MIB Rejects Claims of Denying Screening Permission at Kerala Short Film Festival
Information and Broadcasting Ministry rejects allegations it denied screening permission to 31 films at the 18th IDSFFK, saying no film was outright denied.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has dismissed allegations that it refused screening permission to 31 films selected for the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), stating that no film has been outright denied permission.
In a post on X, the ministry said six films have been asked to provide more detailed synopses, while some others have been forwarded to relevant sectoral authorities for review based on their subject matter, as part of the standard censor exemption process for festival screenings.
The clarification followed criticism from Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who on Monday described the move as "an assault on the freedom of expression" and a betrayal of India's legacy of hosting world cinema. He appealed to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to intervene and overrule what he called bureaucratic decisions.
Of the 347 titles submitted by the organiser, the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, censor exemption was withheld for 31 films after synopses were reviewed and screeners requested. These include 18 films from the officially selected competition and curated sections, nine from the International Non-Fiction category, three from the Festival Winners section, one from the Nepal package, and one Malayalam film, Globe, which portrays tribal life in Attappady.
The affected films deal with themes ranging from political dissent and caste rights to international armed conflicts. Among them are Sanitised Republic: Caste and Contracts, on contractual sanitation workers and caste dynamics in Delhi during COVID-19; Parliament Street, on public memory and history linked to the landmark location; Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, documenting life in Gaza through video calls; Memories of a Window, on protests in Iran captured through civilian footage; and Birds of War, tracing revolution and exile through personal Lebanese and Syrian archives. Other titles include Globe, Our Land, and Land of My Dreams.
Kerala Minister for Culture, Cinema, and Tourism PC Vishnunadh condemned the decision, saying documentaries and short films are critical mediums for capturing diverse social perspectives. He added that denying permission to screen films that have gone through a rigorous selection process amounts to curbing the curatorial freedom of film festivals, and that audiences should be free to watch films and form their own views.
The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy has requested a fresh review, noting that delegates, jurors, and filmmakers have finalised travel plans and distribution screening fees have already been remitted. It cautioned that withholding clearances threatens to disrupt the festival schedule.
The festival is scheduled to be held from September 25 to 30 at Kairali, Sree and Nila theatres in Thiruvananthapuram. The Lifetime Achievement Award of the 18th IDSFFK will be presented to eminent animation filmmaker Nina Sabnani, comprising a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, a sculpture and a citation. Chief Minister VD Satheesan will present the honour at the closing ceremony at Kairali Theatre on September 30, 2026. Ten of Sabnani's films will be screened at the festival.