KASHISH2025FestivalCatalog

At KPMG in India, we

‘Inspire Confidence and Empower Change’ by consciously building a culture of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE).

Our people

Come as they are!

Make their mark!

Thrive with us!

© 2025 KPMG Assurance and Consulting Services LLP, an Indian Limited Liability Partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.

government.is/diplomaticmissions/embassy-of-iceland-in-new-delhi/

@IcelandinIndia

CONTENTS

22

Festival Vision & Background Initiatives Organizers

23 24 26

Welcome Note & an Appeal Advisory Board

27 28

KASHISH 2025 Awards KASHISH 2025 Jury Panels

30 32

Aditya Nanda Award Nominees Ismat Chughtai Award Nominees Riyad Wadia Award Nominees Making the Most of Your KASHISH Experience

37 38 40 42

Opening Night, St. Andrews (June 4) Films at Cinépolis - Screen 3 (June 5-8) Films at Cinépolis - Screen 4 (June 5-8) Films at Alliance Française Bombay (June 5-8)

43 46 86 128

Panels

155

Festival Team Friends of KASHISH Festival Partners

157 158 159

Film Index Festival Schedule

160 162

KASHISH 2025

FESTIVAL VISION KASHISH Pride Film Festival (earlier known as KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival) is an attempt to encourage greater visibility of Indian and International queer cinema among both queer and mainstream audiences as a means to foster better understanding of queer thoughts, desires and expressions.

Since its debut in 2010, KASHISH has emerged as South Asia’s and India’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival. We are committed to bring the best of international and Indian queer cinema to Mumbai and continue mainstreaming of queer issues and their lives.

Apart from exhibiting LGBTQ+ films during its annual festival, KASHISH also has been instrumental in taking Indian LGBTQ+ films across the world, offering these films distribution, and also producing sensitive LGBTQ+ content through film grants.

KASHISH believes that art and films are powerful mediums to bring about social change and the festival uses the reach and spread that KASHISH has already established as one of Mumbai’s important film festivals to rally public opinion towards equality and dignity for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and non-binary persons. KASHISH uses local, national and international platforms to advocate and sensitize the larger public about LGBTQ+ issues.

KASHISH strongly believes in bringing together the diversity of the LGBTQ+ experiences through films and discussions, and enable an equitable society for every LGBTQ+ individual to live with dignity.

FESTIVAL BACKGROUND Voted as one of the Top 5 LGBTQ+ Film Festivals in the world, KASHISH Pride Film Festival is South Asia’s biggest queer film Festival and the first LGBTQ+ film festival in India to be held in a mainstream theatre.

Founded in 2010 and held every year for the past seven years the festival has grown from strength to strength. KASHISH attracts close to 8500 footfalls every year over its five day festival. It is the first Indian LGBTQ+ festival to be held with the approval of the Information & Broadcasting ministry, Government of India.

The festival also attracts topline Bollywood celebrities, filmmakers, critics and academicians from India as well as many international guests from across the world.

It receives more than hundred press features every year from the Indian press as well as international press, including the New York Times.

KASHISH since 2010 to 2016 was organized by Solaris Pictures and co-organized

by The Humsafar Trust. Since 2017, KASHISH is organized by KASHISH Arts Foundation, in association with Solaris Pictures.

KASHISH 2025

23

INITIATIVES KASHISH has various initiatives to keep the mainstream engaged in the conversation around LGBTQ+ issues through the year using the medium of films.

KASHISH Forward India’s first travelling campus queer film festival – is a series of one-day festivals that would travel to campuses across India, aiming to reach out and create awareness about issues of the LGBTQ+ community. The objective is to create an atmosphere of acceptance for queer students who would be grappling with issues of coming out in sometimes hostile environments. KASHISH Forward has held over 55 screenings in colleges across India, not only in Metro cities, but also Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

KASHISH Rendezvous Considering the need for conversations around LGBTQ+, KASHISH Rendezvous is a one-and-a-half hour customized program of films and discussions for corporate companies. The films and discussions will be a window into the broad spectrum of the lives of LGBTQ+ colleagues. Besides sensitizing the audience to the issues of LGBTQ+ persons, it will show that their lives are no different from their own. KASHISH has been actively holding screenings, alongwith panel discussions, over the past 10 years to numerous corporate houses.

Best of KASHISH Best of KASHISH film screenings are organized across India at film festivals, events and as part of Pride celebrations in various cities.

Short films and documentaries that have won awards or were audience favorites in the previous edition, are programmed at these events to offer a glimpse of the Best of KASHISH. KASHISH initiative to release 4 Indian LGBTQ+ short films for the first ever time in 2019 Theatrically across 7 cities in partnership with PVR Cinemas was applauded by everyone. It was followed by release of 4 Indian feature films in Theaters across 10 cities in partnership with PVR INOX cinemas in 2024. Best of KASHISH short films are being distributed currently across LesFlicks (USA) and GagaOoLala (Taiwan). It was also available on Disney+Hotstar and MX Player for a few years.

24

KASHISH 2025

INITIATIVES KASHISH Global With a view to provide a platform for Indian filmmakers who make films on queer themes, KASHISH facilitates screenings of Indian LGBTQ+ films at various festivals, universities and cities across the world. KASHISH has developed close collaboration with more than 120 international film festivals around the world.

KASHISH Chalchitra Utsav A day long film festival showcasing the best Regional language LGBTQ+ films from across India. This initiative was launched in January 2017 as part of Mumbai Pride events, and was held every year till 2019. Last year in January 2024, it was held as a two-day event and showcased 37 Indian LGBTQ+ films in regional languages like Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Panjabi, Urdu and Sanskrit.

KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant is an initiative to encourage LGBTQ+ storytelling, especially to bring about greater visibility of South Asian LGBTQ+ narratives. This grant, sponsored by Lotus Visual Productions (a UK/India based production company) was launched in 2016 and has supported production of 10 films already. From 2021 onwards, the grant is specifically given to LGBTQ+ identifying filmmakers.

KASHISH We Care Fund KASHISH We Care Fund was launched in 2020 to offer resources to LGBTQ+ focused community based organizations, to assist them in reaching out with help to the LGBTQ+ community, specially the trans* community, during the COVID pandemic. KASHISH has extended this support to 10 organizations across India under this initiative.

To organize a screening at your college, office, city or event, write to us at partners. kashish@gmail.com

KASHISH 2025

25

ORGANIZERS KASHISH Pride Film Festival is presented by KASHISH Arts Foundation, alongwith Solaris Pictures

KASHISH Arts Foundation is a not-for-profit public trust that aims to arrange and organize programs in the field of arts, culture, literature, theatre and films. It aims to create awareness and work for the Social, Cultural, Educational awakening of citizens of India who are marginalized on the basis of their gender identity, HIV status, transgender persons and other sexual minorities. Every year KASHISH Arts Foundation presents its flagship event KASHISH Pride Film Festival (earlier known as Mumbai International Queer Film Festival). It also organizes KASHISH Forward, a traveling campus LGBTQ+ film festival. The trust facilitates KASHISH Global, programming of Indian LGBTQ+ films at festivals worldwide, and Best of KASHISH, screening at various organizations and pride events across India. Since 2018 the trust also launched KASHISH Chalchitra Utsav, a regional language LGBTQ+ film festival. In 2020, the organization launched KASHISH We Care Fund, offering monetary support to other community-based organizations working with LGBTQ+ communities.

