shahzad Rasool, Shafqat Habeeb, Gulzar Ganai, and Mir Sarwar.
The festival will also feature interactive sessions, workshops, and masterclasses conducted by eminent directors and actors from Bollywood, aimed at nurturing young filmmakers’ understanding of regional and international cinema.
The KWFF management has constituted an Executive Board comprising Humayun Qaisar, Dr. Shahid Rasool, Khair-un-Nissa Shah, and Abhijit Patil to oversee the smooth execution of the event.
The organizers expressed gratitude to various government departments, institutions, and media houses for their continued support, noting that KWFF has received over 500 positive media coverages globally since its inception.
With its rich blend of artistic expression, cultural dialogue, and cinematic diversity, the Kashmir World Film Festival 2025 is poised to reaffirm Kashmir’s place on the global film map and inspire a new generation of storytellers | Kashmir pen
