19 Films Denied Screening at 2025 International Film Festival of Kerala

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has refused screening permission for 19 films at the ongoing International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), causing disruption to the festival’s schedule. The festival, which began on December 12 and runs until December 19, has faced cancellations due to the decision.

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Blocked Films

Among the films denied clearance are several Palestine-related works, including:

• Palestine 36

• Once Upon a Time in Gaza

• All That’s Left of You

• Wajib

Other notable films include:

• Battleship Potemkin by Sergei Eisenstein, a 1925 Soviet classic celebrated for its revolutionary montage technique. The film marked its centenary this year.

• Beef (Spanish film about a rap singer, unrelated to its title)

• Santosh by Sandhya Suri, exploring casteism and internationally recognized at Cannes

• Timbuktu and Bamako by Abderrahmane Sissako, despite the director receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival

Additional denied films: Clash (Egyptian drama), The Hour of the Furnaces (Argentina), Eagles of the Republic, Heart of the Wolf, Red Rain, Riverstone, Tunnels: Sun in the Dark, Yes, and Flames.

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Impact on Festival

Cuckoo Parameswaran, Vice Chairperson of IFFK, told media:

"187 movies were sent to the I & B Ministry for exemption. We did not get approval yet for 19 movies… Today we had to cancel 9 movies, which is a huge disappointment."

Festival organisers say this is the largest number of films ever denied exemption in IFFK history, affecting audiences who had already booked tickets and travelled for screenings.

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Criticism from Filmmakers

Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan sharply criticised the ministry’s decision:

"All these movies are very important movies in the history of cinema. If they say it cannot be screened then that is because of ignorance… Battleship Potemkin can be considered a textbook to study cinema. People who have no clue about all these are doing this. The authorities should reconsider this decision."

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Context

While films shown at festivals do not require censor certification, they must obtain an exemption from the Union Ministry. In previous years, only individual films were denied, making the 2025 mass denial unprecedented.

The cancellations on December 14 and 15 have highlighted tensions between festival organisers and government authorities over creative freedom and the importance of cinema as a cultural medium.