Solaris Pictures is the only Indian film production company focused on producing, distributing and exhibiting LGBTQ+ films. Its award winning films Kuch Sapney Apne, Evening Shadows, Breaking Free, Purple Skies, 68 Pages, Yours Emotionally!, Project Bolo and Gulabi Aaina (The Pink Mirror) have screened at more than 250+ film festivals across the world and won more than 42 international awards. They have laid the foundation for the nascent Indian LGBTQ+ film movement.

Solaris Pictures founded KASHISH Pride Film Festival in 2010 and has been the one of main organizer of the festival for the past 16 years. The festival carries forward Solaris Pictures mission of using cinema as a medium to advocate for equal rights and dignity for the LGBTQ+ community.

26

KASHISH 2025

Welcome Note & an Appeal

Welcome Note & an Appeal SRIDHAR RANGAYAN Dear KASHISH Family,Founder Festival Director

Note an th Appeal edition, we are reminded the reason why we started the film festival in 20 As weWelcome bring to you the&16

amplify powerful, underrepresented voices, screen pathbreaking cinema from around the globe, and Dear KASHISH Family, thousands together in the spirit of visibility, solidarity, and joy.

KASHISH Family, AsDear we bring to you the 16th edition, we are reminded the reason why we started the film fest This year too, the festival will screen 152 films from 48 countries. These aren’t just films — they are ac amplify underrepresented voices, pathbreaking cinema from around the gl Assurvival, we powerful, bringand to you the 16th that edition, arescreen reminded the community reason whytowe started courage, truth.

Stories havewe brought the LGBTQ+ the mainstream an thousands together the spirit of visibility, solidarity, and joy. festival in in 2010 to amplify powerful, underrepresented voices, screen storiesthe thatfilm need to be told, now– more than ever. pathbreaking cinema from around the globe, and bring thousands together in theyear spirit of visibility, solidarity, and joy.films from 48 countries. These aren’t just films — th This too, theextremely festival will screen 152 But this year has been challenging, with the world shifting globally in unsettling ways for th

courage, survival, and truth.has Stories that have brought the LGBTQ+ community tofestival the mainst LGBTQ+ community, been particularly difficult and our ability to host the — to This year too, fundraising the festival will screen 152 films from 48 countries.

These aren’t just films — they are acts of courage, survival, and truth.

Stories that have stories that need to be told, now more than ever. space for love, identity, and visibility — is being challenged. brought the LGBTQ+ community to the mainstream and stories that need to be told, thanInstead, ever. we challenging, But this yearmore has extremely theback world unsettling w We refuse tonow give in to been fear. are choosing with to fight — shifting with theglobally power ofinour communi

LGBTQ+ fundraising been particularly difficult and our help ability host believe thisthis is community, an opportune moment forhas the community to unite together and usto execute thefes fe But year has been extremely challenging, with the world shifting globally in the unsettling ways for the LGBTQ+ community, space for love, identity, and visibility — is beingfundraising challenged. has been particularly independently. difficult and our ability to host the festival — to hold space for love, identity, and visibility is being Your We support at — this critical moment will notwe only the festival possible it will send a powerful refuse to give in tochallenged. fear. Instead, aremake choosing to fight back ——with the power of our c

message ouristo stories matter, and that behind each story, stands a strong community, who no believe this an opportune moment for community unite together and help us will execu Wethat refuse give in to fear.

Instead, wethe are choosing totofight back — with the silenced, and that thiscommunity. celebration We of queer lifethis will is goan on,opportune no matter moment what. power of our believe for the independently. community to unite together and help us execute the festival independently.

We hope stand and contribute with your might. scan the QR code donate Youryou’ll support at with this us critical moment will not only makePlease the festival possible — to it will sendwha ap Your support at this critical moment will not only make the festival possible is possible within your capacity.

If you have already contributed or cannot do so, please share this ap message our stories matter, andthat thatour behind each story, and stands a behind strong community, wh — it willthat send a powerful message stories matter, that with others believe in awhat we do. each who story, stands strong community, will go noton, beno silenced, that this silenced, and that this celebration of queerwho life will matter and what. celebration of queer life will go on, no matter what.

We have to make the festival happen anyhow, and we will.

We hope you’ll stand with usus and contribute with your might.

Please scan thethe QR code to don We hope you’ll stand with and contribute with your might.

Please scan is QR possible within your capacity.isIfpossible you havewithin already contributed cannot so, please shar codeyours to donate whatever your capacity. or If you havedo already Thanking you, sincerely contributed or believe cannot in dowhat so, please with others who we do.share this appeal with others who believe in what we do.

We have toto make the festival happen anyhow, and wewe will.

We have make the festival happen anyhow, and will.

Thanking you, yours sincerely Thanking you, yours sincerely Sridhar Rangayan Festival Director

Scan To Donate

Sridhar Rangayan KASHISH 2025 Festival Director

27

KASHISH ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

ARUNARAJE PATIL

DOLLY THAKORE

MEGHNA GHAI PURI

ONIR

28

A critically acclaimed award-winning filmmaker, Arunaraje passed out of the Film Institute of India with a gold medal in 1969 and was the first trained girl technician to join the industry. Some of her features are Shaque, Gehrayee, Situm, Rihaee, Bhairavi, Keh Do Na, Tum and Firebrand produced by Priyanka Chopra & currently showing on Netflix. Apart from teaching, she has been part of decision-making bodies in many film schools. She has served on many juries including National Film Awards and has been a strong voice for documentaries. She has won 6 National awards for her documentaries Mallika Sarabhai, A New Paradigm and Behind the Glass Wall. She has been a Landmark Forum Leader and has led transformational programs as a Life Coach.

Dolly Thakore has worn many hats –starting her career on Radio, she became known as a News Reader on Bombay Doordarshan. And simultaneously, a writer of many personal columns, and reviewer of English and Hindi Films and Theatre – in almost every English daily and periodical of that time. She has been a Communications Consultant for numerous Corporate Houses. Her two passions have remained the stage and social Work. She has been part of the ensemble of actors of the hugely successful Vagina Monologues, which has been running for over 23 years, in English and Hindi. She is on the Advisory Committee of Council for Fair Business Practices, National Sponsorship Council for Education of Destitute and Underprivileged Women and Children. She is also the national coordinator for ‘Laadli Girl Child Campaign Media Award’.

Meghna Ghai Puri is the President of Whistling Woods International (WWI), India’s premier film and media institute. A graduate of King’s College London with a postgraduate diploma in Communications, she returned to India to realize her father, filmmaker Subhash Ghai’s vision of building a world-class film school. Meghna has been central to WWI’s growth since inception, launching seven schools in filmmaking, acting, animation, fashion, music, design, and media, in partnership with TISS. She previously led marketing and international distribution at Mukta Arts, working on films like Taal and Pardes. Honoured with an Honorary Fellowship from Bradford College and named among the 75 Indian Achievers by NISAU and the British Council, Meghna is committed to nurturing talent and shaping the global media and entertainment education landscape.

Onir is a Director/Producer/Editor and Writer working in the Hindi Film Industry. His work includes the ground breaking My Brother Nikhil (2005), National Award winning I AM (2011), Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz (2018), Semiautobiographical Pine Cone and My Melbourne (2025). He received the Likho award for “Outstanding Book” (Dec 2023) for his biography I Am Onir and I Am Gay published by Penguin. He received the KASHISH Rainbow Warrior award for his film Pine Cone at the KASHISH Pride Film Festival (2023).

