Srinagar, Sep 7: Bollywood actress Sana Fatima Shaikh Monday said the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) could provide a major platform for showcasing Kashmir’s beauty, culture and stories to audiences across the world.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the film festival at SKICC here, Fatima, whose mother is from Kashmir, said returning to the Valley after several years felt like coming home and brought back memories of her childhood.
“I am very happy to be here. It feels like home. I am excited to be part of the beginning of an international film festival here,” she said.
Fatima said the participation of filmmakers and audiences from around 80 countries could give the Valley unprecedented international exposure.
“People from around 80 countries will come. There are thousands and thousands of people coming,” she said.
Fatima described the festival as not merely a cinematic event but also a cultural platform capable of bringing people together.
She said cinema had the power to connect people across cultures and urged young people in Jammu and Kashmir to take up filmmaking and tell their own stories.
“We are here to inspire more youth to take up the camera and share stories of their country, city, town, home and family,” Fatima said.
She said she had visited Kashmir only a few times earlier for film shoots, but the festival had allowed her to see the Valley from a different perspective.
“I can’t explain the amount of beauty that Kashmir possesses. I am confident that local youngsters would be able to showcase that beauty to the world through cinema,” Fatima said.
She also underlined the potential of international filmmakers visiting Kashmir to create a deeper cultural connection with the region.
Fatima said that as filmmakers from different countries become familiar with Kashmir, they could eventually tell their own stories about the Valley and contribute to a wider understanding of the region.
She cited examples of foreign visitors developing a connection with Indian locations and subsequently telling stories based on their experiences, saying such cultural exchanges could help turn places into “melting pots” of global storytelling.
The actor also stressed the importance of preserving and showcasing regional stories, traditions and spoken artistry through cinema, noting that songs, lullabies and stories passed down through generations continue to remain relevant.
Fatima said the international exposure generated by the festival could also help filmmakers and producers understand the cinematic and tourism potential of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I am particularly looking forward to exploring Kashmir with my family during my stay in the Valley,” she said.
