DJMC IUST hosts Travelling FSA Film Festival 2025

Awantipora, Oct 28: Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (DJMC), Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), hosted the Film Festival in collaboration with Film Southasia (FSA), here on Tuesday. The event aimed to bring internationally acclaimed Travelling FSA 2025 to Kashmir.
The day-long festival held at Rumi Library Conference Hall emerged as a vibrant platform for aspiring storytellers to experiment with stories based on reality, imagination and hope, strengthening IUST’s resolve to promote creative expression, critical thinking and cultural exchange.

The event began with the screening of a departmental profile short film showcasing the achievements of the department. The festival hosted a competitive showcase of independent and student films, preceded by an interactive post-film discussion to foster interaction between filmmakers and the audience. Overall, 19 films, including 15 films from the participants and four critically acclaimed films, were screened during the festival.
Welcoming the guests and participants, Head, DJMC, Dr. Rabia Noor, said the event aimed to celebrate the power of films, not just as a form of art and entertainment, “but as a medium that informs, inspires and ignites a meaningful dialogue about the art and practice of filmmaking.” “The collaboration with Film Southasia marks a significant step in enriching our students’ engagement with documentary and visual storytelling, which is a vital component of media education,” she added.
The inaugural session was presided by Prof. A. H. Moon, Dean Academic Affairs, IUST, who hailed the initiative of the department to promote inter-cultural communication through films. “By organising film festivals and creating spaces where art and media converge, the department is nurturing critical thinkers and creative storytellers, who can contribute meaningfully to our times,” he said.
In his address, Producer, Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC), University of Kashmir, Akmal Hanan, said, the festival has brought together films, filmmakers and audiences from diverse backgrounds, fostering dialogue and understanding through storytelling.
Reflecting on the transformative power of filmmaking, he said, “Ultimately, films are not about what we make, but about who we become in the process.”
Director, Film Southasia, Mitu Varma said, it is their mission to see South Asia as “one cultural space.” “There are several challenges, but it’s time to come together and seek solutions from within ourselves, because divided, we will not get anywhere,” she said.
Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, IUST, Dr. Afroz Bisati, who commended the department for creating a space where visual storytelling becomes a powerful bridge between academia and society, said, films are a reflection of the society and a means to inspire change. “Such events bring meaningful conversations to life.”
Meanwhile, of a special edition of the IUST news magazine, Times Echo, themed on disaster management was released on the occasion. The event concluded with the announcement of winners, where Stitch, a film by Government Degree College, Baramulla, bagged the best film award. Dean Outreach IUST, Dr. Ruheela Hassan, proposed a formal vote of thanks.
To mention, daily newspaper, Kashmir Observer served as media partner for the film festival, while Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd, Birla School Open Minds International School, Pampore, Medina Enterprises and Kaphtech Infrastructure were the sponsors for the event.