“Rainbow Stories Award” from the Minister of Equality Australia at IFFM 2023. His latest film We Are Faheem & Karun which is the first Kashmiri language queer feature film won him the Best Director award at UK Asian Film festival. Among the various other awards, Onir has also received The Diversity Award from Film Victoria Australia and La Trobe University (2019).

KASHISH 2025

RENUKA SHAHANE

ROY WADIA

SATYA RAI NAGPAUL

VIVECK VASWANI

Renuka Shahane is a popular actress in Indian theatre, television and film for the last 38 years. She is well-known for her role in the iconic Bollywood blockbuster Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?. She has received the Best Actress award for the film Aboli and the Star Screen Best Actress Awards for her roles in the TV series Imtihaan and Sailaab. Her first directorial feature film Rita was critically acclaimed, winning her the Best Director award in the 16th Nokia Star-Screen Awards 2010, and also received the best screenplay award at the 8th Pune International Film Festival, as well as the V Shantaram Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2010. Her latest feature film as director Tribhanga was released on Netflix in 2021.

She has written, directed and produced her first Animation short धावपट्टी (Loop Line) in 2024, which has one the Best Animation film at the Oscar qualifying Tasveer South Asian Film Festival, Seattle.

Roy Wadia hails from the Wadia Movietone family. His brother was the late filmmaker and gay activist Riyad Wadia (Fearless: The Hunterwali Story, BOMgAY). Roy worked at CNN for 12 years, helping launch and produce much of the global broadcaster’s Asia-Pacific news programming. In 2003, Roy switched careers by joining the World Health Organization’s China office as its communications and advocacy officer, and in 2006 joined the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control in Vancouver. From 2010-2013, he was Executive Director of Heroes Project, the Bombaybased HIV NGO under the Gates Foundation’s Avahan programme. Roy is currently with the World Health Organization, moving in June from the WHO European Regional Office in Denmark to the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office in the Philippines.

Satya Rai Nagpaul, a Mumbai-based cinematographer and alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) is the first transmasculine cinematographer to graduate from the national film school. His top honors include the National Award, the Filmfare and the Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography nomination at the Cinema Eye Honors.

His acclaimed screen credits are: Anhey Ghode Da Daan (Competition, Venice), Chauthi Koot (Competition, Un Certain Regard, Cannes), Zinda Bhaag [Oscar Entry], Aligarh [Premier, Busan], and Nocturnes [Special Jury Award for Craft, Sundance]. A BAFTA Breakthrough India honoree, Satya is also a pioneering trans rights activist. He is the founder of ‘Sampoorna,’ one of the region’s oldest trans and intersex networks, and continues to be a leading advocate for trans and intersex rights in the Asia Pacific.

Viveck Vaswani has been an entertainment industry professional for the past 42 years. He has been an actor, producer, writer, distributor and has produced 15 films, 3 TV shows and acted in more than 60 films. He has mentored a lot of talent in these 4 decades and made them successful, including Shahrukh Khan, Raveena Tandon, Aziz Mirza, Boman Irani amongst others. After being the Dean of the School of Contemporary Media at Pearl Academy for the last three years, Mr Vaswani is now Distinguished Faculty at the School of Modern Media at UPES. Mr Vaswani is also a full time Director at Curious Eyes Cinema, which has produced its first major feature film Mannu Kya Karegga which has its World Premiere in London on 18th June 2025.

KASHISH 2025

29

KASHISH 2025 Awards – South Asia’s Largest Prize Money for LGBTQ+ Fılms 56 films in 12 competition categories, along with 5 screenplays are competing for a total cash award of around Rs. 6 lacs, highest at any LGBTQ+ film festival in India.

KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant In its 9th year now, the path-breaking KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant, which has already facilitated production of 8 LGBTQ+ short films, offers Rs.2,50,000 to a LGBTQ+ identifying filmmaker to make their queer short film, sponsored by Lotus Visual Productions. Two runner ups stand to receive Rs.25,000 cash award each supported by noted film actress Renuka Shahne.

Best Narrative Feature The best narrative feature award category includes Indian and International narrative features completed after January 1, 2024 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2025. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.30,000 supported by the KASHISH Arts Foundation.

Unity in Diversity Best Documentary Feature The best documentary feature award category includes Indian and International documentary features completed after January 1, 2024 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2025. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.30,000 supported by the K.F.Patil Charitable Trust.

Unity in Diversity Best Documentary Short The best documentary short award category includes Indian and International documentary short films completed after January 1, 2024 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2025. The award KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 supported by the K.F.Patil Charitable Trust.

Best Indian Narrative Short The best Indian narrative short award category includes Indian narrative short films which are under 60 minutes, completed after January 1, 2024 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2025. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 supported by the KASHISH Arts Foundation.

Best International Narrative Short The best international short award category includes international narrative short films which are under 60 minutes, completed after January 1, 2024 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2025. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 sponsored by the GagaOOLala (Taiwan).

Best Performance in a Lead Role All the films in all the above 3 categories are eligible to compete for the Best Performance in a Lead Role Award. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 supported by Samruddhi Studios.

30

KASHISH 2025

Best Screenplay All the films in all the above 3 categories are eligible to compete for the Best Screenplay Award. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 instituted in the memory of distinguished Marathi scholar and writer Dr. Arvind Vaman Kulkarni. The award is instituted by his son, actor Abhay Kulkarni.

Best Student Short The best student short award category includes Indian and International short films made by students of film and media schools, completed after January 1, 2024 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2025. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.30,000 supported by the Whistling Woods International.

Riyad Wadia Award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker Indian narrative and documentary short films that are the filmmaker’s first or second film completed after January 1, 2024, playing at KASHISH 2025 are eligible for nomination to this award category. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash award of Rs.25,000 instituted by Wadia Movietone, in the memory of Riyad Wadia, the pioneering filmmaker who made India’s first gay film BomGay. Ismat Chughtai Award for Best Woman Filmmaker of Indian origin Instituted in memory of renowned novelist, short story writer, liberal humanist and filmmaker Ismat Chughtai, this award is an attempt by KASHISH to acknowledge and encourage women voices in the Indian queer cinema. This prestigious award acknowledges the best emerging voice of a woman (cis or trans) filmmaker of Indian origin, based in India or abroad - whose first or second short fiction or nonfiction film, completed after January 1, 2024, is officially selected for KASHISH 2025. The award carries a KASHISH Butterfly Trophy and a cash award of Rs.20,000 supported

by Ismat Chughtai’s grandson and filmmaker Mr. Ashish Sawhny.

Aditya Nanda Award for Best Film on Queer Mental Health Indian & International films playing at KASHISH 2025 – narrative or documentary of short film – with a focus on mental health issues of LGBTQ+ persons, will be considered for the Aditya Nanda Award for Best Film on Mental Health. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.30,000 supported

by Keshav Suri Foundation.

Best Poster Design This is an award given to the Best Poster Design chosen from an international poster design contest. The winning design is used on all the KASHISH 2025 collaterals. This award carries a KASHISH Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 supported

by KASHISH Arts Foundation.

