Victorian Tribunal Hearings Ahead for Hoyts and Village Cinemas Over Screening of ‘The Kerala Story’

Two major Australian cinema chains, Hoyts and Village Cinemas, have been summoned to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after the Alliance Against Islamophobia Australia lodged a vilification complaint. The dispute centres on the chains’ decision to show The Kerala Story, a film that has sparked controversy since its Australian debut more than three years ago.

The alliance alleges that the movie portrays Muslims in a defamatory manner, contravening Victoria’s laws against vilification on the basis of religious belief. By bringing the case before the tribunal, the complainants seek a determination on whether the screenings breached anti‑vilenation statutes and, if so, what remedial action should follow.

For the South‑Asian diaspora, the issue resonates beyond a single title. It raises questions about how culturally sensitive content is handled in mainstream venues and what recourse communities have when they feel misrepresented. The outcome could set a precedent for how Australian cinemas assess and program films that touch upon religious or ethnic identities.