SRINAGAR, Sept. 8 -- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday inaugurated the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), with more than 130 films from over 30 countries set to be screened during the four-day event.

Addressing filmmakers, artists, delegates and cinema enthusiasts at the inaugural ceremony, Abdullah said the festival marked a new chapter in Jammu and Kashmir's association with cinema and reflected the region's efforts to emerge as a global filmmaking destination.

He said the festival was aimed at showcasing Jammu and Kashmir as a destination for filmmakers and creative professionals while providing a platform for cultural exchange and cinemat...