KASHISH Festival Director Rangayan to talk on Indian LGBTQ films at BHI Flare, London

Festival Director Sridhar Rangayan will be at BFI Flare to talk about contemporary Indian LGBTQ films.

“It is an absolute honour that BFI Flare, one of the oldest and best LGBTQ film festivals in the world is doing a focus on our Indian LGBTQ film festival KASHISH," said Sridhar Rangayan.

He said, "It is recognition of the festival’s continued growth and success amidst a challenging environment in India where LGBTQ rights are far from being granted. It is also a testament to the festival’s outreach worldwide, and its rigour in promoting Indian LGBTQ films.” 

Apart from the talk, Rangayan will also be participating in a programmers’ meet that brings together curators from around the world.

This event is part of the year-long celebration of cultural exchange, India/UK 2017.

Sridhar Rangayan’s visit to the UK is being facilitated by British Council, which had last year facilitated the visit of acclaimed Hollywood actor Sir Ian Mckellen’s visit to KASHISH 2016.

On March 20, 2017, BFI Head Curator Robin Baker and Sridhar Rangayan will explore the climate for making, showcasing and accessing LGBTQ film in India, and the effect that these films are having on the national debate around 377.

Rangayan’s National Award winning documentary Breaking Free will be screened at the BFI Flare’s Digital Viewing Library. The other film with Indian LGBTQ content to screen at BFI Flare this year is ‘Dead Dad’.

“KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival since 2010 has worked to bring together LGBT communities and build understanding and empathy in the wider culture. Indian filmmakers have also been committed to telling LGBT stories with recent examples, ‘Aligargh’, ‘Margarita with a Straw’, ‘Loev’ screening in BFI's Festivals and around the world, and the excellent ‘Dear Dad’ featuring in this year's BFI Flare. We are honoured to welcome Sridhar Rangayan, the director of KASHISH to BFI Flare,” BFI Flare said on its website.

Founded in 2010, KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (KASHISH) is held over five days at two venues.

The eighth edition of KASHISH will be held from May 24-28, 2017, in Mumbai, where the country in focus is Untied Kingdom.

Film Director Rangayan believes BFI Flare, London, will be a good opportunity to source British films that can be screened at the Indian festival. 

The festival this year will be held at Liberty Cinema and Alliance Francaise in South Mumbai. It is the first Indian LGBT festival to be held with approval by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India.

The theme for  KASHISH 2017 is ‘Diverse, One’, where it will explore the diversity of the LGBTQ community and how shared values help the community to fight for an equal society, basic human rights and against laws that criminalize and discriminate.

Image: QGraphy