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47 films to compete for top cash awards at Mumbai LGBTQ fest KASHISH 2018

47 films to compete for top cash awards at Mumbai LGBTQ fest KASHISH 2018

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | 15 May 2018, 12:33 pm

Mumbai, May 15 (IBNS) Around 47 films will compete for awards at the 9th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival to be held between May 23-27, 2018.

The festival will hand out cash prizes of Rs 2.65 lakhs in eight film categories and for the best poster design.

The awards are sponsored by Anupam Kher's Actor Prepares, Whistling Woods, Lotus Visual, K F Patil Charitable Trust, Wadia Movietone, India's top fashion designer Wendell Rodricks and KASHISH Arts Foundation. KASHISH 2018 - South Asia's biggest LGBTQ film festival - will be held at Mumbai's iconic theatres - Liberty Carnival Cinemas and Metro Inox and will screen 140 films from 45 countries, including 33 Indian LGBTQ films.

The theme of the festival this year is "Together, With Pride".

Online registrations are open at https://in.bookmyshow.com/events/kashish-2018/ET00073838

“Every year at KASHISH the competition is getting fiercer and stakes are getting higher. With the highest cash awards for LGBTQ films in India, KASHISH paves the way to nurture and encourage independent filmmaking. We are thankful to all our award partners who have been consistently supporting KASHISH and the filmmakers”, said Sridhar Rangayan, festival director.

He added, “This year KASHISH Arts Foundation is delighted to be sponsoring the cash award of Rs.15,000 for the Best International Short, adding to the kitty of cash awards.”


What their Award Partners say

International Actor and Chairman of Actor Prepares, Anupam Kher: “Actor Prepares is happy to collaborate with KASHISH for the fifth consecutive year. Good cinema is Art, it is entertainment, it is also a medium for social change. It is important that independent filmmakers who work with limited budgets and little resources with the sole focus to make good cinema be encouraged"

Lotus Visual, sponsor of QDrishti Film Grant offering Rs.1,00,000 to a filmmaker to make a LGBTQ film : "Need of the hour is that we build bridges and break the barriers that divide us. As we extend our partnership with Kashish for QDrishti grant in its 3rd year, we are convinced of its potential to provide a safe space for the aspiring film makers who bring stories of sexual minorities to life by weaving a rich fabric of diversity and inclusion bridging the communities together in pride."


National award-winning filmmaker Arunaraje Patil, who is the Chairperson of Shri K.F. Patil Charitable Trust: “Discrimination is a human man-made phenomenon and it is against the very principle of nature which celebrates diversity. Unfortunately, society does not and every voice that calls for freedom and inclusivity is important. KASHISH is one such voice standing for freedom and acceptance for a group of people all over the world who have been marginalised simply because of their sexual orientation. The K.F. Patil Charitable Trust which stands for Unity in Diversity is proud to associate with KASHISH which through the medium of a film festival informs, educates and shares with people the agonies and ecstasies of these people. The documentary awards instituted by the Trust are a token of our appreciation for KASHISH and for the filmmakers to carry the message forward to thousands of people”

Meghna Ghai Puri, President, Whistling Woods International: “It is an immense pleasure for us to continue our alliance with KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. This one a kind Film Festival not only aids aspiring filmmakers to demonstrate their creativity but also enables them to take a step towards spreading knowledge about the LGBT community. Understanding the perspective of the individuals belonging to LGBT community and creating a cinematic experience, opens room for both : acceptance and creativity within the society."

Roy Wadia, principal director of Wadia Movietone:  “This fabulous festival epitomizes the fearless spirit embodied by my late brother Riyad, the legendary activist and filmmaker, our grandfather JBH Wadia, a pioneering visionary of Indian cinema, and not least our great-aunt Mary Evans aka Fearless Nadia, whose Hunterwali persona - created by Wadia Movietone - blazed a trail for the rights of the most vulnerable and stigmatized!”


Awards will be given in the following categories at KASHISH 2018

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE

The highest award at KASHISH is given to the best narrative feature. This category includes Indian and International narrative features completed after January 1, 2017 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2017. It carries a trophy, a gift hamper and cash award of Rs 30,000 sponsored by Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares.

BEST INDIAN NARRATIVE SHORT

Indian narrative short films completed after January 1, 2017 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH compete for this award. It carries a cash award of Rs 20,000 sponsored by Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares. Winners are awarded a trophy, a gift hamper and a free 2 day HD shooting kit (camera, mike and one light) sponsored by Accord Equips.

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEAD ROLE

Best performance by an actor – male, female or Trans* – portraying an LGBTQ character in any of the features or shorts that are part of the competitive categories. It carries a trophy, a gift hamper and cash award of Rs 20,000 sponsored by Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares.

K.F. PATIL UNITY IN DIVERSITY AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

The best documentary feature award category includes Indian and International documentaries completed after January 1, 2017 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH. It carries a trophy and a gift hamper and a cash prize of Rs 15,000 sponsored by the K.F. Patil Charitable Trust.

K.F. PATIL UNITY IN DIVERSITY AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

The best documentary short award category includes Indian and International documentary short films which are under 50 minutes, completed after January 1, 2017 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH. It carries a cash prize of Rs 10,000 sponsored by the K.F. Patil Charitable Trust. Winners are also awarded a trophy, a gift hamper and a free 2 day HD shooting kit (camera, mike and one light) sponsored by Accord Equips.

BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT

International narrative short films completed after January 1, 2017 and having their Mumbai Premier at KASHISH compete for this award. It carries a trophy, a gift hamper and cash award of Rs 15,000 sponsored by KASHISH Arts Foundation.

QDRISHTI FILM GRANT

Launched in KASHISH 2016, it is an artist grant to support an independent filmmakers based in India to make their next LGBTQ‐themed film. Filmmakers of Indian narrative or documentary short films completed after January 1, 2017 and have an aesthetic vision are eligible for nomination. The winner will be chosen by jury panel who will consider not only merit of the film, but also the vision of the filmmaker. Sponsored by Lotus Visual it carries Rs.1,00,000 grant and mentorship by KASHISH Advisory Board members.

RIYAD WADIA AWARD FOR BEST EMERGING INDIAN FILMMAKER

Instituted in memory of late filmmaker Riyad Wadia, who made India’s first gay film BOMgAY. Indian narrative and documentary short films that are the filmmaker’s first or second film completed after January 1, 2017 compete for this award that carries cash award of Rs.15,000 sponsored by Wadia Movietone, a trophy, a gift hamper, and a free 2 day HD shooting kit (camera, mike and one light) sponsored by Accord Equips.

BEST STUDENT SHORT

Short films made by students of film and media schools that are completed after January 1, 2017 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH compete for this award. The award carries a cash prize of Rs.15,000 sponsored by Whistling Woods International. Winners are also awarded a trophy, a gift hamper. and a free 2 day HD shooting kit (camera, mike and one light) sponsored by Accord Equips.

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