# Centre denies censor exemption to 31 films at Kerala documentary festival

2026-09-20T08:41:56+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has denied censor exemption to 31 films slated for the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram from September 25 to 30. The rejected titles include 18 films from the festival's official selection, nine from the International Non-Fiction section, three from the Festival Winners section and one from the Nepal Package. Malayalam film Globe is among those denied permission, as are documentaries such as Sanitised Republic: Cast(e) and Contracts, Parliament Street, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, Memories of a Window and Birds of War. The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy had sought exemptions for 347 films, submitting detailed synopses and screeners of 40 films at the ministry's request. The decision echoes last year's IFFK, when 19 films were initially denied exemption before some were cleared.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The denials, reported nearly identically by The Hindu and The Federal, follow the Centre's similar move against 19 films at IFFK last year, which the Kerala government had criticised as censorship. The affected films include politically sensitive documentaries on Gaza, Iran's protests and Indian caste-based sanitation work, though the ministry has not given public reasons. The Academy has not yet announced next steps, but the festival begins September 25, leaving little time for negotiation. Whether Kerala's government, which funds the festival, escalates the dispute federally or quietly resolves it will indicate if this is a one-off or pattern of Centre-state friction over film censorship.

## Coverage

- thehindu.com (government critical) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/union-ib-ministry-denies-censor-exemption-to-31-films-at-idsffk-in-keralam/article71485856.ece>
  Leads with the denial being reminiscent of a clampdown and calls the move a ban.
- thenewsminute.com <https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/union-govt-denies-censor-exemption-to-31-films-at-docu-short-film-festival-of-kerala>
- thefederal.com (neutral report) <https://thefederal.com/category/states/south/keralam/keralam-documentary-festival-centre-denies-screening-for-31-films-257119>
  Straight listing of denied films and process without framing the decision.

Tags: I&B Ministry, IDSFFK, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, Thiruvananthapuram
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