The 16th International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFoK) kicks off on January 25 in Thrissur at the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. The eight-day event brings together 246 artistes from nine countries and India to showcase 23 plays and 48 performances. The theme 'Voices in This Silence' focuses on giving voice to suppressed stories. The festival opens with "Frankenstein Project," an Argentinian play, directed by Luciano Mansur at the Akademi Black Box Theatre. Revenue Minister K. Rajan will inaugurate the festival, with Higher Education Minister Dr. R. Bindu presiding. Renowned filmmaker Anand Patwardhan attends as chief guest. Gujarati playwright Dakxin Chhara and theatre artist Maya Thangberg join as special guests. The K.T. Muhammed Theatre’s renovation will also be inaugurated. ITFoK 2026 features nine international productions from countries including Argentina, Brazil, Armenia, Palestine, Slovakia, Spain, Japan, and Denmark. Fourteen Indian plays, including five from Kerala, will be staged across seven venues in Thrissur. Artistic Director Dr. Abhilash Pillai says the festival blends experimental and political theatre to spark dialogue beyond the stage. Alongside plays, the festival offers daily interaction sessions, panel discussions, and remembrance programmes focusing on marginalized communities, women’s work, and political themes. A special documentary film section runs free for the public from January 26 to 31 at FAVOS. It opens with Anand Patwardhan’s "Vivek" and includes films on caste, gender, minority rights, and prison life. Exhibitions honoring theatre legend Badal Sircar, poster art by Sashi Bhaskar, and sketches by Gopalan Adat and others will be displayed at the Akademi. Each evening features cultural programs spotlighting tribal arts in the courtyard. All events except theatre shows are free to attend, making ITFoK a lively festival of voices, visuals, and shared culture.