KASHISH 2025

31

KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant Jury ABHISHEK CHAUBEY is a celebrated Indian filmmaker who began as co-writer and associate director to Vishal Bhardwaj on films like Makdee, Omkara, and Kaminey. His directorial debut Ishqiya (2010) and its sequel Dedh Ishqiya (2014) received critical acclaim. Udta Punjab (2016) was praised for tackling drug abuse, while Sonchiriya (2019) cemented his reputation for gritty, socially relevant cinema.

He produced Konkona Sensharma’s A Death in the Gunj (2016), and more recently directed Killer Soup (Netflix, 2024) and produced Ullozhukku (2024). Known for his authenticity and bold themes, Chaubey remains a distinctive voice in Indian cinema.

GUNEET MONGA KAPOOR is a two-time Academy Award-winning Indian film producer and the first to win for an Indian production with The Elephant Whisperers (2023). She also executive produced Period. End of Sentence. (2019). Founder of Sikhya Entertainment, she has produced nearly 40 acclaimed films, including The Lunchbox and Masaan. A BAFTA nominee and Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, she champions representation and diversity in cinema. Her recent works include KILL (Lionsgate), Gyaarah Gyaarah, Gutar Gu, a Netflix documentary on Yo Yo Honey Singh, and Anuja, shortlisted for the 2025 Oscars.

VIKRAMADITYA MOTWANE is an Indian writer, director, and producer. His debut film Udaan (2010) premiered at Cannes and won seven Filmfare Awards. He has directed Lootera, Trapped, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, and AK vs AK, and co-directed Netflix’s first Indian original, Sacred Games. A former partner at Phantom Films, he produced Queen, Masaan, NH10, and Udta Punjab. His recent works include Jubilee (Amazon Prime), which won nine Filmfare OTT Awards; CTRL, a cyber-thriller (Netflix, 2024); and Black Warrant, a crime series (Netflix, 2025). Motwane is known for bold storytelling and genre-defying, critically acclaimed work.

NEERAJ CHURI is a UK-based film producer of Indian-American origin who began his journey in film to champion LGBTQ+ storytelling. His work spans narrative and documentary films across India and the UK. His selected filmography includes Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2025; A Place of Our Own, which won the Audience Award at SXSW 2023; Holy Curse, Oscar-qualified for 2026; and Sheer Qorma, winner at Frameline 2021. Through his production company, Lotus Visual Productions, Neeraj supports emerging LGBTQ+ filmmakers in India with grants and mentorship. He also advises the Tasveer Film Market in Seattle and the Film Conclave in London, helping build financing and creative networks. He is an alumnus of the New York Film Academy and holds degrees in Information Science Management.

32

KASHISH 2025

Narrative Jury SHISHIR SHARMA is a seasoned Indian actor who began his journey in theatre in 1974-75 under the mentorship of Pt. Satyadev Dubey. He transitioned to television with the acclaimed show Swabhimaan and worked extensively in TV for 23 years. His film debut came in 2002 with Ram Gopal Verma’s Satya. He has since appeared in notable films such as Raazi, Dangal, Uri, Talvar, Mary Kom, Kuch Sapney Apne, and the international hit The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Shishir continues to perform in theatre and digital series like Bard of Blood and City of Dreams.

SHRUTI SETH is an Indian actress, television presenter, former VJ, and model with a career spanning over two decades. Best known for her iconic role in the beloved sitcom Shararat, she also gained acclaim for The Suite Life of Karan and Kabir. She has portrayed diverse characters in Bollywood films such as Fanaa, Ta Ra Rum Pum, Raajneeti, Kadakh, My Friend Pinto, and Aage Se Right. Recently, Shruti became a certified Arts-Based Therapy practitioner and mindfulness meditation teacher, conducting mental wellness workshops to support students, educators, and professionals alongside her continuing work in entertainment.

TANUJA CHANDRA is an Indian filmmaker and writer with an MFA in Film Direction from the U.S. She began her career directing TV shows and co-wrote acclaimed films like Zakhm, Tamanna, and Dil Toh Pagal Hai. Her directorial debut Dushman (1998) was followed by films like Sangharsh, Sur, and Hope and a Little Sugar. Her 2017 film Qarib Qarib Single and her book Bijnis Woman received wide recognition. She later directed short films and the documentary Aunty Sudha Aunty Radha. Her recent works include Hush Hush (2022) and Wedding.con (2023), both released on Amazon Prime.

KASHISH 2025

33

Documentary Jury BISHAKHA DATTA works on gender and sexuality in digital spaces, writes and films non-fiction, and leads the non-profit Point of View. Her documentaries include In the Flesh, on the lives of three sex workers, and Taza Khabar, about a unique women-run rural newspaper. Her books include Nine Degrees of Justice, an anthology on tackling gender-based violence, and And Who Will Make the Chapatis?, about rural women’s political participation.

Bishakha co-founded the award-winning online imprint Deep Dives and is perennially interested in what’s not freely expressed.

PRATEEK VATS is an independent filmmaker based in Mumbai, India. Since graduating in Film Direction from the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), he has directed both fiction and nonfiction films. His debut feature, Eeb Allay Ooo!, supported by the NFDC Film Bazaar and PJLF Arts Fund (Paris), was showcased at film festivals across the world, including the Panorama Section of the Berlin International Film Festival 2020, before being released theatrically in India and Singapore. The film was awarded the Best Film (Critics) at the Filmfare Awards 2021, and Best Film & Best Director at the Critics’ Choice Awards 2021. His feature documentary, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, received the Special Jury Award at the 65th National Film Awards 2018. Prateek is an alumnus of the BAFTA Breakthrough India program and is currently working on his next feature film.

SHUBHRA CHATTERJI is a filmmaker, writer, and theatre practitioner, whose work spans scripted and unscripted forms, often tracing the fault lines of memory, identity, and quiet resistance. She has directed Rainbow Rishta (Amazon), Lost Recipes, and Ekaant (Epic), and has written Ishq Mastana (Netflix) and New India Lodge, a theatrical dining experience. She works with Theatre of the Oppressed tools to foreground community storytelling— using the body, gesture, and space as instruments of reflection.

Her latest initiative, Zabaan, Zubaan, mentors women in a Mumbai resettlement colony to create cooking videos that transform food into memory, power, and deeply personal acts of storytelling.

34

KASHISH 2025

Student Shorts Jury SIDDHARTH MENON is a versatile Indian actor whose work spans film and theatre. Raised in Pune, he co-founded the theatre troupe Natak Company in 2008, performing in acclaimed plays like Geli Ekvees Varsha and A Doubtful Gaze at Uber at Midnight. He made his film debut with Peddlers (2012) and appeared in Loev (2015), Rajwade and Sons (2015), Karwaan (2018), and June (2021), which earned him a National Award and Best Actor at New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF). He also starred in Disney’s Aladdin (2018) stage musical, showcasing his range as a performer.

SUDHANSHU SARIA is a filmmaker whose recent film Ulajh, starring Janhvi Kapoor, had a successful theatrical release before topping Netflix India’s charts. He served as showrunner, director, and writer on Big Girls Don’t Cry for Amazon Prime. His music video Sahiba, featuring Vijay Deverakonda and Radhikka Madan, is trending globally on YouTube with over 100 million views. His upcoming film Sanaa, starring Radhikka Madan and Pooja Bhatt, has received wide critical praise. His psychological thriller Knock Knock Knock won a National Award, and his debut feature Loev, a queer romance, released globally on Netflix.

