Resul Pookutty questions logic behind banning 100-year-old classic at IFFK 2025, slams lams 'bureaucratic over-cautiousness': 'It's on YouTube'

Kerala Cinema Academy President Resul Pookutty has sharply expressed concern over the central government's denial of permission to some films to be screened at the 2025 International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). At the festival, which will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from December 12 to December 19, several films focusing on Palestinian stories and the Spanish film 'Beef' were not allowed to be screened, along with 19 films.

Resul Pookutty condemned the strange and inappropriate method of denying permission to films that were already available on public platforms.

Resul Pookutty questions I&B Ministry’s double standards

On the X (formerly Twitter) page, Resul Pookutty said: "Battleship Potemkin is available on Youtube free! What @iffklive showing is a restored version of the film. When this film is available on Youtube, what censorship is #1&B doing?! Its illogical as @Shashi Tharoor pointed out."

Through this, he attempted to make the contradictions surrounding the denial of permission public. His comment reiterated the importance of artistic freedom and political censorship.

IFFK 2025 organisers' decision to screen all films

Due to the central government's restrictive measures, IFFK organizers decided to screen all scheduled films. Resul Pookutty said in a video message, “Forgetting all the controversies surrounding the film screens, all films are being screened as planned as per the announcement of the Kerala government.

Long live cinema!” he said. In this case, the banned films include 'Palestine 36', 'Yes', 'Once Upon a Time in Gaza', and 'All That’s Left of You', which focus on Palestinian stories.

Notably, 'Palestine 36' was selected as the festival's opening film, but was screened before the central government's intervention.

Pinarayi Vijayan and Saji Cherian back artistic freedom

Speaking at the ceremony, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “Film festivals should be a platform for artistic expression and debate, not a tool for controlling opinion. All the films that were denied permission will be screened at the festival. The central government's action to deny permission to films that are already scheduled to be screened is not appropriate. This is a show of kindness by the Sangh Parivar regime.

A wise Kerala will not tolerate such censorship.” Culture Minister Saji Cherian expressed support for the Palestinian cause. Palestinian Ambassador to India Abdullah M. Abu Shavesh also attended the ceremony.