Kashmir artists group seeks probe into film festival spending

The Kashmir Film and Television Artists Association (KFTA) petitioned Congress Legislature Party leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Oct. 18 to investigate public spending on a recent film festival and address the decline of local content at Doordarshan Srinagar and DD Kashir.

A delegation led by KFTA chairman Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan submitted a memorandum challenging the official characterization of the recent event as the region's first international film festival. The association noted that it launched the Kashmir World Film Festival (KWFF) in 2017, which has since held five editions.

The Kashmir Film

The KFTA expressed concern over the creation of a parallel event without sufficient local professional involvement and requested transparency regarding the public funds utilized. The association also pointed to the 2022 Jammu and Kashmir International Film Festival, which was hosted in Pune.

Beyond festival organization, the KFTA highlighted a sharp reduction in commissioned programs and in-house productions at Doordarshan Srinagar and DD Kashir. The association said these platforms have historically been vital for nurturing local talent, and the current decline has negatively impacted the livelihoods of regional artists, writers, and technicians.

The KFTA is calling for the restoration of regular program commissioning, the establishment of an annual calendar for local content, and the immediate release of pending payments. The association claims some professionals have been waiting more than 15 years for their dues. Mir assured the delegation he would raise these issues at appropriate forums.