Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2015

Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2015 – KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is the first and only LGBTQ film festival in India to be held in a mainstream theater and the first queer festival in India to receive clearance from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. KASHISH was voted as one of the top 5 coolest LGBT film festivals in the world by a worldwide poll conducted by MovieMaker Magazine in 2013.

Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2015

The festival programs the best of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* & queer) films from all over the world, and also organize panel discussions, book readings and filmmaker interactions. It is open to EVERYONE who is above 18 years old, irrespective of their gender identity and sexual orientation. The theme for KASHISH 2015 is ‘Reaching Out, Touching Hearts’, reflecting the urgent need for all of us to reach across barriers and boundaries; to challenge prejudices, change attitudes and create a society that allows each person to live with love and dignity. Mumbai, India.

Over the previous 5 editions, from 2010 to 2014, the festival has grown from strength to strength, attracting close to 6500 footfalls over the 4 1/2 days of the festival at two venues. The festival, every year, usually screens around 120 – 130 films that include shorts, documentaries, features – all centered around LGBTQ themes. The festival attracts more than 30% non LGBT audience, film & media celebrities and intentional guests.

Founded in 2010, KASHISH has grown from strength to strength over the last five years. Held across five days and simultaneously at two venues, the festival attracts close to 7500 footfalls every year. It is the first Indian LGBT festival to receive approval by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India.

The festival also attracts Bollywood celebrities, film-makers, critics and academicians from India as well as many international guests from across the world. It receives more than 100 press features every year from Indian press as well as international press, including in The New York Times in 2014.

KASHISH believes that art and films are powerful mediums to bring about social change and the festival uses the reach and spread that KASHISH has already established, as one of Mumbai’s important film festival, to rally public opinion towards equality and dignity for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons. KASHISH uses local, national and international platforms to advocate and sensitize the larger public about LGBT issues.

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