19 films denied screening at IFFK; Shashi Tharoor criticizes I&B
What's the story
The 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram has been thrown into chaos after the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) reportedly denied screening permissions to 19 films. The list includes Palestinian films such as Palestine 36, Once Upon a Time in Gaza, All That's Left of You, and Wajib. The ministry's decision has sparked widespread outrage among filmmakers and critics alike.
Criticism
Tharoor criticized 'extraordinary degree of cinematic illiteracy'
Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor slammed the ministry's decision, calling it "deeply unfortunate." He noted that the list was initially longer, but several films were cleared after he intervened with I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. "The list of 19 films suggests an extraordinary degree of cinematic illiteracy on the part of the bureaucracy," he said, questioning why classics like Battleship Potemkin were blocked.
Twitter Post
See Tharoor's post here
It is most unfortunate that an unseemly controversy has arisen over the central government's denial of clearance to 19 films which were scheduled to be screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 16, 2025
The original list was much longer, but several…
Urgency
Tharoor urged ministers to expedite approvals
Tharoor further urged Vaishnaw and Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar to expedite the approvals, warning that the delay could harm India's cultural image. "Denying permission to some Palestinian films reflects bureaucratic over-cautiousness rather than the cultural breadth of vision that should be involved when it comes to world cinema," he added.
Disruption
I&B Ministry's decision has disrupted IFFK schedule
The I&B Ministry's decision has reportedly disrupted the IFFK schedule, as films without a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) approval need special exemption from the ministry for festival screenings. Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan also criticized the restrictions, calling them a "clear misunderstanding of cinema." Organisers are still in talks to resolve the issue before the festival concludes on Friday, December 19.