Todays Highlights
Bringing the community together

Co festival director Pallav Patankar says Kashish is a LGBT community initiative.

Since its debut in 2010, KASHISH has become an important event in the cultural space of Mumbai. At its core is a group of people who remain committed to keep KASHISH as one of the showcase events of the LGBT community. Pallav Patankar explains that while the LGBT community’s support for the festival remains firm, this year KASHISH is also looking for participation from the mainstream.


It’s only a few days to the festival, how are the preparations going on?
There is quite a buzz around the place, we are all tapping away trying to coordinate things from the office. It is nice to see so many youngsters busy at work doing their things. Yes, there are some real nerve wranglers here as well and we are hoping we tide over things smoothly - budgets  expenses , logistics …and at the end of the day one has to even look pretty for the festival , quite a task!

Have you noticed any change in the delegate registrations this time?
Yes, they are more in numbers. This year we introduced online-registrations and we should touch more than 1200 by the rate at which registrations are coming in . And that’s going to be one helluva thing to manage, both in terms of our logistics as well as our crowd management. We are also seeing that using social media such as Facebook and Twitter is allowing us to break the hegemony of targeted listservs or groups, which are meant for the LGBT community alone. We have managed getting the film festival message viral and the invitation is going out not only to the queer community but to the mainstream straight community as well. This has increased delegate registrations.


How is the crowd funding initiative taken off?
Crowd funding was an experiment that we embarked on to ensure that the film festival is free and it has exceeded our expectations. I am surprised how individuals have really felt about sustaining community initiatives like Kashish and have contributed. It is not the amount but the thought that matters. And we are happy at the way it has taken off. Again, Facebook and Twitter have helped us disseminate our message far and wide.
How is the LGBT community involvement in the festival?
The core organizing team, the volunteers, most of the festival team preview team come from the LGBT community. Kashish at the end of the day is a community initiative.

Your theme this year is `For Everyone'? How are you managing to ensure that?
Like I have mentioned already, we have reached out to an audience that is not necessarily queer. As per our records and surveys, last year we had a 30 %participation of people who identified as straight. We are sparing no efforts to reach out to parent , families, students , siblings, bosses, colleagues of the LGBT community  that they should come and attend the film festival . The only hitch is that they should be above 18, but that’s the law.

You have a panel discussion on HIV as well as special short films Red Ribbon package. Tell us something about it?
We are talking about spreading prevention messages in the media, and the kind of BCC (Behaviour Change and Communication) methods that can be used by audio visual media to make that difference. Safe sex messages over a period of time can get repetitive and thus boring. We are looking at strategies to improve that communication. The Red Ribbon Package deals with issues of HIV and AIDS and in a way helps with the above objective.

Do you anticipate any trouble from right-wing/ fundamentalist groups who are opposed to the decriminalisation of Section 377 in the Supreme Court?

Till now we have not heard from them and if we do hear from them we would be more than happy to invite a few of their nominated delegates to attend the festival. That our lives are just beyond a sexual act needs to be understood. We are people with emotions, values and aspirations, we have our talents our shortcomings and our problems. The Film festival is meant to portray these life moments for greater understanding of alternate sexuality. Besides, Kashish has clearance of the Inion Information and Broadcasting Ministry and we have kept the local police stations at both venues informed about the festival in order to prevent any untoward incident.

Pallav Patankar is an executive board member of The Humsafar Trust functioning as The Director-HIV Programs. He also serves as a board member of APCOM-Asia Pacific Coalition of MSM and the Project Director on Project
Pehchan. A management professional by training ,and an international business professional in his previous avatar , Pallav Patankar has settled back in India to be actively involved with the queer community at local and
national levels.
 
Girls! Girls! Girls!

KASHISH 2012 promises a bouquet of some of the most acclaimed LBTI movies at the festival this year.

``In our first year, we had experimented with having a day devoted to LBTI films. However, we soon realized that this sort of ghettoization during the festival did not work. Many wanted to see a mix of movies portraying the entire spectrum of the rainbow experience,’’ says Saagar Gupta, Festival Programmer. Gupta revealed that LBTI movies were sprinkled across the four days of the festival at both venues – Cinemax Versova in Andheri West and Alliance Francaise at New Marine Lines.

LBTI Films at KASHISH

This year KASHISH brings three narrative features, two documentary features along with a choicest assemble of short documentaries and short films of LBTI (lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex) interest.

Centerpiece Film, Gigola, is set in 60's Paris criminal underworld and adapted and directed by Laure Charpentier from her own novel. It is a deliciously entertaining lesbian crime melodrama that blends pulp, camp and wonderfully racy Sapphic love.

