GODREJ IS PRINCIPAL PARTNER AT KASHISH 2017

Indian business conglomerate continues its support for South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ film festival

One of India’s biggest conglomerates Godrej Industries will be “Principal Partner” of the 8th KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival to be held in Mumbai from May 24-28, 2017. South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ film festival will be held at two South Mumbai venues – the iconic art deco theatre Liberty Cinema and Alliance Francaise. Around 147 films from 45 countries will be screened at the five day festival. This is the third year that Godrej Industries is supporting to organise KASHISH – and was infact the first Indian-owned corporate house support the festival for its 2014 edition.

“We are so very proud to partner the 8th KASHISH festival. Movies are one of the best mediums to tell stories, touch hearts and open our minds. We at Godrej believe that we are all equal and building a diverse and inclusive workforce is of utmost importance to us. We love and support the LGBTQ community not just because it is the right thing to do. Great talent is the key to our success and our individual capabilities are only determined by our attitude and hard work not by our gender, caste or sexuality,” said Nisaba Godrej, Executive Chairperson, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd.

Parmesh Shahani, head of the Godrej India Culture Lab says, “We have been delighted to collaborate with KASHISH through our Culture Lab over the years to mainstream conversations around LGBTQ issues in India. As a member of the LGBTQ community myself, I am personally very proud to be working for Godrej, a company that is so supportive of LGBTQ rights. I hope that many more companies see the merit in being inclusive and come forward and join the movement to create a more inclusive India.”

KASHISH welcomed the Indian business group’s support for the festival. “We are delighted that Godrej is supporting KASHISH this year as Principal Partner, not only through their Diversity & Inclusion arm, but also through their marketing arm to promote their BBlunt and Nature’s Basket products. Godrej has always has been a flag bearer of equality and pride and their support to KASHISH underlines this unequivocally. We hope that more companies come join in on the KASHISH journey in the years to come,” said Festival Director Sridhar Rangayan.

KASHISH 2017 opens on May 24, 2017 with the American film Signature Move, directed by Jennifer Reed and stars Shabana Azmi. Acclaimed Indian gay road drama LOEV will be the closing film on May 28, 2017.