Kerala Minister Says Efforts On to Clear All 347 IDSFFK Films for Screening
Kerala is working to secure screening clearance for every film picked for the 18th IDSFFK after the Centre denied censor exemption to 31 titles, the Culture Minister said.
Efforts are under way to obtain screening clearance for every film selected for the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Keralam (IDSFFK), Culture Minister P.C. Vishnunandh has said, after the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting declined censor exemption for 31 titles.
Speaking in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday while inaugurating the distribution of delegate kits, the Minister said roughly 1,800 entries were received and 347 films were chosen after a detailed selection process and sent for clearance. The Union Ministry has indicated that a few of the films still awaiting approval need a further review, he added, and procedures are being completed so that all selected films can be screened.
At the ceremony, held at the Kairali Theatre portico, the Minister handed over delegate kits to actors Shyam Mohan and Parvathy R. Krishna, and also opened the festival office at the theatre. Shyam Mohan said the festival had been central to building an understanding of world cinema and a love for the medium, and that growing participation by young people was raising the quality of cinema.
Department of Culture Director K. Inbasekar attended, along with Academy Secretary-in-Charge Sajith C.C. and Deputy Director (Festival-in-Charge) N.P. Sajeesh.
The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy is organising the festival, which runs from September 25 to 30 at the Kairali, Sree and Nila theatres. Delegates can register through https://registration.iffk.in at a fee of ₹590, inclusive of GST, for the general category and ₹354 for students. Offline registration is also available at the delegate cell at the Kairali theatre.