(Screening at Cinemax Fri, May 25, 8.30 PM)

THE OWLS, yet another gem from the highly acclaimed director Cheryl Dunye, is an experimental thriller/ film noir involving four “Older-Wiser-Lesbians” featuring Guinevere Turner and Cheryl Dunye herself. (Screening at Cinemax Thu, May 24, 8.30 PM)

Boundaries of sexualities and identities seem to be blurred in the first American film ever to be awarded the Teddy Jury Prize, Open. A queer road-movie-cum-transsexual romance which brings together cast of real hermaphroditic, pandrogynous, and F2M characters to create a revealing look at diverse new human experiences.

(Screening at Alliance Française de Bombay Fri, May 25, 11.30 AM)

Sprinkled through various short films packages, there are several stories of LBTI interest from around the globe. Highly recommended ones are James Dean from Scotland, Slashed from Australia, Ms. Thing from Canada, Girls Of Fire from France, Lesbian Hand Gestures from Germany; Chained, Cyclicity and Half from USA; Through The Window from Israel; as well as Love, Lust & Leela and Between The Two from India.

A not to be missed feature documentary -Yes, We Are marks the first ever outing of lesbians of Poland on camera, challenging the hetero-normal belief that lesbians don’t exist in Polish society.

(Screening at Alliance Française de Bombay Fri, May 25, 10.00 AM)

A vibrant documentary feature from Australia, Ballroom Rules tells the story of four lesbian couples and a gay couple as they battle homophobia, injury and personal drama to pursue their dream of competing at the Gay Games in Germany.

(Screening at Alliance Française de Bombay Fri, May 25, 1.30 PM)

Among the short documentaries, Austin Unbound celebrates the liberation from identity as Austin goes under the scalpel, so he can breathe freely and finally swim in public like a man. It is the first documentary about a deaf F2M person.

(Screening at Alliance Française de Bombay Fri, May 25, 5.00 PM)

This seems to be further underscored in an intimate documentary portrait Mind that reveals a dramatic shift from F2M. Australian-Chinese writer Tom Cho’s quests for a sense of Self, through the transformative powers of art and expression.

(Screening at Cinemax Sun, May 27, 10.00 AM in ‘Family Ties’ package)

Feel the adrenaline rush in Dakings (Jenter med baller), a fly-on-the-wall style documentary about Norway’s first drag king group, witnessing their rise and fall but perhaps also a potential rebirth.

(Screening at Alliance Francaise de Bombay Sat, May 26, 10.00 AM)

To top it all, is one of the most poignant documentary short Y Can't I Run? The Story Of Santhi Soundarajan about a former Indian athlete who being an intersex person, failed a gender test at the Asian Games in Doha in 2006, and since then is living in obscurity.

(Screening at Cinemax Thu, May 24, 5.00 PM in ‘Unfair Games‘ package)
 
KASHISH – Must Watch Films

Beginners (Opening Film)

Oscar-winning film Beginners, imaginatively explores the glee, confusion, and surprises of love through the evolving consciousness of Oliver (Golden Globe Award nominee Ewan McGregor). Shortly after the death of his mother, Oliver’s father Hal (Christopher Plummer, winner of the 2012 Academy Award, Golden Globe & BAFTA awards for Best Supporting Actor) decides to come out of the closet at age 75 and live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life – which includes a younger boyfriend, Andy. The story weaves in Hal fighting cancer and Oliver’s nascent relationship with the irreverent and unpredictable Anna. Beginners was inspired by Mike Mills’ own father and is meant in turn to inspire everyone weighing their chances and choices in life and love.

(2010) 105 min/ Feature/ USA/ Director Mike Mills
Screening @: May 23, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 9.30 pm (Opening night by invite only)

 

AUGUST

Two former lovers, Troy and Jonathan, reunite after a long-ago painful breakup. After spending several years in Spain, Troy returns to Los Angeles and decides to phone Jonathan and meet for coffee. A seemingly innocent rendezvous turns into an attempt to revive the past. Only this time it’s not that simple, as Jonathan has a new beau, Raul, and is trying to make the right decision a second time around. The film jumps times and perspectives and offers overlapping story lines to project circular feel and repetitiveness. With subtlety, “August” explores themes of timing, interlacing of emotions, and the complexity of making choices. It won the Best Feature at Iris Prize, the world’s biggest LGBT prize.

