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Celina Jaitley and Shyam Benegal Announce KASHISH – India’s Biggest Queer Film Festival!

Celina Jaitley and Shyam Benegal Announce KASHISH – India’s Biggest Queer Film Festival!

Malini Agarwal
KASHISH’s Festival Ambassador Celina Jaitley
KASHISH’s Festival Ambassador Celina Jaitley & Shyam Benegal, the Festival Patron

Celina Jaitley: “I am very happy to be associated with KASHISH  for the second year as its Ambassador. KASHISH is a great platform to  uphold human rights and dignity for all, which is what I  strongly believe in too. KASHISH is a celebration of the equality of all  human emotions irrespective of sex, creed, race and culture.”

Shyam Benegal: “All minorities in this country  need representation and sexual minorities is one of them. KASHISH is a  move in the right direction to create awareness through the medium of  films. It is a step forward in the gay movement.”

Well how about that! Just when I was telling you about the Q Card another champion for the LGBT crew has arrived. Celina Jaitley and Shyam Benegal recently announced Kashish 2011 – the second edition of India’s biggest queer film festival that focuses on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender films! Celina’s their Festival Ambassador and Shyam Benegal is the Festival Patron.
Spotted: Jury members Sai Paranjpye, Shernaz Patel, Samir Soni, and Khalid Mohamed at the press conference held at the Press Club.
Apparently the festival this year is bigger, bolder and queerer!

Key Highlights for this year will be:

• This year, the ‘Country Focus’ will be on Israel with more than 7 films from there

• Spotlight on Filmmaker’ will shine on US filmmaker Q. Allan Brocka and UK filmmaker Rikki Beadle-Blair with their funny, sexy and thought provoking films. Both the filmmakers are traveling to India for the very first time to be present at KASHISH.

• Special package of sensitive, dramatic and touching features and shorts on HIV/AIDS is introduced under ‘Red Ribbon Films’ package

• The “competition section’’ will showcase films which will be judged by an eminent international jury Panel.

Riyad Wadia award for Indian emerging filmmaker’ is instituted this year with a cash award of 10,000rs.

• The Best Indian queer short film at KASHISH gets to compete for the Iris Prize in UK which carries a cash prize of 25,000 pounds.

KASHISH’s Festival Ambassador Celina Jaitley & Sameer Soni
Khalid Mohammed,Sai Paranjpye, Shyam Benegal, the Festival Patron. Celina Jaitley is KASHISH’s Festival Ambassador and actor Samir Soni
Khalid Mohammed,Sai Paranjpye, Shyam Benegal, the Festival Patron. Celina Jaitley is KASHISH’s Festival Ambassador and actor Samir Soni
Shyam Benegal, the Festival Patron
Film Maker & Critic – Khalid Mohammed

FYI

The Indian queer landscape is undergoing historic changes: Pride  parades in all the metros, the Delhi High Court’s landmark verdict on  Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, re-launch of India’s first gay  magazine Bombay Dost, the Indian Election Commission’s decision to  recognize transgender as a separate category – all these have increased  queer visibility both in the media and in mainstream society. KASHISH  Mumbai International Queer Film Festival takes this journey further  through the medium of films.

More on: mumbaiqueerfest.com |Blog: kashishmiqff.blogspot.com Facebook: Kashish.MIQFF Twitter: Kashish2011 | Email: info.kashishmiqff@gmail.com