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I&B Ministry Clarifies Kerala Film Festival Row: No Film Denied Permission
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News18•21-09-2026, 12:27
I&B Ministry Clarifies Kerala Film Festival Row: No Film Denied Permission
- •The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) stated that no film was denied permission for screening at the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK).
- •This clarification refutes earlier reports suggesting that 31 films selected for the IDSFFK had been denied permission by the Centre.
- •The Ministry confirmed that six films were requested to provide a more detailed synopsis, with some sent to sectoral authorities for review based on their subject matter.
- •Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had expressed shock over the initial reports, calling it an "attack on the freedom of expression" and urging Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to intervene.
- •The IDSFFK is scheduled to take place in Thiruvananthapuram next week.
Key Questions Answered
No, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting clarified that permission was not denied to any film for the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), though it requested detailed synopses for six films.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed shock over initial reports that 31 films were denied screening permission, calling it an assault on freedom of expression, and urged Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to overrule the bureaucrats.
The 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) is scheduled to be held in Thiruvananthapuram next week, specifically from September 25 to 30.
