International Film Festival of Kerala cancelled in view of Kerala floods devastation

The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will not be held in 2018. The decision is in accordance with the recent declaration by Kerala state government to not hold an official event for a year to help collect funds for the victims of the recent floods in the state. Speaking to Cinestaan.com, the festival's deputy director Shaji H confirmed the news, saying, "Yes, the festival will not take place this year."  

IFFK was scheduled to take place between 14-21 December 2018. 

On being asked if the festival has been officially called off, Shaji H agreed and said that the funds for the festival will be used to add to the chief minister's Distress Relief Fund for the flood victims. "We are a government organisation and will go through the official channels to help the government." 

Another source from the festival revealed, "The decision [by the Kerala government] applies to the festival, and it will not be happening this year." 

The state government, on Tuesday (4 September), declared that it won't host any official events in the state for another year and the funds will be used for the rehabilitation of the flood victims across the state. 

While earlier there were reports of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy raising funds independently to help go on with the festival, Shaji H confirmed that the festival will not take place this year. 

However, this also raises the problem of the films which have applied to this year's competition. Shaji H said that festival committee is still discussing the problem. "Those things are being discussed. We are also facing the problem for the very first time, so we will arrive at a decision after discussion." 

Earlier in August, the state government had called off its annual Onam celebrations, and the accompanying Nehru boat race. The funds from both events were transferred to the government's flood relief operations. 

More than 450 people have lost their lives and 14 are still missing in a devastating series of floods. Thousands of citizens of the state have also been left homeless in the unprecedented floods that hit the state this monsoon.