Sat Sep 27 16:43:35 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The International Media Festival of Kerala (IMFK) is set to begin on Tuesday at the Tagore Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram, inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Organized by the Kerala Media Academy, the four-day conference focuses on the theme “Media for truth and peace” and expects over a thousand attendees. A Palestine solidarity conference, featuring the Palestinian Ambassador to India, will precede the festival. Key highlights include the “Mediaperson of the Year” award for Burkina Faso journalist Mariam Ouedraogo, recognizing her work on sexual violence reporting, and awards for prominent Indian journalists Karan Thapar, Ravish Kumar, and Rajdeep Sardesai. The event also features panel discussions, AI workshops, and an expo on combating fake news, with participation from notable media figures.

**News Article:**

**Kerala to Host International Media Festival Focusing on “Truth and Peace”**

**Thiruvananthapuram, September 27, 2025** – The International Media Festival of Kerala (IMFK) will kick off at the Tagore Theatre here on Tuesday, under the theme “Media for truth and peace”. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will formally inaugurate the four-day event, organized by the Kerala Media Academy.

More than 1,000 journalists and media students from Kerala and beyond are expected to attend the conference, which aims to explore the role of media in promoting factual reporting and fostering peace.

Prior to the official opening, a Palestine solidarity conference will be held on Monday, with Minister for Finance K.N. Balagopal and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan participating in an event where they will fly a kite with the colors of the Palestine flag. The Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, will be the chief guest.

A highlight of the IMFK will be the presentation of the “Mediaperson of the Year” award to Mariam Ouedraogo, a journalist from Burkina Faso, in recognition of her courageous reporting on sexual violence against women and children in the aftermath of coups in her country. Awards will also be presented to esteemed Indian journalists Karan Thapar, Ravish Kumar, and Rajdeep Sardesai for their contributions to the field.

The festival’s program includes panel discussions, interactive sessions, AI workshops, a quiz, and a multimedia-photo expo. Journalists Pratik Sinha and Mohammed Zubair will conduct a class on preventing the spread of fake news, emphasizing the importance of media literacy in the current landscape. Attendees can expect notable Indian media figures such as Sashi Kumar, Rana Ayyub, Tongam Rina, Pushpa Rokde, Pratik Sinha, and Mohammed Zubair to participate in the conference.

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