Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Spanish filmmaker and producer Anna Saura Ramón has described Kashmir as a promising destination for international film productions, highlighting its scenic landscapes, lakes, natural light and hospitality while calling for stronger cinematic cooperation between India and Spain.
Speaking to reporters on the third day of the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) at the SKICC in Srinagar on Wednesday, Saura said film festivals provide an important platform for filmmakers and audiences from different countries to interact, exchange ideas and discover international cinema.
Visiting Kashmir and India for the first time, Saura said the Valley offered considerable potential as a filming destination. She highlighted its picturesque surroundings, lakes and favourable natural light, and said Kashmir should be promoted more widely among international filmmakers.
She also called for closer cooperation between governments and the film industry to facilitate international productions in Kashmir. Saura expressed hope that filmmakers and production houses from abroad would eventually explore the Valley for feature films, documentaries and other projects.
On the possibility of India-Spain collaborations, Saura said differences between the two film industries should not stand in the way of creative partnerships.
She said filmmakers from both countries could work together on joint projects and indicated that there was no barrier to Indian actors being part of potential India-Spain productions.
Praising the inaugural IFFJK, Saura described the festival as an important initiative and expressed hope that it would continue in the coming years.
She said such festivals provide audiences with an opportunity to discover films from different countries while giving filmmakers a platform to establish professional and creative connections across borders.
Saura also spoke warmly about her experience in Kashmir, praising the region’s hospitality and atmosphere. Describing her first visit as a positive experience, she said she would like to return to the Valley.
Saura is known for her work as a producer and director, including the documentary “The Kid in the Phot.” She is also associated with the artistic legacy of her late father, acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Carlos Saura.
Her remarks at IFFJK underline the potential of international film festivals not only to showcase cinema but also to promote Kashmir as a destination for global filmmaking and encourage greater cultural and creative exchange between India and other countries.