SVETLANA NAUDIYAL is the Programming Director, APAC at MUBI, where she brings together her love for cinema and over a decade of curatorial experience. With a deep engagement in South Asian independent cinema, her career spans key roles including Deputy Director at NFDC’s Film Bazaar, Head of YearRound Programme & Events at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, and Cinema Programmer at Soho House Mumbai. Passionate about offbeat, indie, and arthouse cinema, she remains a sharp and curious observer of global film culture, with a special place in her heart for stories from the margins.

Aditya Nanda Award Jury AKSHAY TYAGI (he/his) is the Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group and a Founding Member of the Keshav Suri Foundation. With a postgraduate degree from AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, he champions inclusive workplaces through intersectional DEI initiatives. Akshay works with over 100 NGOs and has sensitized 200+ organizations on DEI. His efforts empower LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, women, and other marginalized communities. A respected speaker and awardee—including the Trans Ally Award— Akshay is committed to fostering environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

KASHISH 2025

35

Riyad Wadia Award Jury NARGIS WADIA was the first woman to launch a full–service Advertising Agency in India – Interpub, and was also a Founder Member & Chairperson of Media Monitoring Services which preceded the establishment of Media Research Users Council. In 1991, she became the first woman President of the Advertising Agency Association of India. Nargis Wadia is the mother of late filmmaker Riyad Wadia in whose memory the Riyad Wadia Award for Emerging Indian Filmmaker has been instituted at KASHISH by Wadia Movietone.

ROY WADIA hails from the Wadia Movietone family. His brother was the late filmmaker and gay activist Riyad Wadia (Fearless: The Hunterwali Story, BOMgAY). Roy worked at CNN for 12 years, and then switched careers by joining the World Health Organization’s China office as its communications and advocacy officer. From 2010-2013, he was Executive Director of Heroes Project, the Bombay-based HIV NGO. Roy currently is with the World Health Organization, moving in June from the WHO European Regional Office in Denmark to the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office in the Philippines .”

Ismat Chughtai Award Jury ASHISH SAWHNY studied Film & Drama in the UK and has been directing, producing, acting & writing since 1992. Moving from Advertising to longer formats, Ashish’s focus is on gender & sexuality- on which he has produced/directed a range of documentary digital stories for various platforms. Over 202021, Ashish was ‘Series Director’ on The Big Day, Netflix India’s first documentary series, which was at #1 in India and trending in 8 other countries. Ashish has also been hosting “The Queer Podcast”, a queer themed podcast series, now in its 3rd season, as well as acting in films such as Luck by Chance, Zindagi Nahi Milegi Doobara, Gully Boy, The Archies, Made in Heaven & Kho Gaye Hum Kahan? In 2023-24, Ashish was creative producer on an Indo-US queer short Holy Curse, that continues winning awards at international festivals. Additionally, Ashish is certified and has been practicing as a mental health counsellor, with a focus on queer affirmative practices, since 2022, as well as writing & developing a range of work for various platforms.

36

KASHISH 2025

ADITYA NANDA AWARD FOR BEST FILM ON QUEER MENTAL HEALTH

Instituted in memory of Aditya Nanda, a young changemaker and queer inclusion advocate, this award honors films that authentically depict mental health within the LGBTQIA+ community. Presented by the Keshav Suri Foundation, it celebrates storytelling that breaks silence, challenges stigma, and fosters empathy. The award is a tribute to Aditya’s legacy and a call to support queer mental health, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to inclusion, empowerment, and social change through education and advocacy.

The award carries a KASHISH Butterfly Trophy and a cash award of Rs.25,000 supported by Keshav Suri Foundation.

Nominations for KASHISH 2025 – ADITYA NANDA AWARD FOR BEST FILM ON QUEER MENTAL HEALTH AFTER ALL (事过方显)

IT BURNS

PERSIAN BLUE

Director: Chongyan Liu

Director: Kate Maveau

Director: Shahrad Shahvareh

KASHISH 2025

37

ISMAT CHUGHTAI AWARD FOR BEST WOMAN FILMMAKER OF INDIAN ORIGIN

Instituted in memory of renowned novelist, short story writer, liberal humanist and filmmaker – Ismat Chughtai, this award is an attempt by KASHISH to acknowledge and encourage women voices in the Indian queer cinema. This prestigious award acknowledges the best emerging voice of a woman or transwoman filmmaker of Indian origin, based in India or abroad - whose first or second short fiction or nonfiction film, completed after January 1, 2024, is officially selected for KASHISH 2025.

The award carries a KASHISH Butterfly Trophy and a cash award of Rs.20,000 supported by Ismat Chughtai’s grandson and filmmaker Mr. Ashish Sawhny.

Nominations for KASHISH 2025 – ISMAT CHUGHTAI AWARD FOR BEST WOMAN FILMMAKER OF INDIAN ORIGIN JOEY KAUSHIK Director: The Witch of Vihar Lake Joey Kaushik is a queer screenwriter and filmmaker.

Her works deal with queer subjects looked at through a class-conscious lens. She wants to create subversive films in the Indian queer cinema space which are rooted in magical realism. Her stories aim at reclamation and repurposing of linguistic labels that have held queerness hostage.

The Witch of Vihar Lake is her directorial debut film whose screenplay was awarded the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant in 2024.

KRITI EDWANKAR Director: Surajmukhi Kriti Edwankar began her filmmaking journey four years ago, guided by her love for film, poetry, and music. A self-taught artist, she brings a poet’s eye and a production designer’s touch to storytelling, crafting narratives with natural rhythm and flow. Inspired by observing nature and the world around her, Kriti’s work reflects deep presence and thoughtful creativity.

Surajmukhi is her debut film, which she has co-directed with Ritik Mehra.

38

KASHISH 2025

SANJIVANI KAMBLE Director: Land/Water Sanjivani is a storyteller drawn to diverse forms of expression. Her love for art and painting led her to study design, where she discovered film as her true medium. Through varied college projects, she honed her voice as a writer-director. Her final project, Dongar/ Pani (Land/Water), became a turning point - rooted in personal spaces, it sparked a profound journey of selfdiscovery that continues to shape her artistic identity.

SHOI Director: Project Priyo Shoi (they/them) is a Dalit queer non-binary social work professional and artivist committed to amplifying voices at the intersections of caste, queerness, and other marginalizations. With a deep belief in the power of storytelling, Shoi documents lived experiences through diverse mediums, blending art and advocacy to challenge oppressive systems and reclaim narratives. Their work highlights underrepresented voices and strives to create visibility and accessibility while centering community resilience and solidarity.

Project Priyo is Shio’s first film as the director.

SHUCHI KOTHARI Director: Seen Shuchi Kothari is a New Zealand-based Indian scriptwriter and producer. Born in Ahmedabad, Kothari studied writing at the University of Texas before moving to New Zealand in 1997. She is the co-writer of the film Firaaq (2008). Shuchi’s latest co-produced feature film Kainga (2022) winner of the NETPAC award, interrogates these themes within a portmanteau format.

Seen is her second directorial film after Shit One Carries (short film, 2018).

