Srinagar, Sept. 9 -- Inauguration of an international film festival in Jammu and Kashmir marks a decisive moment in the region's cultural and economic journey. It is not simply a celebration of cinema but a carefully crafted effort to position the region as a global filmmaking destination. With films arriving from across continents, the festival becomes a stage where local stories meet international narratives, and where the valley's cinematic legacy is reimagined for a new era.

Cinema here is being treated as industry, not just art and the introduction of streamlined permissions, subsidies, and infrastructure plans reflect a recognition that filmmaking is a serious economic driver. Studios, equipment banks, and film schools are not orna...