The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has denied permission for the screening of 19 films at the 2025 International Film Festival of Kerala. These include several films on Palestine and the Spanish film Beef. The decision has prompted public protests and criticism from organizers in Kerala.
The 2025 International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), a major cultural event in the state, faces controversy following the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry's decision to bar 19 films from screening. Announced recently, the ban targets several films addressing Palestine and the Spanish production titled Beef, though specific reasons for the denial remain undisclosed in available reports.
This move has sparked widespread backlash in Kerala, where the festival is held annually in Thiruvananthapuram. Organizers and cultural activists have criticized the intervention as an overreach into artistic expression. Protests have emerged, involving local groups and political outfits like the CPI(M), highlighting concerns over film censorship in India. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between central authorities and regional cultural initiatives, with calls for reversal of the ban growing louder ahead of the festival dates.