SUNITA MALPANI Director: Because Born and raised in Mumbai, Sunita Malpani shifted from journalism to fiction, writing for several TV shows before blending her journalistic roots with storytelling in documentaries. Her debut feature, Breaking All The Way, India’s first deep dive into Hip Hop and B-boy culture - premiered at the 2018 Mumbai International Film Festival.

She is now developing compelling stories and preparing to direct her first fiction feature, Steam, following her short Because.

KASHISH 2025

39

RIYAD WADIA AWARD FOR BEST EMERGING INDIAN FILMMAKER

Instituted in memory of late filmmaker Riyad Wadia, who made India’s first gay film BOMgAY, Riyad Wadia Award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker is an attempt by KASHISH to recognize and nurture emerging Indian voices. Indian narrative and documentary short films that are the filmmaker’s first or second film made in 2024/2025 compete for this award.

The award carries a KASHISH Butterfly Trophy and a cash award of Rs.25,000 supported by Wadia Movietone – one of the pioneering Indian production companies established in 1933.

Nominations for KASHISH 2025 – RIYAD WADIA AWARD FOR BEST EMERGING INDIAN FILMMAKER AMAL ALLESSE Director: Sweet Beginnings Amal Allesse is a filmmaker hailing from Erode, Tamil Nadu. Raised in this vibrant city, he has a deep connection to its culture and people. His mother tongue is Malayalam, which adds a unique flavour to his creative expression. After completing his engineering studies, Amal decided to follow his passion for storytelling. He enrolled in the prestigious K.R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts to pursue film direction.

Amal is on a journey to create compelling narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Sweet Beginnings is his debut film as a student filmmaker.

ARNAV UTMANI Director: Rafu Arnav (he/they) is a Writer, Filmmaker, Editor, Singer & Lyricist. The director of the film specializes in editing, has a deep passion for writing and telling stories and to make you watch them through his individualistic perspective. He has dabbled in various genres and forms and uses his editing skills creatively to make his work come alive on celluloid. Rafu marks his debut film as a student filmmaker.

40

KASHISH 2025

JIJO JESSY KURIAKOSE Director: Velipādu: The Revelation Jijo Jessy Kuriakose is a writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. He curated two Homomorphism queer art exhibitions in Cochin and continues his photo series Androphilia, exploring male body diversity in the South Indian context. His works have featured in exhibitions like Living-Disobediently (Queer Asia, London) and Vichithra (Queer) Nation (Delhi). His debut documentary Njān Sānjo (I’m Sānjo) was selected for a dozen festivals, including the competition section at Chicago South Asian Film Festival, 2019.

SAIKAT MONDAL Director: Jalsa- The Name Day Saikat Mondal is a Communication Designer, graduated from IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay in 2022. Jalsa- The Name Day, is his graduation film as well as the directorial debut. Being a believer in ‘exploring the ethnicity makes the roots stronger’, he deals with queer spaces which have immense cultural relevance and irrefutable impact on society. His works in visual media carry artistic expressions, alongside they are communicative, empathetic, and exemplify responsible freedom to tell compassionate narratives.

SHOI Director: Project Priyo Shoi (they/them) is a Dalit queer non-binary social work professional and artivist committed to amplifying voices at the intersections of caste, queerness, and other marginalizations. With a deep belief in the power of storytelling, Shoi documents lived experiences through diverse mediums, blending art and advocacy to challenge oppressive systems and reclaim narratives. Their work highlights underrepresented voices and strives to create visibility and accessibility while centering community resilience and solidarity. Project Priyo is Shio’s first film as the director.

KASHISH 2025

41

Making the Most of Your KASHISH Experience Welcome to KASHISH Pride Film Festival! Whether you’re a first-time delegate or a returning festival friend, we want you to have the smoothest, most joyful time with us. Here’s everything you need to know — from the types of passes and how to get them, to seating rules and tips — so you can fully immerse yourself in the films, events, and vibrant community that make KASHISH so special.

FESTIVAL DATES Wednesday, June 4 – Sunday, June 8, 2025 FESTIVAL VENUES & SHOW TIMINGS St. Andrews Auditorium, Bandra West *

Cinépolis - Screen 3 & 4, Andheri West *

Alliance Française Bombay, Marine Lines

Wednesday, June 4 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Thursday to Sunday, June 5–8 9:30 AM – 11:30 PM

Thursday to Sunday, June 5–8 10:30 AM – 7:30 PM

*Elevator available. Please reach out to our volunteers if you need assistance!

WHO CAN ATTEND • Only individuals 18 years and above (as of June 3, 2025) are allowed to attend the festival.

• Registration is mandatory to attend any of the screenings or events.

• Access to all three venues only for pre-registered delegates with a valid Festival Pass.

• Carry a valid photo ID/age proof for verification at the venue.

To register check at, https://mumbaiqueerfest.com/kashish-2025-registration-faqs/ IMPORTANT SEATING AND ENTRY GUIDELINES • Your registration does not guarantee you a seat, as seating is limited.

• Seating is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive well in advance to join the queue.

• Entry queues will be formed before each individual screening.

• After each film, audiences will be asked to exit the theatre and queue up again.

• Seats are not numbered. Saving seats for others is not permitted. Each individual is entitled to one seat only.

• A few rows will be reserved exclusively for Guests with Priority Lanyards (such as Jury, Advisory Board Members, and accredited Filmmakers).

• Guests with Priority Lanyards are eligible for priority seating until 10 minutes before the screening, after which unclaimed reserved seats will be released.

• We request your full cooperation with the venue staff and KASHISH team regarding entry and seating procedures. Any misconduct may result in the cancellation of your registration.

Grab your pass, bring your best vibe, and enjoy the KASHISH magic!

42

KASHISH 2025

St. Andrews 4 June, 2025

JUNE

4

WED

Opening Shorts Program

8.00 PM

Love = Peace (Festival Theme Package)

Total Duration: 45 min

In societies where queer identities are questioned or criminalized, loving openly becomes a peaceful resistance. For LGBTQ+ individuals, love and peace signifies safety, equality, and the freedom to live authentically. This captivating package of four short films affirms that “Love = Peace” isn’t just poetic—it’s aspirational, political, and deeply personal for all of us!

DANCING DHAMAAL! Director: Nimisha Mahatme 5 min | 2024 | USA | No Dialogues | Animation Short | Asian Premiere An animated Bollywood music video where Aadarshini, feeling out of place, finds acceptance and joy through her unique dance style after being inspired by the graceful Parvati at a wedding.

THREE Director: Amie Song 15 min | 2024 | USA | Mandarin, English | Narrative Short | Indian Premiere At a home gathering, a Chinese woman who has recently moved to the United States to live with her daughter tries to keep her daughter’s secrets from her new friends.

44

KASHISH 2025

KOUPEPIA Director: Yorgo Glynatsis 11 min | 2024 | UK, Cyprus | English, Modern Greek | Narrative Short | Asian Premiere Petros, a widowed Cypriot man, attends his son’s engagement party. Though tolerant of his son’s homosexuality, true acceptance still eludes him. Over ‘Koupepia’, a traditional Cypriot delicacy, he meets Eleni – a British Cypriot transgender woman. Despite seeming worlds apart, the two bond over the food of their shared heritage reframing Petros' relationship with his son, queer people, and the Cypriot identity. Can people be more than what we assume?

