KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant 2022 ups its film grant to Rs.2,50,000

“The KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant is a huge boost in the arm for emerging Indian LGBTQIA+ identifying filmmakers to realize their dreams. The 6 films that have been produced so far through this initiative are exemplary in content and style. From a film about a transgender cop (Physicality), to a married queer person (Languages), to a sight impaired bisexual woman (Catch The Light), to exploring fluidity of gender in Bhakti cult (Tales of Another Radha) to two middle-aged working class women in love (My Mother’s Girlfriend), to a story of transman’s queer love (The Caress) – the films are diverse and inclusive in their truest sense.  This ties up with KASHISH’s mission of enabling a platform for LGBTQIA+ community that produces, exhibits and distributes queer content”, said Sridhar Rangayan, festival director of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival.

Neeraj, producer who is sponsoring the grant said, “Every film carries us to another realm of make-believe, possibilities, and what-ifs as it envelopes the filmmakers’ desires, dreams, struggles, and aspirations. As much as the story behind a film is important, the team behind the camera telling the story carries equal weight due to the authenticity and passion they bring in. The KASHISH QDristhi Film Grant provides wings to the determination and creativity to bring their stories to the world in its full cinematic glory and genuineness. Rising beyond mere tokenism, the grant, through its monetary rewards and mentorship, is an attempt to boost the visibility of the filmmaker and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.”

Renuka Shahane, well-known actor & director who was on the jury last year said, “I was on the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant jury panel last year and I was quite astonished by the five stories pitched to us, which were diverse, rich and unique in their representation of particular aspects of the LGBTQIA+ world experience. That’s why I decided to contribute with my little might and support the runner-up with a cash award. Hope this helps the filmmakers reach closer to their dreams”.

Assamese filmmaker Bhargav Lahkar whose script The Caress won the film grant last year said, “I am so grateful that my story and screenplay met the expectations of the jury members, and I am thrilled that my queer love story has been able to capture their minds. I hope with this film it will capture everyone’s hearts as well.” Bhargav’s empowering film about a transman premiered at KASHISH 2022 in June and is set to travel film festivals across the world.

Arun Fulara who received the grant in 2020 and whose short film My Mother’s Girlfriend stormed the film festival circuit with 55 festivals till now, and 4 awards including the Best Short Film award at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala last year, said, “The KASHISH QDrishti film grant enabled me to put my plan for my short film into motion. It’s not just the money but the confidence of being awarded the grant by an eminent jury of very respected writers and filmmakers that gave wings to me and the film. Even after, through the entire process of making the film, I’ve had so much support from Sridhar Rangayan, Saagar Gupta and Neeraj, as producers that I feel blessed. Their inputs from the script to casting to helping get discounts wherever possible in the production process through to the post-production of our film, has been an absolute pleasure. It’s been a fun ride and that’s rare. Trust me.”