One of the India’s premier tech institution – IIT-Bombay will host India’s travelling campus LGBTQ film fest – KASHISH Forward, an evening of film screening and discussion. The event is being organised by Saathi – IIT-Bombay’s LGBTQ student support group and KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival – South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ film fest. The event is being held on Friday October 7th at 6pm at the LT – PCSA auditorium at IIT Bombay in Powai.
“KASHISH Forward is one of the flagship initiatives of KASHISH and we are really proud that we are able to reach across to the youth with films that particularly focus on their lives and issues. While it is a re-affirmation of their identity for many LGBTQ youth, it is an eye-opener for other students and faculties who don’t know what LGBTQ youth go through in their formative years. KASHISH Forward is definitely a call for awakening, to be more sensitive, to be more inclusive,” says Sridhar Rangayan, festival director.
The screening is part of Speqtrum, which is Saathi’s new initiative. “Saathi has been conducting events across the campus for years now. However, what is generally observed is that people are reluctant to get out of their beds and walk all the way to watch anything, hence we decided why not take things to people instead of asking people to come to you. This was the start of Speqtrum. LGBT movies are being screened in hostel as a part of Speqtrum lounges/T.V. Rooms/Mess’ and we hope to continue this over onto the next semester. The response has been overwhelming even when there are so many events happening in the institute. Saathi is pivotal to an institute of this stature. Opinions are built, changed and nurtured in this Institute and Saathi is thereby necessary to provide newer avenues for thinking,” said Omkar Masurkar, third year undergraduate, member and activist, Saathi.
The films to be screened are award winners and critically acclaimed films at the seventh edition of KASHISH Miqff that was held in May 2016. The films to be screened include – ALL ABOUT LOVE by Tejashri Joshi (16 min, India), AMAR: DEAF IS AN IDENTITY by David Ng (5 min, Canada), KEEP YOUR HEAD UP by Neil Browne (4 min, Ireland), NO MATTER WHO by Anne-Claire Jaulin (19 min, France), DEAR DREW by Dylan Shapiro & Maddy Laing (5 min, USA), MY CHILD IS GAY, I AM HAPPY by Sopan Muller (32 min, USA), TO MUM (LOVE, ME) by Joyene Nazatul (17 min, Singapore), ANY OTHER DAY by Srikant Ananthkrishnan & Vikrant Dhote (12 min, India).