Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Centre Leaves 31 IDSFFK Films Unclear, Minister Seeks Review
A film festival in Kerala chose many documentaries and short films to show.
The organizers asked the central government for permission to show the films without regular certification.
The government has not cleared 31 of the films.
Kerala Minister P C Vishnunadh said the government did not explain why.
He also said the government did not clearly say that permission had formally been denied.
Festival officials sent information about hundreds of films and later provided more detailed materials.
The minister asked the Centre to review its decision.
The festival is planned for September 25 to 30 in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has not cleared 31 films selected for the 18th IDSFFK.
The films include entries from the official selection, International Non-Fiction section, Nepal Package and a Malayalam film; one report also lists three Festival Winners films.
The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy submitted 347 films seeking exemption from certification requirements for festival screenings.
Officials said detailed synopses and screeners were submitted for 40 films, while Minister P C Vishnunadh said the ministry requested synopses for 20 films.
Vishnunadh has asked the Centre to reconsider, saying it gave no reasons and did not explicitly state that permission was denied.
- Who
- The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy and Kerala Minister P C Vishnunadh.
- What
- Thirty-one films selected for the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala have not received screening clearance, prompting a request for reconsideration.
- When
- The festival is scheduled for September 25 to 30; the reports describe the clearance issue as occurring ahead of the festival.
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- Why
- The films required an exemption from certification requirements, but the Centre did not clear 31 films and, according to the minister, gave no clear reason.
Festival Freedom and Reconsideration
Central Screening Clearance
Whether the films should be shown
Festival Freedom and Reconsideration
P C Vishnunadh and festival officials urged reconsideration, saying expert-selected films should reach audiences and that international festivals need space for diverse ideas, questions and discussions.
Central Screening Clearance
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting did not clear 31 films after materials were submitted for exemption from certification requirements.
Transparency of the decision
Festival Freedom and Reconsideration
The Kerala minister said the Centre gave no reasons and did not clearly communicate whether permission had formally been denied.
Central Screening Clearance
The ministry communicated which films had been cleared, but the reports do not provide specific reasons for the 31 films that were not cleared.
- Films not cleared
- 31
- Festival
- 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala
- Festival dates
- September 25–30
- Festival location
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Initial submission
- 347 films
- Organiser
- Kerala State Chalachitra Academy
- Additional materials
- Reports differ: officials said synopses and screeners were submitted for 40 films, while the minister said detailed synopses were requested for 20 films.
Sources
IDSFFK 2026: 31 films await screening clearance, Kerala minister asks for Centre’s response
Centre Gave No Reason for Blocking 31 IDSFFK Films: Keralam Minister
Kerala film festival organisers say 31 films denied screening nod by Centre