(2011) 100 min/ Feature/ USA/ Director: Eldar Rapaport
Screening @: May 24, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 11.00 pm

 

GIGOLA (Centerpiece Film)

Set in 1960's underbelly of Paris, adapted and directed by Laure Charpentier from her own novel, Gigola is a story of a mercurial woman who abandons herself to the sensual world of Sapphic desire. After her lover’s suicide, an emotionally aloof Georgina butches up as Gigola and becomes part of the notorious nocturnal life of Place Pigalle. Her encounters with an infatuated and aristocratic Odette who keeps showering her with riches, makes her wealthy. Using that money she tries to free a fellow prostitute from an Italian gangster-pimp’s ownership, and in the process falls in love with both of them. Starring the gorgeous Lou Doillon who exudes sensuality and vulnerability equally and the rugged and handsome Eduardo Noriega (whose film ‘Burnt Money’ is also screening at KASHISH this year), the film even has a saucy musical number performed at a lesbian nightclub. Celebrated French actress Marissa Perdes makes a fabulous cameo as Odette, a wealthy, older aristocrat who lavishes Gigola with money and sports car in return for sexual favours. This movie is classy and saucy with an interesting take on hustling.

(2010) 102 min/ Feature/  FRANCE/ Director: Laure Charpentier
Screening @: May 25, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 8.30 pm
Screening @: May 26, 2012, Alliance Francaise, 6.30 pm

MEN TO KISS Original Title: Männer Zum Knutschen (Centerpiece Film)

A tale of chaotic relationship of the unequal couple of Ernst and Tobias. Though opposites attract, respectable banker Ernst is often unsure, whether bubbly and always cheerful Tobias takes their relationship as seriously as he does. Soon their relationship is put to a test by the sudden visit of Ernst’s eccentric female friend, Uta. She schemes to drive a wedge between the pair, forcing Tobias to rise to the challenge, with a little help from his friends to checkmate this unwelcome guest. An upbeat sitcom with a fun ensemble cast and vibrant images of gay Berlin make it a memorable tale of love, friendship and loyalty. It’s a time to laugh, cry and fall in love.

(2012) 83 min/ Feature/ GERMANY/ Director: Robert Hasfogel
Screening @: May 26, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 8.30 pm

 

MY LAST ROUND Original Title: Mi Último Round

Every chance is worth fighting for! Set in a machismo-centric town of Southern Chile where homosexuality is taboo, the film follows the love story between Hugo, a young kitchen hand and Octavio, a middle-aged local boxing champion. When Octavio is advised never to box again for risk of permanent brain damage, the couple moves to the capital Santiago, hoping to live their love - secretly defying it from the hostile outside. But nothing turns out as planned: the romantic advances from his new boss’s daughter threaten to unravel Hugo’s relationship with Octavio, while also serving as the catalyst to drive Octavio back into the ring for one last fight. My Last Round is an astounding and heartfelt story from Latin America, a quiet, sure-handed meditation on a working class relationship between two men.

(2011) 87 min/ Feature/ CHILE, ARGENTINA/ Director: Julio Jorquera Arriagada
Screening @: May 26, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 3.15 pm

 

THE OWLS

OWLs stands for Older Wiser Lesbians, aging revolutionaries who are caught between a culture that still has no place for them, and a younger generation indifferent to their contributions. This film, an experimental thriller/ film noir is about four OWLs who accidentally kill a young lesbian and hide the body, without reporting it to the authorities. Their guilt and long-kept, dark secret comes back to haunt them, as an unexpected stranger shows up in their lives, bringing tension and discord. Little do they know that this mysterious stranger has a plan which includes all four of them. A funny, humane look at the bonds that restrain, and the dreams that remain. Created through a participatory filmmaking process with an all women cast and crew, ‘The OWLs’ is a narrative/documentary hybrid style that entwines scripted dramatic action with commentary by characters and actors. In this way, the literal collective of lesbian/queer artists who made The OWLs also influence the meaning of the film, reflecting the community relationships that have been so defining in the growth of this generation.

(2010) 66 min/ Feature/ USA/ Director: Cheryl Dunye
Screening @: May 24, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 8.30 pm

 

WE THE OUTSIDERS Original Title: Aamhi Ka Tisre

Inspired by the life of India’s most well-known transgender person Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, the film is a poignant tale of the stigma and discrimination faced by transgenders among their families and in society; and how with the help of a support structure, they can be empowered too. Bablu, an adolescent, encounters a strange feeling of being a woman trapped in a man`s body. And with this, begins his painful journey. Abandoned by the family and the society, Bablu has nobody to turn up to, except for the community of eunuchs. He takes refuge in their world which is a very different world altogether, with a different system and different traditions. But here he finds love, courage and inspiration from Anu, an outspoken transgender activist who is fighting with the society for assertion of identity and rights. Anu and her followers challenge the society and system and seek recognition and respect for their existence within the social mainstream. Featuring a cast from Marathi film and theater, ‘We The Outsiders’ is a realistic portrayal of the third gender.

