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KASHISH 2013 returns to win hearts and march ‘Towards Change’

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Still from a movie Hide & Seek to be shown at Kashish

KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film festival 2013 – the fourth edition of India’s biggest queer film fest is scheduled to be held between May 22-26, 2013.

“The growth and spread of KASHISH has been phenomenal. We are in our fourth year and there are a lot more expectations. It will be a challenge to ensure that we balance awareness and entertainment to provide a diverse range of programs for our audiences. KASHISH is no more just a film festival, but an annual cultural experience, and we hope to live up to it,” said festival director Sridhar Rangayan.
The 4th edition of the festival will be held at a Cinemax Versova in Andheri West between May 22-26, 2013 and at Alliance Française de Bombay from May 23-25, 2013. The festival will screen 132 films from 40 countries.
Saagar Gupta, festival programmer says, “This year KASHISH is programming the biggest collection of films and from countries that are very diverse, including countries where making films on LGBT themes is challenging. Also keeping in tune with this year’s themes of ‘Towards Change’ there are several outstanding documentaries to watch out for includingVito,United in Anger,Call Me Kuchu,Hide & Seek,Invisible Men,Not A man in Sightand from India …And The Unclaimed. These films showcase stories of struggle, trauma and happiness of LGBT persons across the world.”
KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is the first and only gay & lesbian film festival in India to be held in a mainstream theatre and one of the first queer festivals to receive clearance from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The theme of the festival this year is ‘Towards Change’.
Key Highlights for this year will be:
  • 132 films, from 40 countries.
  • This year, the ‘Country Focus’ will be on China with more than 12 films from there.
  • ‘Filmmaker in Focus’ is US filmmaker and activist Jim Hubbard, who will be travelling to India to be present at KASHISH 2013.
  • Queer films from Iran, Serbia, Slovakia, Pakistan and Morocco and will be screened at KASHISH 2013.
  • The “competition section” will showcase films which will be judged by an eminent international jury pane comprising of filmmaker Aruna Raje, Bollywood actor & model Simone Singh, theatre director Quasar Thakore Padamsee, author and poet Jerry Pinto and Iris Prize festival director Berwyn Rowlands.
  • Best Narrative Feature film will win a cash award of Rs 30,000 and Best Indian Short films will win a cash prize of Rs 20,000 both sponsored by Bollywood actor Anupam Kher and his acting school Actor Prepares.
  • Best Actor in a Lead Role award instituted this year by Bollywood actor Anupam Kher and his acting school Actor Prepares.
  • Opening film The Parade is from Serbia.
  • Closing film is Rituparno Ghosh’s Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish.
  • The Best Indian queer short film at KASHISH gets to compete for the Iris Prize in UK which carries a cash prize of 25,000 pounds.
Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival created history in April 2010 by holding the first ever queer film festival in India in a mainstream theatre and receive clearance from the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Since its debut in 2010, KASHISH today is one of the biggest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) film festivals in India and South Asia. It is a landmark event, not only in the LGBTQ movement, but also an important annual event in Mumbai’s cultural calendar.
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