22 films – from queer classics to contemporary films – to screen at South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ Film Fest Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, South Asia’s biggest and India’s only mainstream LGBTQ film festival, will raise a toast to Australia, its films and the bond between the two Commonwealth countries, at the 6th edition of the festival scheduled to be held between May 27 - 31, 2015
Australia will be the “Country In Focus” with KASHISH 2015 turning the spotlight on the country with a package of some iconic as well as cutting edge LGBT films from Down Under.
“The idea of a Country in Focus at KASHISH has been realized to its full potential this year with 22 Australian LGBTQ films as part of the package. From a 1994 film to a 2015 film, the diversity of films is sure to wow everyone with their thematic content and style of filmmaking. Our biggest triumph has been in bringing classics like Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Head On to a big screen showing at Liberty Cinema,” said Festival Director Sridhar Rangayan. “We hope the Indian LGBTQ cinema movement can move ahead with rapid strides, in terms of both quantity and quality, so that other festivals around the world could also consider an Indian Focus at their festival.’’
Australia is one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world and polls show majority Australians supporting same-sex marriage. Its film industry has similarly cut a trail-blazing path, with iconic gay, lesbian and transgender films and characters that combat stereotypes and ensure dignity for LGBTQ persons.
One of the key highlights of the Australian Focus is the participation of Prof. Dennis Altman, world-renowned author whose iconic eleven books explore sexuality, politics and their inter-relationship in Australia, the United States and globally, and define contemporary queer theories. Prof Altman will participate in a La Trobe University sponsored panel discussion at Kashish 2015 titled “The Global Gay: Deconstructing the Queer Identity.”
Among the diverse bouquet of features, documentaries and short films from both contemporary and cult Australian LGBTQ-themed films will be three iconic Australian classics - Stephan Elliott's musical drag comedy The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), Ana Kokkinos's heady drama about Greek Australian youth Head On (1998) and Dan Castles' coming-of-age, adrenaline-gushing, surfing film Newcastle (2008).
A still from Love is Strange
While surfing and sports form the backdrop in yet another film, a sweeping documentary Out In The Line-Up, directed by Ian W Thomson and produced by Thomas Castets who will be in attendance at the festival, two contemporary edgy narrative features will also be much awaited. These include Skin Deep by Jonnie Leahy, Monster Pies by Lee Galea are balanced by two dreamy romantic films Wish For Tomorrow by Pierre -Nicolas Panasci and The Dream Children by Robert Chuter, a sexy drama about marriage equality. Contrasting this is the short documentary Some Rainbows Never Grey by Peter Jacobsen. It talks to three older gay men from Melbourne who openly discuss why they chose to marry women in the 1960s.
AT A GLANCE
Voted as one of the Top 5 LGBT Film Festival in the World, Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is South Asia's biggest queer film festival and the only LGBT film festival in India to be held in a mainstream theatre. Founded in 2010, KASHISH is held over five days at three venues. The festival this year will be held at Liberty Cinema, Alliance Française and Max Mueller Bhavan in Mumbai. Organized by Solaris Pictures and The Humsafar Trust, this is the first Indian LGBTQ festival to be held with approval by the Union Information & Broadcasting Ministry.
Another remarkable short documentary is It’s Who We Are where filmmakers David Muir & Kate Lefoe peep into the history of the first Jewish Lesbian Group of Victoria. The daring documentary feature Orchids: My Intersex Adventure by filmmaker Phoebe Hart highlights issues around intersex community,with the filmmaker embarking on a journey of self-discovery to embrace her future and reconcile the past shame and family secrecy surrounding her intersex condition. Rounding up the extensive Australian films package are an amazing collection of short films – All Better Now by Tessa Millesse, All God’s Creatures by Brendon McDonall, Plunge by Kate Lefoe, Shopping by Will Kuether, Trunk by Jack Taylor Cox, Vis À Vis by Dan Connolly, A Wonderful Day by Robbie Baldwin, and Love Bytes-The Sex Bet by Tonnette Stanford who returns to KASHISH for the fourth time! The package also offers two rare cinematic treats – The Visitor by Dan Castle, a short film with the backdrop of surfing and Australian veteran actor Barry Otto in the lead; and the first short film Karmarama made by Lee Galea, the director of the celebrated coming-of-age Australian feature film, Monster Pies which is also screening at this year’s festival.
The 6th edition of Kashish will be held from 27th to 31st 2015 at Liberty Cinema, May 28th to 30th 2015 at Alliance Française de Bombay and May 29th to 30th 2015 at the Max Mueller Bhavan. The theme for this year’s festival is `Reaching Out, Touching Hearts.’
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