Thirty-one films to be screened at a five-day international film festival in Thiruvananthapuram beginning Friday are awaiting “further verification” from the home, defence and external affairs ministries because of their subject matter, a Union information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry official said on Monday, clarifying they have not been denied clearance.
The clarification came a day after Kerala culture minister PC Vishnunadh said the I&B ministry has not stated reasons for denying screening permission to 31 films at the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK). The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, which organises IDSFFK, sought exemption from certification for 347 films, most of which have been cleared, people aware of the matter said. Films generally require certification for public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Section 9 of the Act empowers the Union government to exempt films from certification, subject to conditions. The ministry’s guidelines say festival organisers should preferably submit applications a month in advance and at least 15 days before the event, with complete documentation.
Films at such festivals do not require a censor certificate. They need the I&B ministry’s screening permission, as they do not have certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). He added that they had only received a list of films granted permission. The remaining films will be cleared as and when the verification process is completed, they added. I&B’s guidelines provide for such exemptions for films screened at non-commercial film festivals. Films with CBFC certification do not need exemption from the ministry.
Vishnunadh said the Union government had asked for detailed synopses for these films, which were sent the next day. The I&B official said there were lapses in the submission of required documents, including details about the films, adding to the processing time.
