NARRATIVE FEATURES IN COMPETITION
Five Indian and International narrative features, with a runtime of 60 minutes and above, completed on or after January 1, 2021 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2022 will compete for the Best Narrative Feature Award with a cash prize of Rs. 30,000 supported by KASHISH Arts Foundation and a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy.
These films are also eligible for the BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEAD ROLE and BEST SCREENPLAY competition categories.
HOLY WOUND
Dir: Asok R Nath
90 min / 2021 / India / No Dialogues
Set in the backwaters of Kerala, the story is about the life, memories and desires of a 25-year-old girl Kala, who finds her livelihood by fishing in the lake. She is continuously exploited physically and mentally by her cruel husband, and she longs for love from a sensitive soul. She searches for Sherin, who was Kala’s teenage friend, and the one with whom Kala shared a very intimate physical relationship. Now Sherin has become a Nun and has renounced all desires. Can Kala make her turn around?
LANDLOCKED
Dir: Timothy Hall
81 min / 2021 / Georgia, USA / English
A man reunites with his estranged, transgender parent as they journey to scatter his late mother’s ashes off the Georgia coast. Landlocked marks the feature film debut of transgender actress, Delia Kropp, in the lead role of Briana.
NAANU LADIES
Dir: Shailaja Padindala
90 min / 2022 / India, UK / Kannada
Naanu Ladies revolves around two women who fall in love and attempt to break away from a hetero-normative culture, fighting the struggles of a middle class life. The film attempts to relook at the Marriage and parenting systems in India and its socio-political effects on queer love.
PRIVATE DESERT (Deserto Particular)
Dir: Aly Muritiba
120 min / 2021 / Brazil / Portuguese
40-year-old Daniel has been suspended from active police work and is under internal investigation for violence. When Sara, his internet love affair, stops answering his texts he decides to drive north in search of her, starting on what is apparently a fool’s errand. He shows Sara’s picture around, but nobody seems to recognize the woman. Until eventually a guy pops up saying he can put the two in touch under very specific conditions.
WET SAND
Dir: Elene Naveriani
114 min / 2021 / Georgia, Switzerland / Georgian
Wet Sand takes place in a small Georgian village at the Black Sea with friendly people who help each other and believe to know each other. One day Eliko (65) commits suicide. His granddaughter Moe (26) is called from the city to take care of the funeral. Step by step she gets confronted with a web of lies. For 22 years Eliko has been living his love in secret. His love with another man, the owner of the local restaurant. The true dimensions of the tragedy make Moe free her own ability to love. The truth, however, ruins the reality of the villagers and they are provoked to take a stand. Wet Sand is a call for the freedom to love, regardless of the gender. It is a call for the courage to stand up. And it tells the story of two men in love with each other who were burnt to be forgotten
