Spain, which was recently voted as the Europe’s top country for LGBTQ+ rights, and which has been currently ranked as one of the top LGBTQ+ friendly travel destinations for 2026, is facilitating programming of several Spanish features and short films in Spanish, Catalan and Galician languages at the 17^th KASHISH Pride Film Festival happening between June 3^rd to June 7^th in Mumbai.

Speaking about this, festival director Sridhar Rangayan said, “We are absolutely delighted to showcase and highlight not only Spain’s beautiful films, but also promote Spain as a LGBTQ+ friendly tourist destination at our festival. We are bringing some of the most amazing Spanish films with a curated showcase, and also having a panel discussion centered tourism and shooting in Spain. During these challenging times, this kind of support by a country that has lived upto being one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in the world is really welcome.”

“Spain is proud to partner with KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2026 as Angel Partner and Country in Focus. Spain has long been recognised internationally for its commitment to diversity, inclusion and LGBTQ+ rights, values that form an important part of contemporary Spanish society. Through cinema, culture and dialogue, KASHISH offers a meaningful platform to celebrate authentic stories and human connection. Under the theme ‘Spain, where diversity lives’, this collaboration also reflects Spain’s image as an open, welcoming and LGBTQ+ friendly destination, rich in culture, creativity, gastronomy, heritage and unique travel experiences. We hope this initiative further strengthens the cultural and tourism ties between Spain and India,” said Elena Orland, Tourism Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain in India and Director of the Tourism Office of Spain in India.

As India and Spain celebrate the 2026 dual year of culture and tourism, the panel discussion “Cinema, Culture & Tourism: The Spain–India Connection” will explore the intersections of cinema, travel, and cultural diplomacy through an inclusive lens. Featuring filmmakers & DOPs who have shot in Spain speaking about their experiences, along with Tourespana director, the discussion will examine how films and tourism can foster cultural exchange while promoting safer, more inclusive travel experiences in both countries.

The feature films to be screened are the Teddy Award 2026 winner IVAN & HADOUM, the multiple Goya Award winner LOVE & REVOLUTION (Te estoy amando locamente), Marco Berger’s ASTRONAUT LOVERS and this year’s closing film MASPALOMAS. The 12 short films encompass the LGBTQ+ spectrum offering various perspectives into LGBTQ+ lives in diverse regions of Spain.

The Country Focus Opening Feature LOVE & REVOLUTION (Te estoy amando locamente), directed by Alejandro Marín and set in 1970s, follows a mother who gets involved in the gay rights movement!

The film Ivan & Hadoum directed by non-binary filmmaker Ian de la Rosa, is a heartwarming love story set in Southern Spain, between a trans masculine person Ivan and his newly hired co-worker Hadoum. When he gets his long-awaited promotion, their relationship takes a turn, forcing him to decide what kind of person he wants to be. This film is in the competition section of the festival and is nominated for Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay and Best Performance in a Lead Role (Silver Chicón as Ivan).

Directed by Marco Berger, the Argentinian-Spanish queer romantic comedy ASTRONAUT LOVERS stars Spanish actor Javier Orán and Argentinian actor Lautaro Bettoni as Pedro and Maxi, two friends in their early 20s—the former openly gay, the latter fresh out of a relationship with a woman—entangled in an exceptionally flirtatious summer friendship that turns into a fake dating scenario.

The film MASPALOMAS, directed by Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga is a heart-touching film about Vicente, an elderly gay man, who decides to hide his sexual orientation after moving to a nursing home, where he will have to face his own fears and prejudices. Shot splendidly in Gran Canaria and the Basque Country in Spain, it captures the sunny dunes of Maspalomas alongside contrasted, rainier scenes in the Basque Country. This film offers a fitting finale to the KASHISH 2026 festival by echoing its theme ‘Reflect, Resonate, Rejoice’.

The 13 short films screening at KASHISH 2026 are FAIR DANCE (Baile de feria) by Bernabé Bulnes, FRANCISCO by Sergio Avellaneda Belmonte, KILLJOTE by Ángel Villahermosa, MAYBE YES OR MAYBE NOT (Potser sí o potser no) by Agustí Estadella, MY PERSONAL U  by Rafael Giner Sánchez & Alex Cuellar, THEY, WITH AN AXE by Cande Lázaro, APRIL by Carmen Meitín Moreno & Corona Alonso Rebaque, THE DEVIL’S GARDEN (El jardí del diable) by Pol Rebaque, HOLDING YOUR BREATH (El bañador) by Cristian Valenciano, i DREAM by Lula Dahringer, NOT CRAZY (No estamos locos) by Lucía Criado Rosas, STALLION AND A CRYSTAL BALL (Stallion y la Bola de Cristal) by Christian Avilés, and STIGMA (Estigma) by Pilar García Elegido.

Full a full list of all the films and schedule, please visit https://mumbaiqueerfest.com/

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About KASHISH Pride Film Festival

KASHISH Pride Film Festival is South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival, and the first LGBTQ+ film festival in India to be held in a mainstream theatre. It is the first Indian LGBTQ+ festival to be held with approval by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India. Founded in 2010, KASHISH has grown to become an important medium for exhibition, production and distribution of LGBTQ+ films and the most needed platform to nurture the Indian LGBTQ+ movement. KASHISH has been voted as one of the Top 5 LGBTQ+ Film Festivals in the World, and also one of the Top 5 Film Festivals in India.

About Tourism Office of Spain in India

The Tourism Office of Spain in Mumbai is the official representative office of Turespaña in India. Turespaña is the Spanish Tourism Institute, the administrative body of the Government of Spain responsible for promoting Spain internationally as a tourist destination.

The office promotes Spain in India through a wide range of tourism, marketing and cultural initiatives, while also supporting Spanish tourism companies and destinations in the Indian market. Its activities include collaborations with the travel trade, media, destination promotion campaigns, marketing activities, tourism events, and initiatives linked to Spain’s international tourism brand.

The Tourism Office of Spain in India also works to promote sustainable tourism by encouraging travel beyond traditional destinations and peak seasons, while highlighting Spain’s diverse cultural, gastronomic, natural and experiential offerings. Spain is increasingly perceived in India as a vibrant, welcoming and culturally rich destination, appreciated for its heritage, lifestyle, festivals, hospitality and growing cultural affinities with India.