Srinagar, Oct 16: A delegation of Kashmir Film & Television Artists (KFTA) led by its Chairman Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan along with Zameer Ashai, Shahid Lateef, Afnan Ashai and others met Ghulam Ahmad Mir, MLA Dooru and Leader of Congress Legislature Party. The delegation submitted a detailed memorandum to seeking his urgent intervention on two critical issues concerning the cultural fraternity of Jammu & Kashmir.
Misuse of Public Funds on Parallel Film Festival
The delegation apprised the leader that last month a film festival was organized in J&K projecting it as the first-ever international film festival of J&K, incurring substantial public expenditure. The claim is factually incorrect.
Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan stated that the first international film festival of this scale in Kashmir was pioneered by KFTA in 2017, when not a single cinema hall was functional in the Valley and reopening of cinemas was considered unthinkable. This private initiative laid the foundation of the internationally recognized Kashmir World Film Festival (KWFF). Since then, five editions of KWFF have been organized in Srinagar and one edition of J&K International Film Festival (JAKIFF) in Pune in 2022.
KWFF has become a credible global cultural brand with entries from USA, Italy, Spain, Iran, Turkey, Korea, Bangladesh, Nepal and 20+ other countries and from across India in 13 languages. It has hosted eminent personalities like Tabu, Raza Murad, Madhur Bhandarkar, Rajit Kapur, Saeed Mirza, Govind Nihalani, Anjum Rajabali, Preeti Sapru, Lalit Parimoo, Rahul Bhat, Komal Nahata and others, with over 500 national and international media coverages.
The delegation expressed deep anguish that instead of strengthening this established indigenous platform, a parallel festival was created without domain expertise, institutional memory and without participation of a single local film professional, leading to wastage of taxpayers’ money.
The delegation demanded Clarification on public expenditure incurred on the recent festival; A policy to institutionalize and support credible private initiatives like KWFF and That future cultural events be led by professionals with central participation of local filmmakers.
Crisis at Doordarshan Srinagar & DD Kashir
The delegation further highlighted that Doordarshan Srinagar and DD Kashir, which for decades nurtured local talent, have drastically curtailed commissioning and in-house production, leaving hundreds of artists, writers, directors, producers and technicians without livelihood.
KFTA strongly demanded immediate revival and expansion of regular commissioning at DD Srinagar and DD Kashir; Introduction of an annual commissioning calendar for J&K-specific content; Restoration of DD Srinagar & DD Kashir as vibrant platforms reflecting the voices of J&K;
Immediate release of all genuine and long-pending payments due to Artists, Directors, Writers and other professionals, withheld for more than 15 years, causing immense financial hardship to the fraternity.
Ghulam Ahmad Mir gave a patient hearing and assured the delegation that he will take up the matter at the appropriate forums.
