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Thiruvananthapuram Dec 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Kerala government has taken a firm stand amid the controversy triggered by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's denial of "censor exemption" to 19 films selected for screening at the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian has directed the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy to ensure that all the selected films are screened without interruption, as originally scheduled. He criticised the Union government's move as an undemocratic approach aimed at undermining Kerala's progressive artistic and cultural tradition. "This action, which strikes at the legacy and progressive character of IFFK, cannot be accepted," Cherian said, making it clear that the state would continue to take a strong stand against any encroachment on artistic expression. "The 19 films that were denied central clearance have been widely recognised across the world and well received by film audiences. The rights of delegates to watch these films cannot be denied," he said. These films had already been included in the festival schedule and catalogue and had been widely publicised. "Denying delegates access to them would amount to an infringement of their rights," added Cherian. According to the state government, the Centre's decision has created an unprecedented crisis for IFFK, which is completing three decades this year. It is in this context that Cherian instructed Chalachitra Academy Chairman Resul Pookutty and the Secretary to take immediate steps to ensure that all films are screened at the 30th edition of the festival as per the pre-announced schedule, without any disruption. The International Film Festival of Kerala is being held in Thiruvananthapuram from December 12 to 19 and has drawn more than 12,000 delegates. Around 200 film professionals, including participants from abroad, are attending the festival, underscoring its global stature and cultural significance.
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Thiruvananthapuram: For the first time ever, the Central government has insisted on the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) sanction to screen select bunch of films at the ongoing International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram. The pending censorship exemption for 19 films has led to cancellations and schedule revisions, leading to protests. On Tuesday, four films were given exemption, but clearance for 15 films was put on hold. Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairman Resul Pookutty told Onmanorama that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting referred the films to t ...Read More >
Thiruvanathapuram (Kerala) [India], December 16 (ANI): After the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting refused screening permission for several films at the International Film Festival of Kerala 2025, the Kerala CM, Pinarayi Vijayan, said that all films that were denied screening permission will be screened at the festival. On his Facebook page, Kerala CM called the Union Government's decision to deny screening of scheduled films "unacceptable". "The Union Government's decision to deny screening permission to films scheduled to be shown at the 30th International Film Festival of Ker ...Read More >
IFFK 2025: Kerala Govt Defies Centre, Screens 'Battleship Potemkin' and 18 Films Without CBFC Nod In this report from the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), India Today's Shibi Mol details the state government's decision to defy the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The Pinarayi Vijayan administration has decided to screen 19 films that were denied clearance by the Centre, including Sergei Eisenstein's classic 'Battleship Potemkin' and several Palestinian narratives such as 'Once Upon a Time in Gaza' and 'Wajib'. Shibi Mol notes that the state government has 'challen ...Read More >
Thiruvanathapuram (Kerala) [India], December 15 (ANI): The 12th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) has run into a crisis following the failure to obtain censor exemption certificates, leading to the cancellation of multiple film screenings in Thiruvananthapuram. According to organisers, screenings of seven films scheduled over the last two days were stalled due to the absence of the mandatory exemption certificate. At present, 19 films have not received permission for screening. In film festivals, movies without a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certifica ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Tuesday that all films denied permission for screening at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will still be shown at the event. He criticised the Union Government's decision, calling it unacceptable and a sign of the Sangh Parivar regime's totalitarian approach, which stifles diverse voices and creative expression in the country. "Enlightened Kerala will not bow to such censorship. Every film denied permission will be screened at the festival," he said in a Facebook post. The films to be screened withou ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16 (PTI) The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) has decided to screen all films as scheduled despite the denial of the central government clearance for screening over a dozen films at the festival, which is being held here from December 12 to 19, Kerala Chalachitra Academy Chairman Resul Pookutty said here on Tuesday. "I am happy to let you know, dousing all the fire on the controversies regarding film screening in the IFFK, we are going ahead with all the screenings of the film as scheduled as per the notification issued by the Kerala government and long liv ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The union government has denied permission for screening to a total of 14 films at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala, held from December 12-19 in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. However, the festival authorities, with the support of the state government, have decided to go ahead with the screenings despite the denial of clearance. "I am happy to let you know, dousing all the fire on the controversies regarding film screening in the IFFK, we are going ahead with all the screenings of the film as scheduled as per the notification issued by the Kerala government and ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16 (PTI) The Left government in Kerala on Tuesday directed the organisers of the IFFK to screen all films selected for the event, challenging the BJP-led Centre after it allegedly denied clearance for the screening of more than a dozen movies. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Kerala Chalachitra Academy said all films would be screened irrespective of whether the Centre had granted clearance. In a Facebook post, Vijayan termed as "unacceptable" the Centre's denial of clearance to several films scheduled to be screened at the 30th edition of the International Fil ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 17 (ANI): Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has described the controversy surrounding the ongoing 12th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) as an "unfortunate development." This came in the wake of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting refusing screening permission for several films, leading to the cancellation of multiple screenings in Thiruvananthapuram. Addressing mediapersons, Tharoor shared, "This is an unfortunate development. We have a very good tradition of respecting cinematic culture. We have had international film festivals ...Read More >
Thiruvanathapuram: After the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting refused screening permission for several films at the International Film Festival of Kerala 2025, the Kerala CM, Pinarayi Vijayan, said that all films that were denied screening permission will be screened at the festival. On his Facebook page, Kerala CM called the Union Government's decision to deny screening of scheduled films "unacceptable". "The Union Government's decision to deny screening permission to films scheduled to be shown at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala is unacceptable," wrote CM Pinar ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a renewed effort to put economic pressure on Russia, the European Union on Friday unveiled a fresh package of sanctions, which includes lowering the price cap on Russian crude oil and sanctioning Nayara Energy Ltd, an India-based refinery linked to Russian energy giant Rosneft. This marks the first time the EU has imposed sanctions involving India, a country that has heavily relied on discounted Russian crude since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. Nayara Energy Ltd, formerly known as Essar Oil Ltd, operates a 20-million-tonne-per-year refinery in Vadinar, Gujarat, an ...Read More >
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. The 30th International Film Festival of Kerala descended into crisis this week after the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting denied screening permission for 19 films, triggering protests from delegates, filmmakers, and politicians. Among the initially blocked titles: Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 masterpiece Battleship Potemkin, Fernando Solanas's political documentary The Hour of the Furnaces, four films about Palestin ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 17 (UNI) The Kerala government has decided to take a confrontational stand by proceeding with the screening of international films that were denied censor exemption by the union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B). On December 11, the I&B Ministry initially denied censor exemption to all 187 films selected for the festival, citing failure to submit applications within the stipulated timeline. Subsequently, the Ministry granted exemption to 150 films and later cleared 18 more as the festival began, leaving 19 films without approval when the event commenced. ...Read More >