Union Ministry Blocks Screening of 19 Films at Kerala Film Festival
Film Festival Faces Controversy Over Censorship
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has refused to grant permission for the screening of 19 films at the 2025 International Film Festival of Kerala, as reported by Marian Alexander Baby, the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the state. Among the films denied are several that focus on Palestine.
Taking place in Thiruvananthapuram from December 12 to December 19, the festival has already begun.
The films concerning Palestine that were not approved include titles such as Palestine 36, Yes, Once Upon a Time in Gaza, and All That’s Left of You, all of which had previously been screened at the festival.
Palestine 36, which features both Arabic and English dialogue, served as the inaugural film for the event.
During the opening ceremony on December 12, Kerala’s Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian highlighted the state's commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause. The Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abdallah M Abu Shawesh, was also present at the event.
Cherian paid tribute to the late director Shaji N Karun, who had been associated with the festival until his passing in April 2025. He emphasized that the festival serves as a platform that 'resists fascism and autocracy while celebrating freedom of speech and creative expression.'
Organized by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy under the cultural affairs department, this annual festival attracts thousands of delegates each year.
The festival organizers submit film titles to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for approval ahead of time. The ministry reserves the right to reject films that could potentially harm diplomatic relations.
No specific reasons were given for the denial of these screenings, as reported by an unnamed official from the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.
The cancellations have resulted in scheduling issues for the festival.
Other films that were denied permission include A Poet: Unconcealed Poetry, Bamako, the classic Battleship Potemkin from 1925, Beef, Clash, Eagles of The Republic, Heart of The Wolf, Red Rain, Riverstone, The Hour of The Furnaces, Tunnels: Sun In The Dark (Địa Đạo: Mặt Trời Trong Bóng Tối), Flames, Timbuktu, Wajib, and Santosh.
The 19 films at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) which have been denied censor exemption by the I&B ministry. Includes the 100-year old Battleship Potemkin and quite a few Palestinian films.
— S.R.Praveen (@myopiclenses) December 15, 2025
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Battleship Potemkin and Bamako, directed by Abderrahmane Sissako, have been featured in numerous film festivals across India. This year, Sissako received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the IFFK.
Baby criticized the denial of permission for Beef, claiming it was rejected 'ostensibly because of its name, even though it has nothing to do with food choices.'
The former minister described the refusal to allow screenings as an 'absurd and lunatic attempt to derail IFFK' and a clear indication of the 'neo-fascist tendencies of the extreme authoritarian rule' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
The RSS is the parent organization of the BJP.
'Artists, filmmakers, and all democratic-minded citizens must raise their voices against this disgraceful move,' he urged.
In response, the Democratic Youth Federation of India, affiliated with the CPI(M), organized a protest at one of the festival's main venues.