Thiruvananthapuram: Defying the Centre's demand for a clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to screen films at the ongoing International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), the state government has given the nod to Kerala State Chalachitra Academy to screen all the films.

Academy chairman Resul Pookutty confirmed that the films will be screened as per schedule. "We are going ahead with all the film screenings as scheduled. We will fight this out. We want the IFFK and its spirit to be saved," Pookutty told Onmanorama.

For the first time ever, the Central government had insisted on MEA sanction to screen a select bunch of films at IFFK. The pending censorship exemption for 19 films has prompted cancellations and schedule revisions, sparking protests. 

On Tuesday, four films were given exemption, but clearance for 15 films was put on hold. Academy officials said the films for which clearance is being withheld include old classics, restored versions, Palestinian movies, Sri Lankan films, and previous winners at the IFFK.

Films without a censorship certificate require an exemption from I&B to be screened at film festivals. Festival organisers submit applications with a synopsis and get an exemption certificate. IFFK organisers said they submitted applications with film summaries 10 days prior to the start of the festival. Pookutty had earlier told Onmanorama that he had reached out to Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar to find a solution.

Four films given exemption:  Beef, Eagles of Republic, Heart of the Wolf, Once upon a time in Gaza

Films to be screened without censorship exemption

1. A Poet: Unconcealed Poetry
2. All That's Left of You
3. Bamako
4. Battleship Potemkin
5. Clash
6. Palestine 36
7. Red Rain
8. Riverstone
9. The Hour of The Furnaces
10. Tunnels: Sun In The Dark (Địa Đạo: Mặt Trời Trong Bóng Tối)
11. Yes
12. Flames
13. Timbuktu
14. Wajib
15. Santosh