A fresh film festival controversy has emerged in Kerala after the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry denied screening permission to 31 films selected for the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), just days before the event is due to begin.

The decision affects films selected for different sections of the festival, including an international non-fiction section and a Nepal package. One Malayalam film is also among those denied screening permission.

The festival, organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, is scheduled to be held in Thiruvananthapuram from September 25 to 30.

Centre scrutinises films after academy seeks exemption

The Chalachitra Academy had submitted a list of 347 films to the Centre, seeking exemption from certification requirements for screening them at the festival. The applications included summaries outlining the themes of the films.

The Union ministry later asked for more material for scrutiny. In response, detailed synopses and screeners of 40 films were submitted, according to officials.

After the scrutiny, screening permission was denied to 31 films. Officials said the affected films include 18 films officially selected for the festival, nine from the International Non-Fiction section and one from the Nepal package.

Among the films that did not receive permission are Parliament Street, Sanitized Republic: Cast and Contracts, Globe, Memories of a Window, Birds of War, Walk and Our Land.

The development has raised concerns over the extent to which a festival's own selection process can determine its programme when government permission is required for screenings.

Officials associated with the development said films shown at international film festivals are selected by expert committees. They said denying screening permission to films chosen through such a comprehensive process limits the curatorial freedom of film festivals.

Kerala minister asks Centre to reconsider decision

Kerala Tourism, Culture and Cinema Minister P C Vishnunadh has sought reconsideration of the Union ministry's decision, according to an official statement.

Vishnunadh said documentary and short films have an important role in presenting different realities and perspectives in society.

“Documentary and short films are important art forms that document various realities and perspectives in society,” Vishnunadh said.

He also referred to the broader purpose of an international film festival, where audiences are presented with films dealing with different ideas and subjects.

“The basic character of an international film festival is to provide space for diverse ideas, questions and discussions,” Vishnunadh said.

The minister added that audiences should be allowed to watch the films and form their own views about them.

“Audiences should have the opportunity to watch films and independently assess and criticise them,” he said.

The minister's intervention comes as organisers prepare for the festival's September 25 opening.

Another festival row after last year's IFFK dispute

The IDSFFK controversy also recalls a similar dispute at last year's 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).

During the 2025 festival, the Union government initially denied censor exemption to 19 films scheduled for screening. The list included Palestinian films as well as the century-old Soviet film Battleship Potemkin.

The decision did not remain unchanged for all the films. Following discussions between the Kerala and Union governments, some films on the original list were subsequently granted exemption.

The latest dispute therefore comes after a similar disagreement over screening permissions at another major Kerala film festival last year. In both instances, films selected for festival screening became subject to scrutiny over the exemption required to show them.

IDSFFK set to begin on September 25

The 18th IDSFFK is scheduled to take place in Thiruvananthapuram from September 25 to 30.

The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy had sought exemption for a much larger pool of films, submitting details of 347 titles to the Centre. The ministry subsequently sought additional information on 40 films before the latest decision on screening permission.

With 31 selected films now denied permission, the issue has become a significant part of the run-up to this year's festival. Kerala has asked the Union ministry to reconsider the decision, while the festival's programme remains set to begin on September 25.