KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film festival

KASHISH Mumbai International Queer FilmFestival 2011, thesecond edition of India’s only mainstream LGBT film fest, promises to be BIGGER, BOLDER & QUEERER. The second edition will be held from May 25-29, 2011 at two venues in Mumbai, one of whichwill be a multiplex theater.

This year, the festival willshowcase more than 130 films from over 25 countries.

The highlights this year:- More feature length films than last year with some verysensitive lesbian themed features.- Films from across the globe: from US to UK, Australiato Austria, India to Indonesiaand even Argentina and Peru.- This year, the ‘Country Focus’ will be on Israel withmore than 8 films from there.- ‘Spotlight on Filmmaker’ will shine on US filmmaker Q. AllanBrocka and UK filmmaker Rikki Blair Beadle with their funny, sexy and thoughtprovoking films.- Special package of films on Anti-Bullying and gay bashingin schools followed by a panel discussion.- A special evening with ‘Parents of Queers’ with a filmscreening and panel discussion.- Special package of sensitive, dramatic and touchingfeatures and shorts on HIV/AIDS is introduced under ‘Red Ribbon’ packagefollowed by a performance.- Continuing KASHISH’s mission of showcasing and promoting shortfilms and short filmmakers, this year too would see some exciting short filmpackages:-   Along with the ever popular ‘BoysShorts’ and ‘Girls Shorts’ short film packages this year will have two newadditions: a fabulous ‘Trans Shorts’ collection and a hilarious collection ofshort films under ‘Bi Shorts’-   A package of films that is acinematic tribute to LGBT people who made a difference way back whenhomosexuality was labeled a disease, a crime and a perversion. This includes afilm about a brilliant gay mathematician who helped crack the Nazi Engima Codeand turned the tide of Word War II for the Allies-   ‘Indian Masala Mix’ : a greatcollection of Indian shorts films- A competition section for Best Narrative Feature too,which would include both Indian and International films made in 2010 / 2011.This is in addition to the other competitive categories awarded last year: BestDocu Feature, Best Docu Short, Best International Narrative Short and BestIndian Narrative Short. - The Best Indian queer short film at Kashish gets to compete for the IrisPrize in UKand a cash prize of 25,000 pounds.   

- Also watch out for an eminent jurycomprising of award winning filmmakers, actors and media professionals.

- A range of fun filled cultural activities and events likemusic and dance performances, open mic and quizzes. KASHISH 2011 promises to be an eventto remember for both LGBT and mainstream audiences. It will be a time to watchloads and loads of LGBT films, engage in discussions, interact with celebritiesand filmmakers, participate in cultural activities and just simply have aFABULOUS time! For further updates and informationon the festival, please check:Website: http://www.mumbaiqueerfest.com/  | Blog: http://kashishmiqff.blogspot.com/ 

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