Delegate registrations have started for South Asia's biggest LGBTQ film festival to be held in Mumbai from June 12 - 16, 2019

Around 160 LGBTQ films from 43 countries will be screened at the 10th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival from June 12-June 16, 2019. This includes 31 short and feature length films from India. South Asia's biggest LGBTQ film festival will be held at two of Mumbai city's iconic theatres - Liberty Carnival Cinemas and Metro Inox.

Delegates can register to attend the festival on India's leading online movie-ticketing platform BookMyShow.com. 

"As every year, KASHISH will bring the best of Indian and International LGBTQ films to Mumbai for the audience to enjoy on the big screen at two iconic theaters. Post section 377 verdict, it is time to rejoice, and we have several very affirmative films celebrating the diversity of LGBTQ lives. I encourage everyone to register and enjoy these world-class films. It surely will be a magical experience", said Sridhar Rangayan, festival director. 

This year the festival received over 700 submissions from across the world. "The films were selected by a preview committee. India with 31 films leads the country with the most number of films that will be screened, followed by USA with 24 and Canada with 14. KASHISH 2019 will screen films from countries where LGBTQ persons face legal persecution like Jamaica, Iran, Myanmar, Kenya, Ghana, Lebanon and Papua New Guinea," said Saagar Gupta, Director of Programming. 

KASHISH 2019 theme is 'Over The Rainbow’ that commemorates not only the reading down of Sec 377 and decriminalization of same-sex relationships in India, but also defines the challenges in store for the LGBTQ community’s journey towards empowerment and social acceptance

"The law having been read down has opened many doors, and there is great enthusiasm about the 10th anniversary of KASHISH from filmmakers and supporters across the globe. KASHISH 2019 film program promises to be a heady mix of entertainment and information; and added to it is the series of 'KASHISH Interact' panel discussions and 'KASHISH Konversations' with Indian and International filmmakers", added Sridhar Rangayan.

KASHISH is presently raising funds through crowdfunding on Wishberry to organise the festival. 

Register for KASHISH 2019 at: https://in.bookmyshow.com/events/kashish-2019-over-the-rainbow/ET00101778

KASHISH 2019 is crowdfunding on: https://www.wishberry.in/campaign/kashish-2019-over-the-rainbow

KASHISH 2019 Theme

KASHISH 2019 festival theme ‘Over The Rainbow’ not only commemorates the reading down of Sec 377 and decriminalization of same-sex relationships in India, but also defines the challenges in store for the LGBTQ community’s journey towards empowerment and social acceptance. Bringing together films from all over the world as well as panel discussions and performances, the festival will showcase the shared struggles and victories, and offer a window to existing and future possibilities. Let’s together journey over the rainbow to discover the land of equality & dignity. 

About KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival

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 5 days at three venues. It is the first Indian LGBT festival to be held with approval by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India. KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is presented by KASHISH Arts Foundation and organized by Solaris Pictures. Besides the annual film festival its other initiatives are KASHISH Forward - India’s first travelling campus LGBTQ film festival, KASHISH Global – that facilitates screening of Indian LGBTQ films across the world, Best of KASHISH film screenings and KASHISH Chalchitra Utsav – a festival of LGBTQ films in regional languages.