Srinagar, Sep 10 (GNS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir could open new employment opportunities for youth through film shoots in the Valley.

Speaking on the sidelines of the first-ever International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) at SKICC Srinagar, Omar, as per GNS said that the government is trying to remind the film industry that before Switzerland and other foreign locations, films were made in Kashmir.

“We are trying to bring film shoots back to Kashmir. It will generate local employment and give a boost to the economy,” the Chief Minister said.

Omar said that under the comprehensive J&K Film Policy, the government has transformed J&K into a filmmaker-friendly destination by offering substantial financial subsidies linked to shooting days and local expenditure, single-window clearance through a dedicated online portal for location approvals and security permissions, and additional incentives for productions hiring local artists, technicians and crew members.

“We are treating cinema not merely as entertainment but as an official industry – one that generates employment, nurtures young talent and brings global cultures together,” Omar said, adding that the government is building a robust local workforce of cinematographers, line producers, sound engineers and actors, besides investing in post-production facilities, equipment banks, studios and film education institutes.

He also urged filmmakers to hire local talent and highlight the rich heritage of J&K.

“Tell your fellow filmmakers that Jammu and Kashmir is open, safe, vibrant and eager to welcome your crews,” he told the national and international delegates.

The three-day festival, supported by the J&K Government and Department of Information and Public Relations, features 135 shortlisted films and will conclude on September 10.(GNS)