Former jury members of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Keralam (IDSFFK) have urged the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy to allow the jury to watch the five films selected for the competition category at the ongoing 18th IDSFFK, but have not yet been screened as the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has denied censor exemption.

IDSFFK Lifetime Achievement Award winner and 2024 jury chairperson Rakesh Sharma, 2024 jury members Pankaj Rishikumar and Jabeen Merchant as well as the 2025 jury chairpersons Ranajit Ray and jury members Rintu Thomas and Faiza Khan have, in a letter to the academy chairperson, expressed dismay that the IDSFFK administration has decided not to let the jury see the five films which were denied censor exemption.

“We call upon you to immediately send the five ‘withheld’ films to the respective competition juries. Especially as the I&B Ministry has only withheld the permission for any public screenings of these films. This ‘denial’ does not and should not extend to any closed doors private screenings. There is no legal bar nor a Ministry ban or advisory to prevent a non-public screening for the jury,” said the letter.

The letter further said that several filmmakers whose films are in competition are planning to boycott the awards ceremony at the festival closing event on Wednesday evening. “This will further damage the already dented image of IDSFFK and its hard-earned reputation,” said the letter.