{
  "id": 9063551,
  "title": "Kerala film fest: 31 films yet to receive Centre’s clearance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/kerala-film-fest-31-films-yet-to-receive-centres-clearance",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-22T02:23:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kerala-film-fest-31-films-yet-to-receive-centre-s-clearance-101790018101771.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "31 films are yet to receive screening clearance from the Centre's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ahead of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram. The festival commences on September 25 and the ministry has not officially denied the clearance. The I&B clarified that they have only requested additional information about six films and sent others to sectoral authorities for review due to the subjects of those films. The I&B has referred the films to the ministries of home affairs, defence, and external affairs for further verification. The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, which organizes IDSFFK, had sought exemption for 347 films, most of which have already been cleared. The 31 films awaiting clearance include subjects like politics, caste, labour, conflict, and displacement. The Academy has written to I&B seeking reconsideration of the decision.",
  "summary": "Thirty-one films scheduled to be screened at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), which begins in Thiruvananthapuram on September 25, are yet to receive screening clearance from the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B), three days before the festival",
  "key_points": [
    "31 films await screening clearance from Centre's I&B Ministry.",
    "Festival starts September 25 in Thiruvananthapuram.",
    "I&B sought more info on 6 films, referred others to sectoral authorities."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}