INDIAN CORPORATES SKYBAGS, GODREJ, WISHBERRY, THE LALIT GROUP AND DELTA APPS SUPPORT KASHISH 2018

Consulate General of Canada, Bureau du Quebec a Mumbai and IBM are the other corporate partners.

Some of India’s top corporate houses and an international MNC have come out in support of the 9th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ film festival will be held from May 23-27, 2019 at two iconic venues – Liberty Carnival Cinemas and Metro Inox.

Homegrown companies Skybags, Godrej, Wishberry, The Lalit Group and Delta Apps are the main sponsors along with international MNC IBM.

“Every year is a struggle, every year is a challenge to make KASHISH happen, specially due to the prevailing legal and social stigmatization of LGBTQ community in India. But there are several corporate houses and organizations who believe in an inclusive and non-discriminatory world. They are our saviours. They offer us not only financial support, but are the morale boosters who prop up our spine. They make us believe that KASHISH has a great value to offer in mainstreaming LGBTQ issues through cinema and dialogues. A big salute to all our partners for believing in the collective strength to usher in change. Thank you for being Together, With Pride”, said Sridhar Rangayan, festival director.

The Principal Partner this year is Skybags. The Associate Partners are Godrej Industries, The Lalit Group, Wishberry, Consulate General of Canada and Bureau du Quebec a Mumbai. The Supporting Partners are Delta App and IBM.

What our Partners say:

“We are proud to continue our association with KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival for the 3 year. KASHISH is a wonderful initiative that encourages aspiring filmmakers to come forward and spread awareness about the LGBT community, sensitively and artistically. Our country needs more and more such platforms that encourage these unique talents in bringing about a social change and we at Skybags are happy to be the catalyst in this wave of change.”
– Radhika Piramal, Vice Chairperson, VIP Industries.

 

“We are so very proud to partner the 9th KASHISH MIQFF. Being a poet myself, I can tell you that any creative form – poetry, writing, or film – is the best way to bring about social change – stories can touch hearts and open our minds in ways that no amount of numbers can! We at Godrej believe that we are all equal. We support the LGBTQ community because it is the right thing to do and also because we believe that the diverse talent that exists in LGBTQ India is the key to our future innovation and success.”
– Nadir Godrej, Managing Director, Godrej Industries

 

“Being a part of the LGBT community myself, I am very proud of Godrej’s continued support for KASHISH. This is one part of our wide engagement with LGBT issues, which includes equal opportunity workplace policies and benefits as well as continues conversations through cultural events at our Godrej India Culture Lab. At this year’s KASHISH, I am especially proud this year of our Godrej scholarship program through which college students with valid ID cards could attend the festival for free.”
– Parmesh Shahani, Head, Godrej India Culture Lab

 

“We are proud to be associated with KASHISH – India’s biggest International Queer Film Festival. The Lalit as a brand is gender agnostic and believes in providing equal opportunity to all. We started the social campaign of #purelove in 2017 and are aiming to make our country as inclusive as it can be. We have hired people from the LGBTQIA and other marginalized communities, taken sensitization workshops across the Group to educate the people and build a nation where there is no discrimination. The Lalit and KASHISH are in sync, with each other, in their mission to create an awareness about the issues of the LGBTQ community and help them become mainstream.”
– Keshav Suri, Executive Director, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group.

 

“Wishberry is super proud yet again to be a part of KASHISH 2018. We’ve been a part of the KASHISH journey since the last four years and have thoroughly enjoyed our association. We stand for democratizing creative expression and have found a perfect companion for this cause in KASHISH. I am really looking forward to this year’s “Emerging Filmmakers” panel discussion, being sponsored by Wishberry, which will be held at Liberty Cinema on the 27th of May. The filmmakers who are screening their movies will be sharing the war stories that went into the making of an LGBTQ film; experiences which deserve to be highlighted and brought into the limelight.”
– Anshulika Dubey, COO, Wishberry

 

“Canada is proud to support the KASHISH Mumbai Queer International Film Festival for the fifth consecutive year. We believe that KASHISH is an important forum for building awareness and promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Working with partner organizations around the world is one important way that Canada supports inclusion. What’s exciting about this year? We are pleased to support the participation of 10 activists who are involved in pride marches in both Canada and India. They will join for the TOGETHER, WITH PRIDE panel discussion to share their experiences and talk about the challenges they face. We are also pleased that the festival line-up includes 10 Canadian films. We hope that Canada’s presence at KASHISH 2018 will help bring everyone TOGETHER, WITH PRIDE. Congratulations KASHISH! / Félicitations KASHISH! ”
– Jordan Reeves, Consul General of Canada in Mumbai.

 

“A pioneer in the defence of LGBT rights, Québec is playing an increasingly active role on the international scene to advance these human rights through dialogue and the exchange of good practices and expertise while, at the same time, encouraging the creation of partnerships. This is why I am proud that the Government of Québec will be partnering this year with the 2018 Kashish Mumbai Festival. Have a great festival!”
– Dominic Marcotte, Consul and Director of the Québec Government Office in Mumbai.

 

“Delta is the first homegrown LGBTQ+ app that caters to the unique challenges faced by the community in India. Delta Connect powers a secure space for users to meet verified, like-minded people based on compatibility. The Delta Network lists LGBT inclusive venues, hotels etc., in addition to a calendar of events. As the Supporting Partner for KASHISH 2018, Delta is powering an online experience that makes navigating the festival easier than ever before. Attendees will access film screening schedules, make their own calendars based on what they’d like to attend, engage with others & receive real-time alerts & announcements.”
– Ishaan Sethi, Co-Founder & CEO – The Delta App (Amicale Application Pvt Ltd)

 

“IBM has constantly been ranked among the most LGBT+ inclusive employers in the world. Our inclusive policies, equal benefits and welcoming culture allow employees to bring their complete authentic selves to work. We are proud to be associated with KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival every year and demonstrate our shared values of diversity and inclusion. IBM strives to attract, retain and nurture the very best and brightest talent as we believe that innovation comes from seeking out and inspiring diversity across all dimensions.”
– Chaitanya (Chinni) Sreenivas, Vice President & HR Head, IBM India & South Asia.

About KASHISH 2018

KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival – South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ film fest – returns for its ninth edition from May 23-27, 2018. The film festival will be held at two iconic venues in South Mumbai – Liberty Carnival Cinemas and Metro Inox. Around 140 films from 45 countries will be screened at the festival, including 33 Indian LGBTQ films. 47 films will compete for top awards at the festival in eight categories and cash prizes of Rs 2.65,000 will be given to the winners.The festival theme this year – ‘Together, With Pride’.

About KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival

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 KASHISHfilm screenings and KASHISH Chalchitra Utsav – a festival of LGBTQ films in regional languages.

KASHISH 2018 FESTIVAL THEME

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.