(2011) 109 min/ Feature/ INDIA/ Director: Ramesh Laxman More
Screening @: May 25, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 6.15 pm

 

FAMILY KHUSREYAN DI

A blockbuster comedy that KASHISH has dug out from Punjabi mainstream cinema! Moti Dogar, the local Robin Hood of a village is shot dead while saving his village from being sold to the village headman. Subedaar Tota Singh, a retired army man manages to keep Moti’s death a secret. Before the headman’s goons can forcibly get the entire village vacated, Tota Singh finds Moti’s look-alike. The only hitch is that the look-alike is a Hijra. Will this Hijra be ‘man enough’ to save the villagers. The film ticks all the boxes for a B movie – in-your-face comedy, song-and-dance sequences, and even a laughter track. But, this rib-tickling camp movie is not to be missed because its heart is in the right place. For once, this is a film that doesn’t cry about how society treats Hijras, but where Hijras are needed by the society!
The film plays as part of the `Indian Focus - Regional Films'.


(2009) 95 min/ Feature/ INDIA/ Director: B. D. Sharma
Screening @: May 27, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 3.15 pm

 

TALES OF THE WARIA

Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population. It is also home to a community of transgender individuals known as Warias, biological men who live openly as women. TALES OF THE WARIA follows four characters from this little-known community as they search for romance and intimacy. At times comical and at times heartbreaking, the film uncovers a world that not only defies our expectations of gender and religion, but also reveals our endless capacity as human beings to search for love - whatever the consequences. This eye-opening multiple award documentary, shot in the scenic coastal region of South Sulawesi, takes us to nightclubs, salons, and into the characters’ homes and hearts, to offer glimpse of a life, culture and community that is rarely talked about and often misunderstood.

(2011) 56 min/ Documentary Feature/ USA/ Director: Kathy Huang
Screening @: May 26, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 10.00 am

 

LET THE BUTTERFLIES FLY

Original Title: Chittegalu Haradali

Shilpa, a young castrated Hijra in Bengaluru faced severe police torture and abuse from the medical establishment. They forcibly made her a ‘man’ by re-grafting a male organ onto her body. The film portrays the real life plight of Shilpa and interweaves the infamous case of Banashakari police violence where Hijras and human rights activists were subjected to illegal detention and custodial torture in October 2008. As Shipa continues her quest for love and acceptance, the film raises an important question about why Hijras are denied their fundamental right to live with dignity and how long will their sufferings continue?

(2012) 74 min/ Documentary Feature/ INDIA/ Director: Gopal Menon
Screening @: May 26, 2012, Alliance Francaise, 1.30 pm

 

THE LOVE PATIENT

How far would you go to win back the love of your life? Perhaps send flowers, write poetry or even serenade that man of your dreams until he can take it no more? Paul, a hot but self-centered hunk and ad executive has other, more extreme ideas when sensitive hunk Brad drops him and begins dating another man. Not used to losing, and determined to regain his love, Paul decides to pretend to have a life-threatening illness in what he sees as a foolproof method in ensuring Brad’s return. But will the tangled web he weaves, get him in hot water rather than in to the arms of his hot man?

(2011) 95 min/ Narrative/ USA/ Director: Michael Simon
Screening @: May 26, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 6.15 pm

EATING OUT: DRAMA CAMP

Zack and Casey’s fragile relationship runs into trouble when they meet gorgeous Benji at the summer drama camp. Soon, Benji and Zack are paired up to perform as the lead pair in ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. Casey’s trusted friend Penny takes matters into her own hands by setting a poison oak trap for Benji so that Casey can step in as Benji’s understudy. But do things ever go as planned?

(2011) 90 min/ Feature/ USA/ Director: Q. Allan Brocka
Screening @: May 25, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 11.00 pm

 

 

Burnt Money Original Title: Plata Quemada (Queer Classics)

Based on Ricardo Piglia’s best seller of the same name set in Argentina of 1965, this true story follows the riotous relationship between Nene and Angel, who became lovers and ultimately ruthless bank robbers in a notoriously famous footnote in the annals of Argentinean crime history. Nicknamed as ‘the twins’ because of their inseparable relationship, Nene and Angel along with Cuervo rob a bank, and flee from Argentina across the border to Uruguay, after a large-scale hold-up that turns bloody. Angel is hurt and they must lie low until he recovers. With the cops closing in, the two lovers must confront their demons to survive.

