The Kerala Film Policy Conclave is scheduled to be held on August 2 and 3 in Thiruvananthapuram, marking a crucial step in the state’s journey toward establishing a comprehensive film policy. The event will take place at the Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall in the Kerala Legislative Assembly complex.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the conclave, which will be chaired by Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian. This high-profile gathering aims to delve into key concerns of the film industry and is being organised with input from 17 Indian states that have existing film policies, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), as well as representatives from the Ministries of Information & Broadcasting, Culture, and Tourism. The conclave will also feature global voices from the Indian cinema diaspora, legal and labour experts, and stakeholders from prominent film organisations.
The discussions will cover 12 thematic areas impacting the film ecosystem. The government plans to release a draft policy within a month post-conclave.
This event follows long-standing demands from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), especially after the Justice Hema Committee submitted its report highlighting systemic issues faced by women in the industry. Although the report prompted police cases against several male actors, many of these are now close to being dropped due to complainants withdrawing support.
The delay in organizing the conclave previously drew criticism, with WCC members reminding the state of its unfulfilled promise to ensure safer, inclusive workspaces in cinema.