Film festival helps to put the focus on culture of Kashmir
AFILM festival has been held to raise the profile of the disputed region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The AJK festival, held at the Reel Cinema, aims to raise the profile of the region which sits between Pakistan and India.
Run by Kashmiri Productions UK, a Rochdalebased not-for-profit community organisation which aims to host community film screenings to educate and entertain, the festival featured a series of short films on Monday, November 28.
Films included The Last Kashmiri, Kashmiri Chai, about a woman enjoying a cup of tea while missing Kashmir as well as films featuring traditional Kashmiri musical instruments.
Festival director Zafar Iqbal said: “Established on October 24, 1947 AJK still don’t have a proper TV channel, radio station, newspaper, film industry or a professional platform where the culture, language, heritage, tourism, sport, art and loads of other magnificent things can be promoted and presented to the world about this beautiful land
“The Kashmiri community around the world will feel proud and share the experience with their family, friends, neighbours and other people.
“I want to engage the next generation so therefore we have worked extremely hard as a team to create this festival and bring it to you on an industry standard platform.
The festival has also won the ‘Best Creative Media Award’ at this year’s Oracle awards.
Zafar added that there are plans to take the festival beyond the borough.
He said: “The plans are to tour the festival nationally and take it to the world internationally and off course to Kashmir itself, inshallah.
“I feel proud that I have created a platform to serve my country. I am very grateful to the whole team and Kashmiri Productions UK to take the risk and say yes to me.
“We would like to thank all of our supporters and media partners for their association, love and encouragement.”