A fresh controversy has unsettled the 12th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram after the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) withheld screening permissions for a number of films, forcing organisers to cancel several scheduled shows.
Which films were affected?
Festival organisers say clearance was denied for 19 titles. The list reportedly included classics and politically sensitive works — notably Battleship Potemkin (1928), landmark documentary The Hour of the Furnaces, a Spanish film titled Beef, and some Palestinian films. Organisers are still working to clarify the full list as a few titles later secured permission after ministerial intervention.
Shashi Tharoor speaks out
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor publicly criticised the move as “deeply unfortunate,” calling the denials a sign of “cinematic illiteracy” in the bureaucracy. On December 16, 2025, he said the original list was longer but some approvals were obtained after he raised the matter with I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, following a request from festival chairman Riyas LP.
Tharoor specifically pointed to the absurdity of blocking a widely screened classic like Battleship Potemkin and urged both Ashwini Vaishnaw and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to expedite any clearances still pending, warning that the controversy harms India’s cultural image — especially in cinema-loving Kerala.
Filmmakers and veterans react
Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan condemned the restrictions, calling them a “clear misunderstanding of cinema.” He argued that judging films by their titles or perceived politics rather than their artistic value undermines creative freedom and world cinema engagement.
Why are special permissions needed?
Films that do not have Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) approval require an exemption from the I&B Ministry for festival screenings. That bureaucratic step is what delayed multiple screenings at IFFK this year, leaving organisers scrambling to secure last-minute permissions.
Festival scramble and fallout
Organisers are negotiating with the ministry to resolve the issue before the festival concludes on December 19. Delegates and cinephiles have faced schedule disruptions and cancelled shows, and the controversy has dominated conversations at the festival venue.
The dispute raises broader questions about how India balances political sensitivities and artistic freedom at international film events — and whether the system needs quicker, clearer routes for festival screenings of world cinema.
