Centre blocks screening of 31 films at Kerala documentary festival

The Ministry's decision impacts a significant portion of the festival programme, with restrictions affecting 18 officially selected competition films, nine entries in the International Non-Fiction section, three films from the Festival Winners category, and one documentary from the Nepal Package.

The blocked films represent a cross-section of the festival's curated content, raising concerns about the scope of the censorship decision. The International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) is one of India's premier platforms for non-fiction cinema, typically drawing submissions from global filmmakers alongside Indian documentarians.

Censor exemptions for film festivals are typically granted to enable screening of works that may not conform to standard classification guidelines but hold artistic or cultural merit. The refusal to grant such exemptions effectively prevents these films from being shown at the event.

The decision comes at a time when India's film regulation policies have drawn increased scrutiny from filmmaking communities and international observers. Festival organizers are yet to announce whether they will challenge the Ministry's decision or proceed with an altered programme.