Actor Kunal Kapoor unveiled the festival catalogue. As many as 182 films from 53 countries, including 27 Indian films, will be screened at the festival that will be held at three venues in South Mumbai – Liberty Cinema, Alliance Francaise de Bombay and Max Mueller Bhavan.
British actor Sir Ian McKellen and Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor inaugurated the seventh edition of Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival at the iconic Liberty Cinema on Wednesday. The actors lit a ceremonial lamp to signal the start of South Asia's biggest and India's only mainstream LGBT film festival, to be held from May 25-29.
Actor Kunal Kapoor unveiled the festival catalogue. As many as 182 films from 53 countries, including 27 Indian films, will be screened at the festival that will be held at three venues in South Mumbai – Liberty Cinema, Alliance Francaise de Bombay and Max Mueller Bhavan.
"On my first visit to Mumbai, I am very pleased to attend the opening night of Kashish 2016. For many years, gay characters appeared in films only as comic relief. Increasingly, the film industry has matured. I look forward to Kashish and to discovering more about Bollywood filmmakers who reject fantasy for truth," said McKellen.
"Kashish is a wonderful opportunity that brings together talented filmmakers and the society, advocating a change in the mindset. Movies have immense power to influence people. Every person in India is guaranteed equality and right to life and liberty, which includes the right to love a person of one's choice, irrespective of gender. The universal language that moves the world is that of love. It's time for the society to speak out against the law that criminalises love," said Sonam Kapoor.
Kashish jury this year comprises National Award winning actor Rajeshwari Sachdev, popular television actor Manav Gohil, filmmaker Parvathi Balagopalan, theatre director Kaizaad Kotwal and Nuremberg International Human Rights Film Festival director Andrea Kuhn. Acclaimed actor Anupam Kher's 'Actor Prepares' will sponsor cash prizes for three top categories – Rs30,000 for Best Narrative Feature Film, Rs20,000 for Best Indian Narrative Short Film and Rs20,000 for Best Performance in a Lead Role. Wadia Movietone will sponsor the Rs15,000 Riyad Wadia Award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker.
The title partner for the festival is Wishberry.in, India's leading crowdfunding platform. "Our association with Kashish is in its 4th year now. We love the concept and we're proud to come on board this year as well. We hope that Kashish reaches out beyond the community and becomes an inclusive platform for everyone," said Anshulika Dubey, co-founder and COO of Wishberry.
Godrej Industries is a supporting partner for the festival. "Our association with Kashish indicates our commitment to the cause of promoting LGBT inclusion, both at workplace and beyond," said Nisa Godrej, executive director of the Godrej Consumer Products.
The festival is being presented by the Kashish Arts Foundation, organised by the Solaris Pictures and co-organised by the Humsafar Trust. "Kashish is a celebration of our very existence in the social landscape of humankind. It's also a big window to LGBT cultures outside India," said Ashok Row Kavi, founder chairperson of the Humsafar Trust.
Festival director Sridhar Rangayan said, "We couldn't even imagine seven years ago that we will have a mainstream LGBT film festival, and that it will be so huge. Kashish has not only been a cinematic platform, but has transformed people's lives."
The Fest
Kashish 2016 will be held from May 25-29 at Liberty Cinema, Alliance Française de Bombay and Max Mueller Bhavan. The theme this year is '7 Shades of Love'. For more details, please visit www.mumbaiqueerfest.com.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kashish 2016 inaugural ceremony")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}