Jammu Film Festival Receives 180 Entries From 35 Countries Ahead Of 5th Edition

Jammu, July 10: The fifth edition of the Jammu Film Festival has received a strong international response, with 180 film entries from 35 countries submitted ahead of the July 31 deadline, organisers said on Friday. The submissions include 130 short films, 35 documentaries and 17 feature films, showcasing diverse cultures, languages and cinematic styles from across the world. Organisers said more entries are expected before the submission window closes. The festival is scheduled to be held on September 28–29, 2026, in Jammu. Jury head Kapil Mattoo said the growing participation reflects the festival’s rising recognition in the independent film circuit. “The festival has continued its journey of connecting Jammu with the global film community and has emerged as one of North India’s prominent international film festivals,” Mattoo said. Jointly organised by Vomedh and Koshurwood Studio, the event is expected to bring together filmmakers, artists, delegates and cinema enthusiasts from India and abroad. Delegates from countries including the United States have shown interest in attending, while discussions are underway with performers from Singapore for the cultural programme. Festival directors Rakesh Roshan Bhat and Rohit Bhat said the festival was envisioned as a cultural platform to connect Jammu with the global cinema landscape. Sanjeev Kak of Koshurwood Studio said the festival’s growth over five editions highlights the region’s increasing interest in meaningful cinema and cultural exchange. The organising committee has also announced a three-tier jury system for the 2026 edition to ensure a transparent and merit-based selection process. The final jury will be headed by Kapil Mattoo and include actors Vipin Sharma, Ashwath Bhatt and Tanvir Dar. The organisers added that previous editions of the festival saw participation from several prominent personalities of the Indian film industry, including M K Raina, Rahul Roy, Yashpal Sharma, Kashmera Shah, Deepika Singh, Ayub Khan and others.