3 min readThiruvananthapuramDec 16, 2025 08:36 AM IST
First published on: Dec 15, 2025 at 09:29 PM IST
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has denied censor exemption to 19 films slated for screening at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), currently underway.
The annual event, now in its 30th year, is being organised by the Kerala Chalachitra Academy under the state Department of Cultural Affairs. As many as 206 films from 82 countries have been selected for screening at the festival, which began Friday.
Significantly, films screened at festivals require censor exemption from the ministry for them to be screened.
Academy vice-chairperson Cuckoo Parameswaran said 19 films had been denied censor exemption. “We are in touch with the I&B Ministry officials and have furnished all details they have demanded. We expect that these films will be granted censor exemption,” she said.
A senior functionary of the academy said the I&B Ministry has not pointed out any reason for denying censor exemption to the 19 films. “These films do not fall into any particular category. The Ministry has not cited any reasons for the decision. If not granted, the screening of these films will have to be cancelled,” he said.
The official said that of the 19 films denied censor exemption, three are by Palestinian filmmakers, while another film by an Israeli filmmaker has been granted exemption for screening. The Russian film Battleship Potemkin is a 1925 silent movie related to the Soviet revolution. Another film, The Hour of the Furnaces, is an Argentine political film that has been screened widely. Another is the Spanish title Beef. “There is no common factor among these 19 films, nor do they fall into any category that leads to their denial of censor exemption,” he said.
The films are ‘A Poet: Unconcealed Poetry’, ‘All That’s Left of You’, ‘Bamako’, ‘Battleship Potemkin’, ‘Beef’, ‘Clash’, ‘Eagles of The Republic’, ‘Heart of The Wolf’, ‘Once Upon A Time In Gaza’, ‘Palestine 36’, ‘Red Rain’, ‘Riverstone’, ‘The Hour Of The Furnaces’, ‘Tunnels: Sun In The Dark (Địa Đạo: Mặt Trời Trong Bóng Tối)’, ‘Yes’, ‘Flames’, ‘Timbuktu’ and ‘Wajib’.
Among these, the screening of seven movies including ‘Battleship Potemkin’ have been so far cancelled for want of sanction from the I&B Ministry.
Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan told the media that the denial of screening exemption for these films may be due to ignorance on the part of certain people. “They may not have any idea about these films. Many of these are world classics and have been screened at several festivals. The decision should be reviewed. A film should not be judged on its title,” he said.
According to the ministry’s policy for certification of films for film festivals, censor exemption is granted to films meant to be screened before delegates and those associated with the film industry. At the same time, the Ministry has the power to reject censor exemption if it affects the security and integrity of the country, law and order, or relations with other countries.
The Indian Express sent a query to the I&B ministry and a response is awaited.
The official said that of the 19 films denied censor exemption, three are by Palestinian filmmakers, while another film by an Israeli filmmaker has been granted exemption for screening. (Source: X/ @iffklive) 
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