The International Film Festival of Kerala will go ahead with screening all films as scheduled despite several titles not receiving central clearance. The Kerala government-backed academy said the decision was taken in defence of freedom of expression
IFFK to screen all films as per schedule
The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) is in the center of a controversy after 19 films scheduled to screen at the festival did not get clearance from the censor. However, latest development is that the festival has decided to screen all films as scheduled despite the denial of the central government clearance, confirmed Kerala Chalachitra Academy Chairman Resul Pookutty. The festival, which began on December 12 will be concluded on December 19.
IFFK to screen all films
"I am happy to let you know, dousing all the fire on the controversies regarding film screening in the IFFK, we are going ahead with all the screenings of the film as scheduled as per the notification issued by the Kerala government and long live cinema," he said in a video message.
Sources said the academy took the decision, after the Left government in Kerala decided to defend freedom of expression following delays in obtaining official censor exemptions to screen around 15 films, including some related to the Palestine conflict and Sergei Eisenstein's 100-year-old classic Battleship Potemkin.
Earlier in the day, four of the 19 movies awaiting the Centre's approval for screening were granted official censor exemptions. They said discussions were held with the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to obtain permission to screen these films at the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
The movies granted permission for screening are Beef, Eagles of The Republic, Heart of The Wolf and Once Upon A Time In Gaza, the sources said.
'Beef' follows Lati, a young woman from the outskirts of Barcelona, who turns to freestyle rap to confront grief, prejudice, and gender barriers after her father's death, sources said.
The remaining 15 films awaiting clearance include Sergei Eisenstein's 100-year-old classic Battleship Potemkin and several films related to the Palestine conflict.
Shashi Tharoor crictises denial to screen films
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Kerala Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian on Tuesday criticised the denial of clearance to the films at the IFFK being held in Thiruvananthapuram from December 12 to 19.
Tharoor termed it as "cinematic illiteracy" and "bureaucratic over-cautiousness" and claimed that he has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Union Minister Vaishnaw to ensure approval for screening of the films.
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