Stating that he was “disturbed and shocked” to find The Kashmir Files among the 15 films in the International Competition category, Lapid questioned the choice of the selection committee of the 53rd edition of the festival. 

However, directors Vinod Ganatra and Vijay Pande, who were among the 15-member panel that zeroed in on the Indian films for the competition, claim to have depended on cinematic prowess and not political commentary, while making the decision. “I don’t think there was a better film than this one that deserved to  be part of the competition,” says Ganatra, who presided over the committee, and expected The Kashmir Files to bag the top award.