The 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala will be held from September 25 to 30 in Thiruvananthapuram

The 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), organized by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from September 25 to 30, 2026, Tourism, Culture and Cinema Minister PC Vishnunadh announced.

The festival was originally scheduled to take place from October 2 to 7. However, due to technical and organizational arrangements, the date of the festival has been rescheduled, the minister said at a press meet in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday (July 14, 2026).

IDSFFK prides itself on being the only international film festival in India for documentaries and short films organized by the state government. The festival has played a significant role in providing an international platform for innovative filmmaking, socially responsible films and a new generation of filmmakers.

1,741 entries were received for this year’s festival. The process of selecting documentaries and short films for competitive, non-competitive and Malayalam non-competitive categories from these submitted films from different parts of the country and abroad is underway, the minister said.

Special selection committees were established to select the films. The best works will be selected for the festival through a transparent and international standard selection process, he said.

The festival will screen around 300 films in around 30 categories, including documentaries, short films, animation, music video, campus film, tribute, international films, festival winners and jury films in the competition section. The Lifetime Achievement Award, which is awarded for a comprehensive contribution to documentary production, will be awarded to a significant figure in the field.

The minister further informed that all preparations for the six-day festival are continuing, including international standard screening facilities, representative services, academic programs and guest participation at Kairali, Sree and Nila theaters in Thiruvananthapuram.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 20:40 IST