Friday, June 13, 2014

Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, 2014 - a roundup

Varta has just published my experience of the 5th Kashish film festival here. Hope it's worthy of your time. Apologies for the errors of syntax and grammar. (In my defence, I had the handicap of an injured wrist that made typing painful.) Here's an extract from the beginning as an appetiser:

Every year, a couple of months before May, one feels trepidation: will there be a new edition of Kashish or not? If you have had a glimpse behind the scenes into the sheer amount of effort and hand wringing to put together one edition, you’d understand why the apprehension. But each year Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival not only happens but also grows bigger in scale in what seems on the face of it a miracle. Festival director Sridhar Rangayan has a zest for cinema and an indefatigable passion for LGBT equality, which is probably why, come May, one knows that Kashish is definitely on, come hell or high water. Of course, it must require Sridhar to summon all of his will power and tap into all of his goodwill to bring together an ever-growing band of friends and queer allies, starting with festival co-organiser Humsafar Trust and festival patron Shyam Benegal.

Mumbai's iconic Liberty cinema had Kashish billboards and the festival name on the marquee. The centre of the Liberty building's exterior was draped with a Rainbow flag. (Pic courtesy: Vivek Anand) 

No comments: