Published Sep 19, 2026 | 9:15 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 19, 2026 | 9:22 PM
The 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from 25 to 30 September.
Synopsis: Among the films denied permission are ‘Parliament Street’, ‘Sanitised Republic: Caste and Contracts’, ‘Globe’, ‘Memories of a Window’, Birds of War’, ‘Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk’ and ‘Our Land’. The denial of clearance came shortly before the festival was to begin in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has denied screening permission for 31 short films scheduled for the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), to be held in Thiruvananthapuram from 25 to 30 September.
Responding, Keralam Minister for Cinema PC Vishnunadh said the Centre’s decision amounted to curtailing the curatorial freedom of film festivals.
The documentaries denied permission included 18 officially selected entries, nine in the International Non-Fiction category, three in the Festival Winners category and one from the Nepal package.
A Malayalam short was also among those denied clearance.
The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy had submitted a list of 347 films to the Ministry seeking exemption from the requirement of censor certificates for screening at the festival.
The submissions included the documentaries’ thematic essence. The Ministry then sought detailed synopses and screeners for 40 films, which were provided.
Among the films denied permission are Parliament Street, Sanitised Republic: Caste and Contracts, Globe, Memories of a Window, Birds of War, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk and Our Land.
The denial of clearance comes shortly before the festival, organised by the Chalachitra Academy in Thiruvananthapuram.
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Following the denial, Vishnunadh urged the Union Ministry to reconsider its decision. He said expert committees selected the documentaries featured at an international festival through a comprehensive process. He said denying permission to screen such documentaries curtailed film festivals’ curatorial freedom.
Documentaries and short films play an important role in portraying diverse social realities and perspectives, he said.
An international film festival should provide space for different ideas, questions and dialogue, Vishnunadh said.
He also stressed that audiences should have the opportunity to watch the selected films and form their own opinions, including critically evaluating or questioning their content.
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During the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in December 2025, the Centre denied permission to screen 19 selected films.
Following strong protests by the State government, permission was later granted to screen 13 of the films.
The films affected include internationally famous movies and some that deal with politically sensitive topics, especially those about the Palestine conflict.
The then-Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly criticised the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for denying screening permission to 19 films at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (#IFFK), terming the decision “ridiculous”, “authoritarian” and an attack on freedom of expression.
He alleged that the move was not a mere technical lapse by officials but a deliberate attempt to stifle the internationally acclaimed festival.
(Edited by Majnu Babu with inputs from Dileep V Kumar).
