"Kerala will not give in to such censorship; all films denied permission will be screened at IFFK"

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All 19 films that were denied screening permission by the Union Ministry of Broadcasting will be screened at the International Film Festival. The action of the Chalachitra Academy follows the instructions of the state government. The Union Ministry of Broadcasting had denied screening permission, including films from Palestine. Four of these were given screening permission on Tuesday.

Minister Saji Cherian had brought the denial of screening permission of the films to the attention of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Chief Minister informed Saji Cherian that the process of screening the films would be taken forward. Minister Saji Cherian then instructed the Chalachitra Academy. Following this, the Academy has prepared a schedule for the screening of films. It will be communicated to the delegates.

When a similar crisis arose at the Kolkata festival, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had directed that all films be screened. So far, screening of nine films has been cancelled due to the non-obtainability of the censoring exemption certificate for screening foreign films at the festival.

The central government's action of denying permission to screen films at the film festival is unacceptable. The censorship at the film festival is a direct reflection of the totalitarian rule of the Sangh Parivar regime, which suppresses different voices and diverse creative expressions in the country. Enlightened Kerala will not give in to such censorship. All films denied permission to screen will be screened at the festival. - Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan