International film festival begins in Kashmir with "Little Terrorist"

The first international film festival to be held in the terrorism-hit Kashmir Valley began here Wednesday. Over 40 documentary films are being screened during the two-day festival.

Among the entries are films from Bulgaria, Vietnam, Netherlands and Australia. Over 10 films by Kashmiri filmmakers, depicting the life and culture of the valley, will also be screened.

"Kashmir is famous for its composite culture and in this regard it has a unique status in the union of Indian states," Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said while inaugurating the festival.

Azad also spoke of the linguistic diversity of Jammu and Kashmir. He wanted a documentary film to be made on this rich subject.

"Little Terrorist", a 15-minute short film by Ashwini Kumar, was the first to be screened Wednesday at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex on Dal Lake.

The film is about a little boy from Pakistan who strays across the international border and finds himself in Rajasthan, India. While others view the boy with suspicion, a Hindu teacher adopts him.

"The film carries a message that humanity and innocence do not recognise any man-made borders," said Rafeeq Masoodi, secretary of the academy for art, culture and languages, which is hosting the festival.

"We have also ventured into film making and "Snow Sculpture" is the academy's official entry at this festival," Masoodi said.

Chief of films division Kuldip Sinha said the division has decided to start a production centre in Jammu and Kashmir, which may be located in Srinagar.

Indo-Asian News Service