EntertainmentPosted at: Dec 17 2025 1:08PM


Centre denies clearance to 19 films at’ IFFK’, sparking censorship row

Sarath Chandran
Kerala, Dec 17 (UNI) The 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), held in Thiruvananthapuram from December 12 to 19, has been thrown into controversy after the union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting refused to grant censor exemption certificates to 19 films, including several with Palestinian themes.
The festival, organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, now faces unprecedented disruption as scheduled screenings had to be altered for the first time in its history.
Films without a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate such as foreign titles and documentaries require a special exemption from the Ministry to be screened at Indian festivals.
Despite applying in advance, the ministry has either delayed or denied permissions for 19 films, creating a stand-off between the state government and the Centre.
Among the affected titles are four films addressing the Palestine conflict Palestine 36, Once Upon a Time in Gaza, All That’s Left of You and Wajib which were initially included in the festival programme but remain without clearance.
Other notable films awaiting approval include Sergei Eisenstein’s classic Battleship Potemkin, the Spanish drama Beef, and acclaimed works like Bamako, Timbuktu and The Hour of the Furnaces. Seven screenings have already been cancelled due to the absence of exemption certificates.
Chalachitra Academy vice-chairperson Cuckoo Parameswaran said organisers have submitted all required details to the ministry and are hopeful that the films will be cleared in time. She noted the absence of reasons from the ministry for withholding permission.
The central government’s stance has drawn widespread criticism. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described the decision as “most unfortunate”, warning it could tarnish India’s cultural reputation internationally.
He criticised the bureaucratic approach, calling it an “extraordinary degree of cinematic illiteracy”, especially in cases like Battleship Potemkin, a globally celebrated film. Tharoor urged the ministries of Information and Broadcasting and External Affairs to expedite clearances to avoid further embarrassment.
Renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan also slammed the move, calling the denial of exemptions “unreasonable and illogical”. Critics argue that screening barriers to politically engaged cinema reflect an overly cautious bureaucratic mindset rather than cultural judgment.
In response, the Kerala government has directed the festival organisers to proceed with the full schedule regardless of the Centre’s clearance, framing it as a defence of artistic freedom and cultural expression. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the denial as unacceptable, promising that all films will be screened as planned.
As IFFK continues, the tussle between federal authority and festival autonomy highlights ongoing debates over censorship, federalism and creative freedom in India’s cultural landscape.
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