The International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala concluded on September 30 with seven selected films still unable to screen because the required clearance remained pending. Independent reports by The Times of India and UNI described Chief Minister V D Satheesan's criticism at the closing ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram.
Satheesan said the state would continue efforts to obtain permission and arrange screenings if clearance was granted. He also announced plans for permanent venues for documentaries and short films. These were commitments about future screenings and facilities, not confirmation that permission had already arrived.
The dispute concerns exemptions from certification requirements for festival screenings. In an earlier public response on September 21, the Union information and broadcasting ministry said no film had been outright denied permission; it described requests for fuller synopses and reviews by relevant authorities. That response predates the closing ceremony.
Court reporting on September 28 said the Kerala High Court declined interim screening relief while leaving the underlying challenge pending for November 13. The latest development is the festival's closure and the state's response. The available record does not establish a permanent ban or a final rejection of the legal challenge.