LEO Director: Fernando Reinaldos 14 min | 2023 | Spain, USA | English | Narrative Short | Indian Premiere On their last day together before he moves to Los Angeles for college, Leo and Kai hide in the sports center where they have always played basketball. What starts as a prank ends with Leo confessing his feelings for his best friend Kai.

KASHISH 2025

45

Cinepolis Andheri Screen 3 5-8 June, 2025

46

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

International Narrative Shorts Competition – 1 Total Duration: 66 min

5

THU 9.30 AM Screen 3

From fleeting encounters to bonds that transcend boundaries, these three international shorts explore the quiet power of human connection. Stories of intimacy, empathy, and unexpected kinship unfold in this compelling first part of this year’s nominations for the Best International Narrative Short award.

11:01 Director: Jimi Drosinos 29 min | 2024 | Greece | English, Modern Greek | Asian Premiere A former dancer returns to her hometown, encountering an unexpected heart-warming connection with a girl who has Down syndrome.

IUS OF TIME (IUS del tiempo) Directors: Roberto F. Canuto, Xiaoxi Xu 26 min | 2025 | Spain | Spanish | Asian Premiere Luca, a young photographer, arrives in the village in search of inspiration and his roots.

He stays at the home of Xuan, a cheese maker and former teacher, a reclusive man living in isolation and socially shunned under the shadow of rumors.

THE BLURRING OF TREES Director: Fanny Perreault 11 min | 2024 | Canada | No Dialogue | Indian Premiere In the remote forests of northern Quebec, two incarcerated women endure the harsh labour of reforestation. Under strict control, they find a fragile sense of freedom – thanks to the quiet empathy of a prison guard.

KASHISH 2025

47

JUNE

5

THU 11.00 AM Screen 3

Short Documentary Competition – 1 Total Duration: 83 min

These three compelling short documentaries spotlight trans and queer lives navigating discrimination, loneliness, and otherness.

From the search for friendship and belonging to the fight to thrive through art, each story offers a powerful reflection on resilience, identity, and the human need to be seen, heard, and cared!

(Post screening Q&A)

SEAT 31: ZOOEY ZEPHYR Director: Kimberly Reed 15 min | 2024 | USA | English | Asian Premiere After Zooey Zephyr was expelled from the Montana House of Representatives for defending transgender medical care, she made a nearby bench her “office.” Director Kimberly Reed’s intimate camera transforms this explosive political moment into a moving portrait of trans and queer joy.

B AND S

*Ismat Chughtai Award Nominee Director: Lipika Singh Darai* 30 min | 2025 | India | Odia, English | Asian Premiere A personal essayistic documentary that explores the beauty and depths of friendship between B and S—two trans women. While going through corridors of loneliness, as they struggle with their immediate world that refuses to see them for who they are, friendship becomes the idea of home and family.

ARTISTS AT THE EDGE Director: Patrick A Riviere 38 min | 2024 | USA | English | International Premiere A short documentary on “otherness” and two remarkable queer artists in Provincetown who continue to create in a moment when hard-won freedoms are under threat in an increasingly polarized society.

48

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

5

Queeriosities

THU

Total Duration: 92 min

A colorful collection of short films that celebrate queer lives in all their layered glory — tender, funny, sexy, and sometimes bittersweet. These playful narratives invite you into a world where desire takes many forms, joy is found in surprising moments, and identity is embraced in all its beautiful complexity. A toast to the quirks, kinks, and questions that make queer life so richly cinematic!

12.45 PM Screen 3

(Post screening Q&A)

EVERYTHING IS SO BORING

(Tutto il resto è noia)

Director: Federico Cianferoni 12 min | 2024 | Italy | Italian | World Premiere Lupo is a queer millennial facing a thousand doubts and uncertainties. He is bored and frustrated because he can’t find inner peace.

Meri tries to help him but when Lupo meets Tancredi everything breaks because he feels inadequate, he feels he’s not right.

CALL ME RO (Dime Ro) Director: Carolina Meza 20 min | 2024 | Mexico | Spanish | Asian Premiere Romelia, a queer raver, starts a journey of self-discovery and identity transition. This exploration hinders their relationship with “El Flako” breaking and questioning their routine with new needs and desires.

KASHISH 2025

49

EVERY ROMANCE ENDS LIKE THIS Director: Marco Aurélio Gal 15 min | 2024 | Brazil | Portuguese | Asian Premiere Unlucky in love and writer Bandaged searches for a moral of the story that explains why his romantic experiences never end in “happily ever after.” The conflict worsens when... Ops, better not give any spoilers!

DTF? Director: Jess McLeod 15 min | 2024 | Canada | English | Asian Premiere A young, queer writer is forced to confront his insecurities when he ends up on a date with his former English professor. Through a night of laughter and vulnerability, they unpack what it means to be a gay man in search of real connection.

HERE, IN THE BATHTUB Director: Kris Bublevskaya 10 min | 2024 | Germany, Mexico | Spanish | Experimental Short | World Premiere Can shared vulnerability offer comfort in spaces deemed ‘not normal’? In this intimate documentary, the filmmaker joins queer individuals in bathtubs – engaging in mutual questions and personal rituals that create a sense of ease, connection, and belonging.

AUGANIC Director: Krit Komkrichwarakool 20 min | 2023 | Canada | English | Indian Premiere A married couple examines an unusual phenomenon when they discover a special ability during an intimate moment.

50

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

5

THU 2.45 PM

OUT Director: Dennis Alink 95 minn | 2023 | Netherlands, Germanyn | Dutch | Indian Premiere Shot in mesmerizing black and white, this deeply personal ensemble film, created by queer filmmakers and actors from their own lived experiences, traces the journey from feeling like an outsider in the conservative countryside to facing fresh pressures within queer-friendly spaces.

Special Presentation

Screen 3

Tom and Ajani, closeted teens from rural Netherlands, escape to Amsterdam to chase their filmmaking dreams and explore queer nightlife. But as thrills give way to challenges, each begins to question their identity and place in the world.

Also playing on Sunday, June 8, Alliance Française Bombay, 12 Noon Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2024 • Taiwan International Queer Film Festival, 2024 • International queer film festival Merlinka, 2024 • Sunny Bunny LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Ukraine, 2025

DENNIS ALINK

DENNIS ALINK (1989) is an Amsterdam-based filmmaker working in both documentary and fiction. His debut feature Sluizer Speaks (2014) and follow-up Unknown Brood (2016) premiered at IDFA, with the latter earning two Los Angeles Film Award nominations and a successful run in cinemas, on TV, and VOD. He went on to direct Goin’ Rectal (2018) and Freek (2019).

Supported by: KASHISH 2025

51

JUNE

5

THU 5.45 PM Screen 3

Indian Masala Mix - 1 Total Duration: 76 min

At any given age, the road to acceptance always feels long and lonely but perseverance ultimately brings the dignity and respect one deserves. The first part of this year’s Indian narrative shorts traces deeply personal journeys toward acceptance – whether from oneself, family, friends, peers, or society.

(Post screening Q&A) Also playing on Friday, June 6, Alliance Française Bombay, 1.45 PM

MAKEUP MY SHIELD

(Makeup Majhi Dhaal Ga)

Director: Kunal Vijaykar 6 min | 2024 | India | Marathi | Music Video In this Marathi music video, a trans woman escapes hurtful criticism into a dreamlike Lavani performance. Embracing traditional attire, she finds power in makeup—as comfort, beauty, and a shield against judgment.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Director: Saanvi S 10 min | 2024 | India | English, Hindi | World Premiere A heartwarming mockumentary about a trans woman navigating everyday microaggressions and bias in the workplace. With humor and relatable moments, it highlights how small acts of respect can lead to meaningful, transformative change.

