The 9th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival - South Asia's biggest LGBTQ film festival - will screen 140 films from 45 countries. India will be the 'Country in Focus' - 33 Indian LGBTQ films will be screened at the festival that is scheduled to be held between May 23-27 at two venues in South Mumbai - Liberty Cinema and Metro Inox. The theme this year is "Together, With Pride". 

“Out of the total of 140 films being shown at KASHISH, the Indian focus comprises almost 25% of the programming. Many of them are World Premiers or Indian Premiers. Indian LGBTQ films are pushing cinematic boundaries, not only in the content and story, but also in their narrative forms, as well as technical finesse. From films on bullying in colleges, to angst of coming out to oneself, to family, at workplace, to finding love and seeking parental acceptance, the films span the gamut of human emotions. What is heartening, is that filmmakers are approaching the topic with diverse perspectives and more sensitive understanding," said Sridhar Rangayan, festival director.

National Award-winning filmmaker Onir who has also been on the jury of Kashish, spoke about how important a platform like KASHISH is to nurture independent filmmaking, specially films focused on LGBTQ lives. Onir’s latest film SHAB will be one of the big-ticket films screening at KASHISH 2018 and he hopes that the non-stereotypical portrayal of a gay relationship in his film will resonate with KASHISH audiences.

Popular RJ Rohini Ramanathan, who has hosted several editions of KASHISH said, “KASHISH is not a film festival showing LGBTQ cinema, but also offers a platform to showcase talent of the community with splendid song performances, stand-up comic acts and extravagant dance performances every year. KASHISH is an outburst of creativity”

Saagar Gupta, director of programming said, “Every year KASHISH has a country focus where we highlight the wonderful films being done by filmmakers from a country to highlight the LGBTQ lives and issues of that country.  This year with the number of fantastic films being made in India, we felt it would be most appropriate to name India as Country in Focus.”

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. 

The 9th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival will celebrate pride and the infinite diversities of families, communities, gender, sex, ethnicity and body types. The fight for equal rights and societal acceptance is also a fight against discrimination of any sort, and equal rights can be only achieved when all of us – LGBTIQ and Allies – come together with pride to celebrate being ourselves.

Online registrations are open at 

https://in.bookmyshow.com/events/kashish-2018/ET00073838