(2000) 125 min/ Feature/ ARGENTINA, SPAIN, URUGUAY/ Director: Marcelo Piñeyro

Screening @: May 26, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 11.00 pm

Queens! Destiny of Dance

A film about the love, laughter, jealously and tears of a close-knit Hijra family. Starring Seema Biswas in an iconic role as a Hijra guru, it also stars well-known south Indian actor Vineeth as a Hijra along with the Hijra activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi. The story is told through the eyes of a young hijra named Mukta - beautiful, the best dancer in the community, a natural leader whom all the other ‘girls’ look up to. This film aims to reveal a journey of life in human experience that is seldom understood The film plays as part of the `Indian Focus - Regional Films'.

(2011) 112 min/ Feature/ INDIA/ Director: David Atkins
Screening @: May 26, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 11.00 am

 

Bollywood Beats

Life doesn't seem to be going according to plan for hip hop choreographer Raj until he meets Jyoti, who suggests that he start a dance class for Indian women in US. While unsuccessful at first, Raj's class begins to grow with students like Laxmi, a housewife new to the country, an unenthused Puja and Vincent, a gay guy who wants to dance regardless of his father's objections. Starring Lillete Dubey, Sarita Joshi, Sachin Bhatt, Pooja Kumar & Mehul Shah.

(2009) 113 min/ Feature/ USA/ Director: Mehul Shah
Screening @: May 24, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 6.15 pm

 

Role/ Play

Outed soap opera star Graham seeks refuge at an exclusive Palm Springs resort. But, quiet anonymity eludes him when marriage-equality activist Trey checks in to escape the fallout from his own bitter divorce. As an undeniable passion begins to sizzle, they force each other to confront their professional downfalls. The film screens as part of ‘Filmmaker Focus – Rob Williams’, who will also be attending the festival as a special guest.

(2010) 85 min/ Feature/ USA/ Director: Rob Williams
Screening @: May 26, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 1.30 pm

Weekend (Closing Film)

On a Friday night after hanging out with his straight mates, Russell - an introverted lifeguard - heads out to a nightclub, alone and on the pull. Just before leaving, he meets Glen an uninhibited art gallery employee.What’s expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something special. An extended morning-after sequence of existential repartee sparks the beginning of a poignant weekend romance that will resonate throughout the rest of their lives. Weekend is both an honest and unapologetic love story between two guys and a film about the universal struggle for an authentic life in all its forms. It is about the search for identity and the importance of making a passionate commitment to your life.

(2011) 97 min/ Feature/ UK/ Director: Andrew Haigh
Screening @: May 27, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 9.30 pm

Ballroom Rules

A group of Australian same-sex ballroom dancers are passionate about their sport and are driven by a dream of competing at the world’s largest same-sex dance sport competition at the 2010 Gay Games in Germany. As they prepare for the biggest event of their lives, they must battle injury, personal drama and entrenched discrimination from the mainstream ballroom dancing community and the world in general.

(2012) 76 min/ Documentary Feature/ Australia Director: Nickolas Bird, Eleanor Sharpe
Screening @: May 25, 2012, Alliance Francaise, 1.30 pm

Short Films

Loads of shorts packages that are exciting, intriguing and evocative. While the popular shorts packages like Girl Shorts (a mix of lesbian themed shorts), Rainbow Warriors (about queer people who have made a difference), Indian Masala Mix (exciting shorts by young Indian filmmakers) and Red Ribbon package (films on HIV/AIDS) return, there are several new packages like Urban Longings (about meetings and departings in a city), Unfair Games (homophobia in sports), Family Ties (about queer person and their families),  We The Queers (celebrating queer persons who have made a difference), Hooked On You (rom-coms), Crossed Paths (dark short films) and Best of Iris (award winning short films from our partner festival Iris Prize, UK).

Screening @: Cinemax Versova and Alliance Francaise

Q-Toons

Remember as a kid how you used to wait for Sunday mornings and your favourite cartoon show on TV. KASHISH tries to revive those sweet memories with a special package of nine animation films, arduously scouted fromaround the globe. A gay orange, two gay sperms, and Rick and Steve - these toons have a ‘pink’ heart that will tickle everyone.

Screening @: May 27, 2012, Cinemax Versova, 5.00 pm
 
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