IDSFFK 2026: Film Festival dates announced; 1,741 entries registered
Thiruvananthapuram, July 14
The Keralam government has announced that the 18th edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from October 2 to October 7, with a record 1,741 entries received from India and abroad.
The selection process to identify films for the festival is currently underway.
Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Cinema PC Vishnunadh said the festival will be hosted at Kairali, Sree and Nila theatres in the state capital.
"The 18th edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Keralam (IDSFFK) will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from October 2 to 7. The festival will take place at Kairali, Sree and Nila theatres. A total of 1,741 entries have already been received this year. The selection process to shortlist the best short films and documentaries from entries submitted from across India and abroad is currently underway. The activities of various subcommittees and coordination meetings will begin soon," the minister said.
The Department of Culture and Cinema has constituted a selection committee to evaluate the submissions and finalise the films that will be screened during the festival.
During the press conference, the minister also said the Kerala government plans to fill vacancies in several cultural institutions, including the Sahitya Academy and the Folklore Academy, by the end of the month.
On the tourism front, Vishnunadh said the state currently lacks a regulatory framework for amusement parks and adventure sports.
He said the Department of Tourism is preparing a new law to regulate and oversee adventure tourism activities in Kerala.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a documentary enthusiast from the US, I'm thrilled this festival is growing. Kerala has such rich stories to tell. Wish I could attend in October!
Good initiative, but why always Thiruvananthapuram? Other cities like Kochi or Kozhikode also have good infrastructure for such events. Hope the government considers rotating venues in future. 🤔
Finally some good cultural news! The move to fill vacancies in Sahitya Academy and Folklore Academy is also long overdue. Let's hope these institutions get the talent they deserve. 👏
Impressive number of entries! I work in film distribution in Canada and have been following IDSFFK for a while. Kerala's documentary scene is truly world-class. Keep it up!
Good to see this festival growing year after year. But minister should focus more on regulatory framework for adventure tourism - that's a serious safety concern, especially after recent incidents in other states. Both culture and safety matter.
As someone who's visited Kerala multiple times, I'm excited to attend this festival in October. The state's film culture is so vibrant. Can't wait to see the selected documentaries! ✈️🎥
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