Upcoming film festival celebrating Kashmir wins award

Zafar Iqbal, actor, filmmaker, and festival director with the award

The upcoming AJK Film Festival has won the Best Creative Media accolade at the Oracle Awards.

The film festival – which features 32 short films in Pahari – will be held at Reel Cinema, Rochdale, on Monday (28 November).

The festival is a project by Rochdale-based Kashmiri Productions UK, with the films centring around the theme of being the last Kashmiri, and what you would do.

Now in their eighth year, the Oracle Awards are the leading celebration of the UK’s business sector, recognising the nation’s best sole traders and charities.

Festival director Zafar Iqbal said: “When the committee and jury found out that I have created the first-ever film festival to promote Kashmiri language and culture they decided to present me with this award. 

“I am very honoured to receive the award, proud moment for me, my team, family, town and the Kashmiri community. 

“At the same time, I do feel it is a huge challenge, pressure and a responsibility to create a brand that will represent your birth country. Then again, I almost feel very confident in doing so by knowing that I live in a historical town where it’s normal for people to create history, for example, the Co-op.

“We look forward to welcoming people on Monday and creating history together.”

For more information, please visit:www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/71146/events-in-rochdale/kashmiri-productions-uk-presents-ajk-film-festival