Kerala film festival organisers say 31 films denied screening nod by Centre

The Keralam State Chalachitra Academy under the Cultural Affairs Department has written to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting seeking reconsideration of its decision to deny permission to screen 31 films selected for the 18th edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Keralam.

The Centre, however, denied withholding permission, saying instead that several films are under consideration and awaiting review by different authorities. The IDSFFK is scheduled to be held in the state capital from September 25 to 30.

To screen festival films without censor certificates, the academy had submitted a list of 347 films to the Union government seeking exemption from certification. Academy officials said they told the Union Ministry that denying screening permission would affect the festival.

The 31 films denied screening permission include 18 officially selected for the festival. Nine are in the international non-fiction section, three in the Festival Winners section and one in the Nepal package. The films denied permission include ‘Parliament Street’, ‘Sanitized Republic: Cast and Contracts’, ‘Memories of a Window’, ‘Birds of War’, ‘Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk’, and ‘Our Land’.

Malayalam film ‘Globe’ is also among the titles awaiting exemption from certification. Reacting to the development, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor said in a post on X: “I am shocked to learn of the denial of permission by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for 31 films that had been selected for screening at the prestigious 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival in Kerala, which is scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram next week.” “This is not only a betrayal of India’s proud tradition of offering a home to the best of world cinema, but an assault on the freedom of expression that is amongst the greatest assets of democracy,” he said.

“The government risks shredding our country’s already frayed image globally amongst creative artists, film-makers, writers and those who want to admire their work. (I&B Minister) Ashwini Vaishnaw, please overrule the bureaucrats who have taken such an appalling decision,” the post said.

The I&B Ministry said it had not denied permission, saying in a post on X: “Six films have been requested to provide more detailed synopsis. Depending on the subject of the films, some have been sent to various sectoral authorities for their review.” Meanwhile, official government sources said that of the 347 films the academy submitted, exemption had been issued for 291 films.

“Twenty-four films are already certified and therefore do not require such exemption,” PTI quoted one official as saying. They said 20 films have been referred to the Ministry of External Affairs for a no-objection certificate, one to the Ministry of Defence, four to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and one to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for clarification.

Detailed synopses and screeners have been sought for another six films, they said. The figures provided by government sources account for 32 films that have either been referred to other authorities or for which additional details have been sought.

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.

Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.

Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.

Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response.

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