KASHISH 2015 JURY REVEALED

Noted filmmakers Anubhav Sinha and Chitra Palekar, National Award winning filmmaker and actor Aamir Bashir, actor Meghna Malik and columnist Malavika Sangghvi will be part of the eminent Jury panel at the sixth edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival – South Asia’s biggest and India’s only mainstream LGBT film festival. Sridhar Rangayan, festival director announced the jury members at a press conference at the Press Club on May 20, 2015.

The festival – that will screen 180 films from 44 countries – will be held between May 27-31, 2015 at three venues in South Mumbai – the iconic Liberty Cinema and Alliance Française de Bombay at New Marine Lines and Max Mueller Bhavan at Kalaghoda.

Anubhav Sinha, Aamir Bashir, Chitra Palekar, Meghna Malik and Malavika Sangghvi will judge 45 films in the seven competition categories KASHISH 2015. Roy Wadia will be the additional jury for the Riyad Wadia award for Best Emerging Indian Film Maker.

“I am so happy to be associated with KASHISH Film Festival. Looking forward to a lot of exciting films from around the world,’’ said Anubhav Sinha, director of blockbusters like Ra One and Tum Bin.

Actor and filmmaker Aamir Bashir, whose film Harud won the2012 National Film Award said: “With the LGBT community under siege by a colonial law, it is nothing short of heroic that KASHISH has persisted and persevered and is growing each year as a festival. I am honoured and privileged to be a part of it as a member of the jury.’’

Filmmaker Chitra Palekar said that since its debut in 2010, KASHISH had created a special place for itself. “KASHISH not only brings wonderfully different films to the film lovers of Mumbai, but also creates awareness in the mainstream society about the various concerns of the queer community,’’ she said.

Actor Meghna Malik, well known for her role as Ammaji in the television serial Na Aana Is Des Laado, too reflected on the growth of the festival. “In times when our government, our leaders and we as people at large are confused and struggling with the existence of LGBT community, KASHISH gives a platform to the community to express themselves through films. They have been doing it successfully past six years and it’s only growing leaps and bounds each year. It’s a brave and massive effort. My best wishes are with the team and as juror I am looking forward to some very exciting films.’’

“It is with great pleasure that I have accepted KASHISH’s request to be on this years’ film jury for the festivals’ competitive section, which receives entries from all over the world. I look forward to watching some great cinema over the next week,’’ said columnist Malavika Sangghvi.

“We are indeed delighted to announce the 6th edition of KASHISH MIQFF. The festival is no more a LGBT event, but an annual event in Mumbai’s cultural calendar that cuts across barriers of age, class, gender and sexuality. This year the festival promises to be bigger than ever with a range of events that could be of interest to everyone. Pride comes in seven colours of the rainbow, and all of them coalesce to form KASHISH”, said festival director Sridhar Rangayan

Acclaimed filmmaker Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares has sponsored cash prizes for the three top competition categories at KASHISH – Rs 30,000 for the Best Narrative Feature Film, Rs 20,000 for the Best Indian Narrative Short film and Rs 20,000 for the Best Performance in a Lead Role. Wadia Movietone has instituted a cash award of Rs 15,000 for the Riyad Wadia Award for the Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker. The other competition categories are Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short and Best International Narrative Short film.

The festival is organized by Solaris Pictures and co-organised by the Humsafar Trust.

“In the last six years KASHISH has done a journey that been full of challenges but despite all odds it has grown and has become an annual event that every LGBTQ individual will be proud of and Humsafar Trust as co-organizers feel privileged that we have been part of this journey,’’ said Vivek Anand, CEO of The Humsafar Trust.