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The festival remains confirmed for 25–30 September in Thiruvananthapuram, but the absence of a new Kerala State Chalachitra Academy leadership has reportedly delayed jury appointments and the film-selection process.
Preparations for the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala(India) are reportedly facing delays, even though the festival remains officially scheduled to take place in Thiruvananthapuram from 25 to 30 September 2026.
The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy has received 1,741 documentary and short-film entries, but a selection jury has yet to be appointed and the process of choosing films for the festival has not begun, according to a report published on 27 July. The Academy is currently functioning under an acting secretary.
For filmmakers who submitted work to IDSFFK, the immediate concern is whether the administrative delay could affect selection announcements, technical preparation, accreditation and the publication of the final programme.
Festival dates are officially confirmed
IDSFFK 2026 will be held from 25 to 30 September in Thiruvananthapuram.
The festival had initially been scheduled for 2 to 7 October. However, Kerala’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Cinema, P. C. Vishnunadh, announced on 14 July that the dates had been brought forward to accommodate technical requirements and organisational arrangements.
The uncertainty therefore concerns the preparation and selection process—not the festival dates themselves.
The state government’s announcement said the festival procedures would be completed in time for the revised September schedule. The subsequent report about the unappointed jury raises questions about how quickly the Academy will now need to review the submitted films and complete the programme.
Leadership vacancy reportedly affecting preparations
The reported delay follows a change in the leadership of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.
Resul Pookutty resigned as Academy chairman in May 2026, leaving the state government to appoint a replacement and reorganise the governing body.
More than two months later, a new chairman and governing body had reportedly not been appointed. According to Kerala Kaumudi, the Academy’s operations have slowed while several recommendations for the principal positions remain under consideration.
A shortlist of 12 candidates has reportedly been prepared for the chairman’s position. Filmmakers Sathyan Anthikad, Blessy, Deepu Karunakaran and Joshy Mathew are among the names said to be under consideration, although no appointment has been officially announced.
The leadership gap is also reportedly affecting jury appointments for the Kerala State Film Awards and other Academy-administered programmes.
What the delay could mean for filmmakers
Receiving 1,741 entries leaves the selection jury with a substantial body of work to review before the festival opens on 25 September.
A delay at this stage could reduce the time available for:
- Reviewing and shortlisting the submitted films
- Informing selected filmmakers
- Securing screening permissions and final masters
- Completing subtitles and technical checks
- Arranging filmmaker travel and accreditation
- Publishing the competition programme
- Confirming the festival juries and associated events
There is currently no official announcement that IDSFFK has been postponed or cancelled.
Filmmakers should therefore avoid interpreting the reported preparation issues as confirmation that the festival will not proceed. However, those who submitted films should monitor official IDSFFK and Kerala State Chalachitra Academy channels closely for selection notices and programme updates.
A significant platform for documentaries and shorts
IDSFFK is organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala.
The Kerala government describes it as the only international festival in India dedicated to documentaries and short films that is organised by a state government.
The official IDSFFK website currently hosts the rules and regulations for the 18th edition, but a complete list of selected films and the final festival programme have not yet been published.
For documentary and short filmmakers in India, IDSFFK remains an important exhibition platform, particularly for work that may struggle to find space within festivals primarily focused on feature films.
What happens next
The Academy’s immediate priority will be appointing its leadership and selection jury quickly enough to review all 1,741 entries without compromising the curatorial process.
The next significant updates for filmmakers will be:
- Confirmation of the selection jury
- Publication of the selected-film list
- Delegate and accreditation information
- Announcement of the final competition programme
- Confirmation of screening venues and schedules
Until those updates are issued, the 18th IDSFFK remains officially scheduled for 25–30 September 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram.
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IDSFFK 2026 remains set for 25–30 September, but leadership delays have reportedly stalled jury appointments and the review of 1,741 films.
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