Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 15: The organisers of the 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) 2025 are awaiting censor exemptions to screen around 19 films, including titles related to the Palestine conflict, sources said here on Monday.
According to officials associated with the festival, discussions are currently underway with the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to obtain special permission for the screening of these films at the festival, which is being held in Thiruvananthapuram from December 12 to 19.
Among the films awaiting approval is Sergei Eisenstein’s iconic silent classic Battleship Potemkin, which recently completed 100 years. The screening of the film, scheduled at Sree Theatre on December 15 at 6.30 pm, has been cancelled for now.
“Battleship Potemkin, scheduled to be screened at Sree Theatre on December 15 at 6.30 pm, has been cancelled. A revised schedule will be announced soon,” an official message from the IFFK organisers said.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential films in the history of world cinema, Battleship Potemkin depicts the 1905 mutiny of sailors against oppressive officers aboard a Russian battleship. The film, known for its pioneering use of montage and its powerful portrayal of collective resistance, was included in the Restored Classics section of IFFK to mark its centenary year. In the 2022 Sight and Sound critics’ poll, it was ranked the 54th greatest film of all time.
Another film whose screening has been cancelled is All That’s Left of You, a Palestine-themed film set against the backdrop of the First Intifada. The narrative begins in 1988, when Noor, a young Palestinian boy, joins a protest in the occupied West Bank. His death during the uprising forms the emotional centre of the film.
The story later shifts to 2021, where Noor’s mother Hanan, played by actor-director Cherien Dabis, recounts her family’s history spanning three generations. Through an intimate, direct-to-camera narrative, the film blends personal loss with the larger Palestinian experience. The film premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 25 and was selected as Jordan’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
Also awaiting censor clearance is Beef, a film unrelated to its title, which follows Lati, a young woman from the outskirts of Barcelona who uses freestyle rap to cope with grief, social prejudice and gender barriers following her father’s death.
Sources said applications seeking censor board exemptions for all 19 films were submitted earlier, and talks are being held at the highest level to ensure that the screenings can go ahead during the festival period.
The 30th edition of IFFK 2025 was inaugurated on December 12 by Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian in the presence of filmmakers, artists and delegates from across the world. The festival, one of Asia’s most prominent film events, continues to draw large crowds despite the uncertainty surrounding the screening of select films.
