The 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) has received a significant boost after the central government cleared a batch of films, including the restored classic 'Battleship Potemkin' by Sergei Eisenstein. This move has eased a recent standoff over pending approvals that threatened to disrupt the festival's schedule.
Last-Minute Clearances Ease Festival Tensions
According to festival sources, the Centre granted clearance to five films on Tuesday evening, followed by three more on Wednesday morning. These approvals came after an initial batch was cleared earlier on Tuesday, bringing the total number of recently approved films into double digits. The clearance for the iconic silent film 'Battleship Potemkin' is seen as a major relief for the organisers.
C Ajoy, the secretary of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, expressed the collective sentiment, stating, "There was real relief in the festival office when the Centre cleared a number of films." He confirmed that the IFFK would now be able to screen all cleared films as per the original schedule.
Six Films Still Await Mandatory Exemption
Despite the progress, the festival is not completely out of the woods. Six films are still awaiting the mandatory exemption certificate from the central authorities. Organisers are expecting a decision on these titles by Thursday, ahead of the festival's closing on Friday.
The list of pending films includes:
- 'A Poet: Unconcealed' (The Poet Uncensored Poetry)
- 'All That Is Left of You'
- 'Yes'
- 'Clash'
- 'Flames'
- 'Eagles of the Republic'
Festival officials indicated that several of these films have been flagged as politically sensitive or connected to contemporary conflicts, which has complicated the clearance process at the central level.
Coordination to Avoid Further Disruption
Both the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy and the state government have urged the central government to expedite the clearance for the remaining six films. Organisers are in active coordination with the Centre to secure the final approvals and ensure no further disruption to the prestigious film festival, which is a highlight on the cultural calendar.
The latest clearances have allowed many scheduled screenings to proceed, but the focus now shifts to the fate of the final six movies. The festival community and audiences await the Thursday deadline with hope, aiming for a smooth conclusion to the 30th edition of the IFFK in Thiruvananthapuram.
