Archive · 16 Dec 2025
IFFK 2025 Denies Screening for 19 Films
The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) 2025 is having trouble showing 19 movies.
These include a very old famous film called Battleship Potemkin, a movie about a Palestinian boy, a Spanish film called Beef, and a Hindi movie called Santosh.
The government said no to showing these movies, even though the festival usually doesn't need special permission.
The organizers are talking to the government to try to get permission.
The festival started on December 12, 2025.
One of the movies, Battleship Potemkin, is 100 years old and is considered one of the greatest films ever made.
Another movie, Santosh, was already shown in other places but couldn't be shown in theaters in India.
The organizers think the government is afraid of creative freedom and hope to get permission soon so they can show all the movies as planned.
The union government denied permission to screen 19 films at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) 2025.
Notable films include Battleship Potemkin, Beef, and Santosh, which faced censorship issues.
Battleship Potemkin, a 100-year-old classic, was scheduled to be screened at Sree Theatre on December 15 but has been cancelled.
Santosh, directed by Sandhya Suri, was Britain's official entry to the Oscars in 2024 and screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
The festival organizers are actively communicating with the government to obtain the necessary exemptions.
- Who
- Organizers of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) 2025
- What
- Denial of permission to screen 19 films, including Battleship Potemkin, Beef, and Santosh
- When
- December 12-19, 2025
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Why
- Union government denied censor exemptions for the films
- Event
- 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) 2025
- Date
- December 12-19, 2025
- Films on Hold
- 19
- Notable Films
- Battleship Potemkin, All That's Left of You, Beef, Santosh
- Approval Body
- Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- Inauguration
- December 12, 2025 by State Culture Minister Saji Cherian
- Battleship Potemkin
- 100-year-old classic, ranked 54th greatest film in 2022 Sight and Sound poll
- Santosh
- Directed by Sandhya Suri, Britain's official entry to the Oscars in 2024
Sources
Censor approval pending as IFFK puts 19 films, including Palestine-themed titles, on hold
IFFK puts 19 films, including Battleship Potemkin, on hold amid pending censor approval
19 movies, including Russian classic and 3 by Palestinian filmmaker, denied I&B nod for Kerala film festival
Kerala film festival: Centre denies permission to screen 19 films
Tharoor slams film clearance row, urges Centre to lift ban on IFFK screenings
'Most Unfortunate': Shashi Tharoor Slams Centre For Delaying Censorship Exemption For 19 Films At IFFK
Shashi Tharoor Slams Ban On 19 Films At Film Festival Of Kerala, Writes To Centre: "Most Unfortunate"
IFFK: Screening of Battleship Potemkin, Beef, Santosh Banned
IFFK 2025: Battleship Potemkin and 18 others films denied screening by I&B Ministry at festival, Kerala Cultural minister gives clearance instead
IFFK to screen all films as scheduled despite Centre’s clearance denial
Kerala govt to screen all films denied censor exemption by I&B Ministry at IFFK
Kerala CM Slams Centre’s Censorship on Films at International Film Festival of Kerala
