The 14th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival will kick start June Pride Month with its hybrid festival this year.
KASHISH 2023 will be held from June 7-11th at Liberty Cinema and Alliance Française de Bombay; and also online from June 16-25th. In all the festival will screen 128 films from 46 countries in this hybrid edition of the festival, with 111 of these from 42 countries screening at the on-ground edition.
Corporate houses, Consulates, NGOs and media organizations are celebrating June Pride Month with KASHISH this year, reaffirming their commitment to support diversity and equality within their organizations with respect to the LGBTQ+ community.
“We are thrilled this year by the extraordinary support offered by corporate houses and consulates, many of them for the 10th or 6th year and many new additions too. More than the financial support what matters is the value they bring in terms of speakers on the panel, support to film screenings and filmmakers, and also many of them are even sending a team of their employees to volunteer at the festival. This is truly walking the talk! Their support also helps bring visibility to the festival among their own target stakeholders and communities”, said Sridhar Rangayan, founder festival director
Information about all programs is available at http://mumbaiqueerfest.com and registration for the physical festival can be done on Insider at https://insider.in/kashish-2023-jun7-2023/event
This year the Angel Partners are long standing partners like Skybags for the 5th year, Morgan Stanley for the 5th year and the Consulate General of Canada in Mumbai for the 10th year!
“Canada is honoured to support the KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival for the 10th consecutive year. As South Asia’s largest queer film festival, KASHISH is an important platform to raise awareness and advocate for the rights of the LGBTQI+ community. We are excited to support a panel discussion on LGBTQI+ Rights in Asian Countries along with film screenings and interactive sessions. Join us in celebrating stories of identity and inclusion with this year’s theme: Be Fluid, Be You!”, saidDiedrah Kelly, Consul General of Canada in Mumbai.
“At Morgan Stanley we continue to be focused on making the Firm an employer of choice for LGBT+ talent, by providing recruiting opportunities, career development, policies and benefits and networking activities to promote inclusion, and belonging”, said Rajat Mathur, India Head of Human Resources, Morgan Stanley. “We are proud to sponsor KASHISH for the fifth consecutive year and very excited to see the increased participation from the community and allies. The festival is a great platform and we hope it will continue to make a positive impact for the LGBT+ community.”
“We believe that cinema has an unparalleled ability to ignite conversations, challenge norms, and promote inclusivity. Skybags, since the beginning, has been a flag bearer of freedom of expression and is honoured to partner with KASHISH – an initiative where the magic of cinema paves the way for understanding, acceptance, and unity. We join hands with KASHISH in their efforts to amplify LGBTQ+ representation and foster a more inclusive world”, said Radhika Piramal, Vice Chairperson & Executive Director of VIP Industries Ltd.
“As we evolve to recognize genders and relationships, both socially and legally, the onus is on organizations to ensure equity and practice inclusion every day. Cinema plays the important role of a catalyst in this evolution, and we are grateful for the partnership with KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival”, said Rajkamal Vempati (she/her), President and Head, Human Resources, Axis Bank
“As India’s preferred broadcaster and streaming platform, we at Disney Star truly believe that we are a better company when our stories reflect the life experiences of our audiences, and we thrive when ideas and suggestions from all people are valued and encouraged. In line with this thought, we are thrilled to be associated with the KASHISH Film Festival that celebrates queer lives and their contribution to the film fraternity and society at large and look forward to quality conversations around inclusion, diversity, equality and more for the community,” said Rishi Gaind, Head – Human Resources, Disney Star.
“At KPMG in India, we look at inclusion and diversity as a moral, social and business imperative that builds trust and compels us to stand up for what is right and what matters. We are proud of our people and work towards ensuring that our culture is one where everyone feels respected and can reach their full potential regardless of gender or sexuality”, said Sunit Sinha, Partner and Head – People, Performance and Culture, KPMG in India,
This year the Venture Partners are General Mills and TIAA.
“General Mills is proud to announce our partnership with KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival as Venture Partner in 2023 for the fourth consecutive year. At GIC, we are committed to building a safe, sustainable and inclusive workplace for our employee to grow professionally and be respected for who they are”, said Atulaya Goswami, Director HR, GIC & India Site Operations, General Mills.
The Supporting Partners this year are Government of Quebec, KelpHR and MUBI.
“The Government of Québec is dedicated to advancing the rights of LGBTQ people. It is committed to promoting the legal and social equality of sexual minorities at home and abroad. It is keen to support the creative initiatives of this community to express themselves to the public. Hence it is an honour to partner with KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival”, said Francis Paradis, Director & consul, Quebec Government Office in Mumbai
“Embracing your true self can be costly, as we often hide behind masks out of fear and insecurity. KelpHR is proud to partner with KASHISH for the second consecutive year. The theme of KASHISH 2023 ‘BE FLUID, BE YOU!’, beautifully captures the essence of this generation that embraces fluidity in thoughts, actions, and sexualities. The festival provides a universal platform for creative expressions through films, art, and poetry, resonating with diverse audiences. By actively participating, we aim to contribute to the visibility and understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences, fostering an inclusive society that celebrates individuality, builds acceptance and empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. Let’s embrace fluidity and be ourselves unapologetically.” – Smita Shetty Kapoor, CEO & Co-founder, KelpHR
“MUBI aims to provide a platform for a diverse selection of films and stories, as well as elevate the voices of suppressed, overlooked and under-represented filmmakers from around the world. Our partnership with KASHISH Film Festival, the largest queer festival in South Asia, continues our commitment to showcasing these narratives and we are pleased to be collaborating with the team”, Apeksha Vakharia, Director of Marketing, APAC at MUBI.
The Award Partners are Lotus Visual Productions (UK), K.F.Patil Charitable Trust, Wadia Movietone, Whistling Woods International, GagaOolala (Taiwan), Mr.Abhay Kulkarni, Mr.Ashish Swahny and Ms.Renuka Shahane.
More details about programs on the festival website at http://mumbaiqueerfest.com
Registrations can be done on Insider at https://insider.in/event/kashish-2023-jun7-2023
