IFFK: Screening of Battleship Potemkin, Beef, Santosh Banned

The union government has denied permission to screen a total of 19 films at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala, held from December 12-19 in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

Usually, films screened at festivals do not require censor certification, but they must obtain an exemption from the Union Ministry. The organisers said that they were awaiting official censor exemptions to screen the films, including Hindi movie Santosh, movies related to the Palestine conflict, Sergei Eisenstein's 100-year-old film Battleship Potemkin, and a Spanish film titled Beef.

Santosh, directed by Sandhya Suri, was released in India via OTT in October this year, after a year-long battle over censorship and certification. The movie, which was Britain's official entry to the Oscars in 2024 and screened at the Cannes Film Festival, was denied permission for theatrical release earlier.

“This fear fascist governments have of creative freedom is not an isolated case happening in India alone. This is happening worldwide. It is not a surprising move, and I don’t think filmmakers will comply with this kind of repression,” said writer-director Geo Baby, known for his movies Kaathal and Great Indian Kitchen.

"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 IFFK message said.

Battleship Potemkin is considered one of cinema's most influential works, dramatising the 1905 mutiny aboard the battleship Potemkin. Marking its 100th year, it was included in the Restored Classics section of the festival.

Beef, originally titled Ruido, is a Spanish-Mexican drama directed by Ingride Santos. The movie is about Lati, a young woman from the outskirts of Barcelona who turns to freestyle rap to confront grief, prejudice, and gender barriers after her father's death.

“A film titled 'Beef' has also been denied permission, ostensibly because of its name, even though it has nothing to do with food choices. This absurd and lunatic attempt to derail IFFK, which is organised by the Government of Kerala, is the latest example of the neo-fascist tendencies of the extreme authoritarian rule under Modi, Shah, and Mohan Bhagwat. Artists, filmmakers, and all democratic-minded citizens must raise their voices against this disgraceful move,” said MA Baby, Ex-Minister and CPI(M) general secretary.

Palestinian movies such All That’s Left of You, Palestine 36, Once Upon a Time in Gaza, All That’s Left of You and Wajib were denied permission.

“IIFK, celebrating its 30th edition, was scuttled by GoI denying censorship exemption to 19 films, without any rhyme or reason. The list of films includes classic Battleship Potemkin and even films screened at IFFI Goa and Palestinian films. The only rationale seems to be disruption,” said Dr Thomas Issac, former Finance Minister of Kerala.

Abderrahmane Sissako, the director of Mauritanian movies Timbuktu and Bamako, which are also denied permission, is being honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival. The 30th edition of the IFFK 2025 was inaugurated on December 12 by State Culture Minister Saji Cherian at a function attended by dignitaries from the film world from across the globe.

List of movies denied permission to screen

A Poet: Unconcealed Poetry

All That’s Left of You

Bamako

Battleship Potemkin

Beef

Clash

Eagles of The Republic

Heart of The Wolf

Once Upon A Time In Gaza

Palestine 36

Red Rain

Riverstone

The Hour of The Furnaces

Tunnels: Sun In The Dark (Địa Đạo: Mặt Trời Trong Bóng Tối)

Yes

Flames

Timbuktu

Wajib

Santosh