The International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) opens today, and its organisers have used the final week before the curtain went up to settle the one thing every film festival is judged on almost as much as its films: who is judging them.
The story so far
IFFJK is J&K’s first-ever international film festival, run by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), and it runs 7 to 10 September under the theme ‘Rang-e-Cinema’ across Srinagar (SKICC, INOX), Gulmarg and Jammu (Movie Time Cinemas, KC Central). JammuBeat has followed it from its call for short films from young J&K directors through to its full programme announcement on 28 August: 135 films from 41 countries, and nine competitive awards worth a combined ₹96 lakh, including ₹25 lakh for Best Film and ₹15 lakh each for Best Director and Best Debut Film. That announcement named a jury described as “led by” cinematographer Santosh Sivan, without a complete roster.
What’s new
The organisers have now confirmed the full jury that will watch the competitive sections and decide the awards. Alongside Santosh Sivan — the cinematographer and filmmaker who became the first Asia-Pacific member of the American Society of Cinematographers — the panel is:
Dorothee Wenner, the German filmmaker, curator and writer who has programmed for the Berlin International Film Festival since 1990
Keiko Bang, the Japanese media entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker who founded Bang Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Himansu Sekhar Khatua, a National Film Award-winning filmmaker and former director of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI)
Sriram Raghavan, the Hindi cinema auteur behind neo-noir thrillers like Johnny Gaddaar, Badlapur and Andhadhun — the one name added since the August line-up announcement
Two more names are travelling to the festival, but not to judge it. Ramesh Sippy, the Padma Shri-winning director and producer of Sholay, and Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the director-producer behind 3 Idiots, PK and Mission Kashmir, are attending as special guests rather than jurors.
What it means for Jammu
The jury and guests will move between the festival’s three centres over the four days, and Jammu’s own leg — screenings at Movie Time Cinemas, KC Central — is where the city gets its share of a festival that has, so far, mostly played out in Srinagar-heavy coverage. For students and young cinephiles in Jammu chasing a masterclass or a Q&A, a jury this size (five working professionals across cinematography, sound, curation and direction, not counting the two guests) meaningfully raises the odds that at least one session lands close to home over the festival’s run.
Source: Daily Excelsior.
