Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
The maiden International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026 is set to feature an eminent jury comprising acclaimed filmmakers, cinematographers, curators and cinema professionals from India and abroad.
Renowned cinematographer and filmmaker Santosh Sivan, German filmmaker and curator Dorothee Wenner, Japanese media entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker Keiko Bang, filmmaker and screenwriter Sriram Raghavan, and National Film Award-winning filmmaker and educator Himansu Sekhar Khatua will constitute the jury for the festival’s competitive sections. The panel will evaluate the competing films and decide the festival awards.
The festival will also welcome veteran filmmaker and producer Ramesh Sippy, best known for the iconic film Sholay, and Jammu and Kashmir-born filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, whose acclaimed works include 3 Idiots, PK and Mission Kashmir, as special guests.
One of India’s leading cinematographers and filmmakers, Santosh Sivan is a founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers and an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). He became the first cinematographer from the Asia-Pacific region to be admitted to the American Society of Cinematographers.
His notable credits include The Terrorist, while his contribution to international cinema was recognised with the Pierre Angénieux Tribute at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024. He has also served on juries at several international film festivals.
German filmmaker, curator, writer and journalist Dorothee Wenner brings extensive international experience to the jury. Associated with the Berlin International Film Festival since 1990, she has worked as a programmer and delegate for India and Sub-Saharan Africa and served as director of the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2006 and 2008.
Wenner has also been associated with the Africa Movie Academy Awards and has worked extensively on feature films, filmmaking and cross-cultural collaborations involving India, Africa and Germany.
Japanese media entrepreneur, documentary filmmaker and producer Keiko Bang brings more than three decades of experience in the media and documentary sector. She has produced more than 50 documentaries and worked on international co-productions across Asia.
Bang has served on several film festival juries and selection committees, including at MIFF 2024, and was appointed to the Institutional National Selection Committee at MIFF 2026.
Acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter Sriram Raghavan, known for his distinctive neo-noir style and gripping thrillers, is also part of the jury. His directorial credits include Ek Hasina Thi, Johnny Gaddaar, Agent Vinod, Badlapur and Andhadhun.
Completing the jury is National Film Award-winning filmmaker and educator Himansu Sekhar Khatua. An FTII alumnus, Khatua has directed films including Shunya Swaropa and Ishanu and has made significant contributions to film education and mentoring.
He has served as director of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute and has previously been associated with film festival juries, including the Indian Panorama Feature Films Jury at IFFI 2024.
The organisers said the jury brings together diverse expertise spanning cinematography, direction, documentary filmmaking, production, film curation and education.
The first edition of IFFJK, being organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations, Jammu and Kashmir, aims to provide a platform for established as well as emerging filmmakers while promoting cultural exchange through cinema.
The festival is expected to bring together filmmakers, artists, storytellers and cinema enthusiasts from across India and abroad, marking a significant new addition to Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural calendar.
