I&B Ministry
Leveraging culture for greater understanding among BRICS nations
NEW DELHI: The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) should leverage the culture, filming techniques and the market of the member nations to increase greater understanding and foster people-to-people exchange.
This was the common view of BRICS delegates at a press meet just before the BRICS Film Festival in the capital.
Those present at the press conference included Mr Hugo Lorenzetti Neto (Brazil), Mr Kirill Razligov (Russia), Mr C. Senthil Rajan (India who is Director of Film Festivals), Mr Zhou Jiandong and Ms Monica Newton (South Africa).
The discussions focused on the similarities and differences in the cinema of the five BRICS countries, while focussing on the exchange of cultural diversities and techniques used by the cinema of these nations.
‘Building Responsive, Inclusive & Collective Solutions’ (BRICS) is the aim of the merger of the five coutries, aimed at enhancing bilateral and friendly relations. In the BRICS Summit 2015 held in Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the BRICS Film Festival, an addition to the yearly summits that would connect masses through the exchange of culture and art.
”Films made in a country connect to at least one of the other nations. The movies for the festival have been specially selected to showcase culture, art and history of the countries they are made in.” said Neto.
Razligov said: “Discussions made at the BRICS Film Festival will help us better understand the complexities and art of film making by the member nations. We all need to work in cooperation and create films together to bring people closer.”
Speaking on the occasion, Rajan said, “The BRICS Film Festival will begin a new journey to witness the growth of the rich cinema of the five countries. This step will be leveraged as a bridge to take cinema making to a new level through the exchange of techniques, art and ideas. Furthermore, the festival will serve as an opportunity for the people to interact and learn the culture of the participating nations.”
Highlighting the role of cinema in creating friendly relations, Jiandong said, “Indian films from the period of 1970 to 1980 were quite famous in China and today we have movies like Xuan Zang, where the actors of China and India have worked together to create a masterpiece. Cinema plays a key role in creating harmonious relations as the films speak universal language to the world.”
“The BRICS Film Festival is the first of its kind, which will bring the masses together. This festival is an amazing canvas to exchange the art work of the five countries that has never been done before. For a young country like South Africa, the sphere of innovation and development in cinema is large, where we are learning from the member nations.” added Ms. Newton.
The cultural diversity of the nations will also be portrayed through the Craft Fair organized at the festival, where the member countries will set up their stalls with souvenirs and products for sale. At this five-day bioscope of culture, art, films and food, one can explore exclusive cuisines from all the BRICS nations at the Food Court, arranged in the festival venue.
Starting tomorrow, the film festival will have special meets with the cast and crew from the five nations, movie screenings and Film Panchayats, panel discussions with renowned personalities on the topics ranging from Cinema and Nation building, Women in BRICS Cinema, BRICS coproduction , Opportunities and Challenges, etc.
Twenty films – four each from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – are to feature in the first government level BRICS Film Festival toi be held in here early next month.
Malayalam movie Veeram will be the opening film for the festival being held from 2 to 6 September at Siri Fort Auditorium.
They jury is headed by eminent Kannada filmmaker T S Nagabharana. Other members are producer and curator Francis Vogner do Reis from Brazil; Kirill Razlogov of Russia who has served as a special adviser for 11 years on film history and international affairs to the President of Goskino of the USS; Hou Keming of China who is a professor of the direction department of Beijing Film Academy and chairperson of the China Children’s Film Association and the president of China International Children’s Film Festival; and Ms. Xoliswa Sithole of South Africa who is founder and director, of Nayanaya Pictures and the founding member of Filmmakers against Racism.
I&B Ministry
CBFC speeds up film certification; average approval time cut to 22 days
Over 71,900 films cleared in five years as digital system shortens approval timelines
MUMBAI: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has significantly reduced the time taken to certify films, with the average approval timeline now down to 22 working days for feature films and just three days for short films.
Operating under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the statutory body certifies films for public exhibition in line with the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024. The rules prescribe a maximum certification period of 48 working days, though the adoption of the Online Certification System has sharply accelerated the process.
Over the past five years, from 2020-21 to 2024-25, the board certified a total of 71,963 films across formats. Of these, the majority fell under the U category with 41,817 titles, followed by UA with 28,268 films and A with 1,878 films. No films were certified under the S category during the period.
Film approvals have also steadily risen in recent years. The CBFC cleared 8,299 films in 2020-21, a figure that peaked at 18,070 in 2022-23 before settling at 15,444 films in 2024-25. During the same period, 11,064 films were certified with cuts or modifications.
Despite the high volume of certifications, outright refusals remain rare. Only three films were denied certification over the last five years, with one refusal recorded in 2022-23 and two in 2024-25.
The board may recommend cuts or modifications if a film violates statutory parameters relating to the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, defamation, contempt of court or incitement to an offence.
Filmmakers can challenge CBFC decisions in court. Data shows that such disputes remain limited but have seen some fluctuation. Between 2021 and 2025, a total of 21 certification decisions were challenged before High Courts, with the number rising to 10 cases in 2025.
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L. Murugan shared the data. The question was raised by Mallikarjun Kharge.
With faster timelines and a largely digital workflow, the certification process appears to be moving at a far brisker pace, signalling a shift towards quicker clearances for India’s growing film output.
