Srinagar, Nov 13: Jammu and Kashmir’s noted filmmaker, theatre personality and cultural figure Dr. Ayash Arif has been named among the members of the Indian Panorama Feature Films Jury for the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), bringing recognition to the region’s longstanding contribution to cinema and performing arts.
The jury has been constituted under the chairmanship of five-time National Film Award recipient and renowned filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar.
Dr. Arif has devoted nearly five decades to the cultural life of Jammu and Kashmir, making contributions to theatre, television and cinema as a producer, director and actor. His work spans films, teleplays and other creative productions, drawing upon the region’s cultural traditions and exploring themes of human values and social harmony.
Apart from his work in the entertainment industry, Dr. Arif has also contributed to journalism and cultural institutions. He serves on the General Council of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Jammu and Kashmir Film Council. He has also received the Jammu and Kashmir State Award in recognition of his contribution.
His inclusion in the prestigious national jury brings recognition to an artist whose career has remained closely associated with the cultural and creative landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
Other members of the Indian Panorama Feature Films Jury include Bharathi S. Pradhan, senior film columnist and author; Bindu Chandramouli, actor; and Oinam Gautam Singh, National Film Award-winning filmmaker from Manipur.
The 57th International Film Festival of India is scheduled to be held in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2026, bringing together filmmakers, artists and cinema professionals from India and abroad. [KNT]
