18th IDSFFK ends without screening “banned” competition films

The 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Keralam (IDSFFK) concluded in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday without screening seven films — including five selected for the competition section — after the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) denied them censor exemption. Despite appeals from former jury members to permit jury-only viewings, the State government withheld the screenings following a Kerala High Court order on September 28 refusing provisional permission.

Background and Court Order

Festival organisers faced a standoff after the I&B Ministry withheld permission for public screenings of seven titles. Former IDSFFK jury members urged the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy to allow closed-door jury screenings for the five affected competition films, contending that the Ministry’s decision applied only to public exhibition. However, the State government decided against any screenings once the Kerala High Court declined provisional clearance on September 28, effectively ending hopes of showing the films during the festival’s run.

Directors Honoured on Stage

A collective of filmmakers had earlier considered boycotting the awards ceremony in protest. They reversed course after the government announced that the directors of the “banned” films would be invited on stage and honoured at the closing event.

At the ceremony, inaugurated by Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, the directors were called to the dais and seated on stage. Those acknowledged included Spandan Banerjee, director of the documentary Parliament Street; Afiya Khalid and Rizwan Rahman, co-directors of Sanitised Republic: Cast(e) & Contracts; Sankaraa, director of The Mali and the Parasite; Bipuljit Basu, director of Redlight to Limelight; Sharanya Deyy, director of In Search of Buddha; and Prasun Goswami and Raunak Shivhare, co-directors of Shimmering Odyssey.

Chief Minister’s Remarks

Chief Minister Satheesan said the government would facilitate screenings once the Court permits them. “We filed a writ petition before the High Court. Unfortunately, we haven’t received any interim order. We have repeatedly requested the Union ministry against this as it is a penetration into the curatorial freedom of artists. But, as a State government we have to deal with the sanction of the Union government. We will fight for the sanction. We are with these filmmakers. I hope one day you will get the opportunity to screen the films here,” he said.

Jury and Festival Response

Former jury members maintained that jury-only viewings would not violate the I&B Ministry’s restrictions, arguing the Ministry’s bar was confined to public exhibitions. The State’s decision to abide by the High Court’s order nevertheless meant none of the seven films could be shown in any capacity during the festival. The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, which organises IDSFFK, proceeded with the closing ceremony while formally recognising the affected filmmakers on stage.

Lifetime Achievement and Closing Highlights

During the closing ceremony, Chief Minister Satheesan presented the Lifetime Achievement award to filmmaker Nina Sabnani. The event capped a contentious edition of IDSFFK marked by the absence of several shortlisted titles alongside the announcement of this year’s competitive awards.

Festival Awards

Documentary — Long Form

Best Long Documentary: Close Up Up close – The making of political UBU, directed by Kamal K. M.

The film also received the Kumar Talkies Award for Best Editing in a Documentary.

Second Best Documentary: My Other Diary, directed by Sugandhi Gadadhar

Jury Special Mention: Going Solo, directed by Ameya Gore

Documentary — Short Form

Best Short Documentary: Friends of Jilipibala, directed by Debalina Majumder

Second Best Short Documentary: Coal Diggers of India, directed by Ashutosh Jare

Special Jury Mention: Lunar Birds, directed by Srishti Garg

Short Fiction

Best Short Fiction: Bhintila Paath, directed by Shekhar Bapu Rankhambe

Second Best Short Fiction: A Mouse and a Man, directed by Sahadeb Das

Special Jury Mention: Maram Marankothi, directed by Darwin Annakumar

Craft Awards

Best Cinematography: Paradise Fall, cinematography by Naseem Azad

Best Acting: An Oyster Life, performance by Shubhangi Bhujbal

Campus Films

Best Campus Film: Marrah, directed by Muhammed Jaseel K.

Special Jury Mention: Ozhukku, directed by Vishnu Pushkaran

What Happens Next

With the writ petition still before the Kerala High Court and no interim relief granted, the State government said it will continue to pursue sanction from the Union government. “We are with these filmmakers,” Chief Minister Satheesan reiterated, adding that arrangements will be made to exhibit the contested films once the Court clears them.

Conclusion

The 18th IDSFFK ended with its awards presented and its most debated films unscreened, underscoring a broader clash between festival curation and regulatory approvals. The State has pledged to seek a pathway to exhibit the affected works, leaving their public debut contingent on legal and administrative clearances in the weeks ahead.