Filmmaker and actor Akbar Khan addressing a press conference.
By Tehelka Bureau
Renowned filmmaker and actor Akbar Khan said on Wednesday the first-ever film festival in Srinagar has the potential to grow into an international event and eventually compete with the Cannes Film Festival.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Khan congratulated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the organisers for the festival’s “spectacular opening”, praising the performances at the inaugural ceremony.
“There could not have been a better place than Srinagar for such a grand film festival,” Khan said, citing Kashmir’s natural beauty and its long association with the Indian film industry.
He said the festival could grow “from strength to strength” and soon be in competition with Cannes.
Khan also described cinema as a powerful medium for building bridges between nations and cultures, while stressing that films should be judged on cinematic merit and should not distort history or promote hatred.
He said Kashmir has a “very distinctive identity”, rooted in Sufism, warmth and communal harmony.
Khan also announced plans to bring his film Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story to Kashmir for a premiere, saying he wanted its message of love to reach audiences across the world.