I AM TEJIMOLA Director: Aditav Dowerah 7 min | 2024 | India | Assamese | Animation Short | World Premiere As a sinister presence emerges, our protagonist draws strength from the Assamese folktale Tejimola-he moi, the shapeshifter. This evocative film explores gender expression and the body as resistance against rigid societal norms.

52

KASHISH 2025

COULD IT BE? Director: Sandeep Keshari 8 min | 2024 | India | Hindi, English | World Premiere A coming-of-age tale set in the bustling chawls of Bombay, where 17-year-old Kartik’s unexpected feelings for his friend Arjun put their bond to the test.

ENVY (Daah) Director: Ronit Singha 11 min | 2024 | India | Hindi | World Premiere A college student struggles to accept his sexuality while maintaining a pretentious life shaped by reputation and relationships.

His journey unfolds through envy towards a confident queer batchmate and a constant battle with his inner self.

TUTTI FRUTTI CAKE Director: Rohit Prajapati 18 min | 2025 | India | Hindi Maya, a transwoman, and her chosen family host a vibrant Diwali party celebrating love and acceptance. As tensions simmer beneath the festivities, unexpected transformations and surprises spark healing, joy, and reconciliation – making it a night of true new beginnings.

THE WITCH OF VIHAR LAKE *Ismat Chughtai Award Nominee

Director: Joey Kaushik* 15 min | 2025 | India | Marathi | World Premiere In a village near Vihar Lake, where fearsome tales of a witch keep people away, young Mitthu and his sister Ishita grow up in the shadow of dread. One fateful night unravels life-altering truths – about Ishita, himself, and the witch.

KASHISH 2025

53

JUNE

5

THU 7.45 PM

Opening Feature

Screen 3

QUEER Director: Luca Guadagnino 137 min | 2024 | Italy, USA | English, Spanish, French

From the director of Call Me by Your Name, comes this haunting adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novella Queer – a tale of obsession, longing, and elusive connection.

In 1950s Mexico City, William Lee, a disillusioned American expatriate, drifts through a haze of addiction and solitude. His world shifts upon meeting Eugene Allerton, a charismatic younger man whose elusive nature ignites Lee’s obsession. As their bond deepens, the duo embarks on a hallucinatory journey to the Ecuadorian jungle in search of a mythical plant with telepathic properties.

Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Venice International Film Festival, 2024 • U.S. Premiere - Spotlight Gala at the New York Film Festival, 2024 ​ • Special Presentation - Toronto International Film Festival, 2024 • National Board of Review Award for Best Actor - Daniel Craig • Winner - Best Adapted Screenplay, Justin Kuritzkes

LUCA GUADAGNINO

54

LUCA GUADAGNINO (1971) is an acclaimed Italian director, producer known for his sensual, visually rich films. His Desire trilogy, including Call Me by Your Name (2017), brought him global acclaim. His diverse work spans Suspiria (2018), Bones and All (2022, Challengers (2024), and Queer. He has also directed several documentaries including Bertolucci on Bertolucci (2013) and Salvatore: The Shoemaker of Dreams (2020). He’s received numerous including a Silver Lion, an Oscar nomination and three BAFTA Awards.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

5

THU 10.15 PM Screen 3

EAT THE NIGHT Directors: Caroline Poggi & Jonathan Vinel 107 min | 2024 | France | French | Asian Premiere A highly physical, fast-paced thriller that seamlessly shifts between the bleak realworld of its protagonists and a mesmerizing virtual universe—culminating in a breath-taking, apocalyptic finale!

Pablo, a small-time dealer, and his teenage sister Apolline have forged an unbreakable bond through their shared obsession with the online video game Darknoon. When Pablo falls for the mysterious Night, he gets swept up in their liaison, abandoning his sister to deal with the impending shutdown of their digital haven alone. As Pablo’s reckless choices provoke the wrath of a dangerous rival gang, the end of their virtual life draws near, upending their reality.

Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Director’s Fortnight- Cannes, 2024 • BFI London Film Festival, 2024

CAROLINE POGGI, JONATHAN VINEL

CAROLINE POGGI (1990) and JONATHAN VINEL (1988) began collaborating with As Long as Shotguns Remain (Golden Bear, Berlinale), followed by Our Legacy and After School Knife Fight (Cannes Critics’ Week).

Their films screen internationally across festivals, galleries, and platforms.

They live and work between Paris, Corsica, and Toulouse.

Supported by:

KASHISH 2025

55

JUNE

6

FRI 9.30 AM Screen 3

PRIDE & PRAYER Director: Panta Mosleh 62 min | 2024 | USA, Canada | English, Persian | Documentary Feature | World Premiere A raw, realistic look at what it means to fully embrace yourself — as a woman, Muslim, and queer!

Pride & Prayer is a deeply personal documentary that follows filmmaker Panta Mosleh, a queer Muslim woman, on a journey to reconnect with her faith while embracing her identity. Set against the vibrant backdrop of queer Muslim life in Canada, the film weaves intimate conversations, family tensions, and moments of spiritual reflection. Through vulnerability and quiet defiance, Pride & Prayer explores what it means to find belonging at the intersection of queerness and Islam, offering a tender portrait of resilience, community, and reconciliation.

Also playing on Saturday, June 7, Alliance Française Bombay, 10.30 AM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - KASHISH Pride Film Festival, 2025

PANTA MOSLEH

56

PANTA MOSLEH is a queer Muslim Iranian-Canadian filmmaker, writer, and director based in Vancouver. She is alumnus of the Sundance Institute, Netflix’s Diversity of Voices initiative, and the Amazon MGM Writing Program. With over a decade of experience in scripted and documentary work, her storytelling centers underrepresented voices with humor, heart, and visual boldness. Her short film Hatch won Best Short at the Red Sea International Film Festival. Pride & Prayer is her most personal work to date – a reclamation of faith and identity on her own terms.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

6

FRI 11.00 AM Screen 3

GOD’S OTHER PLAN

(In Competition)

Director: Moritz Müller-Preißer 80 min | 2024 | Germany, USA | English | Documentary Feature | International Premiere One man’s journey from Mormon expectations to living openly gay, and how his exwife and family navigate the profound shifts in their lives.

What happens when the adult son of a Mormon family realizes that the meticulously planned life dictated by his religion is wrong for him? Riley is gay; he suspected this earlier and prayed it would disappear. By now, he is divorced from his wife, married to a man, and no longer a Mormon.

He now lives in a blended family with his biological daughter and an adopted son. How does his Mormon family, especially his ex-wife, deal with this profound change?

Festivals & Honors: • Nomination Best Documentary - Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis, Germany, 2025

​MORITZ MÜLLERPREIßER

​MORITZ MÜLLER-PREIßER (1991) is a German director and writer. After studying media technology and social sciences in Cologne and Düsseldorf, he pursued a directing degree at the University of Television and Film Munich. Under the guidance of renowned filmmakers such as Nurith Aviv, Werner Herzog, and Nicolas Humbert, his films have gained international recognition. His short documentary Haeberli (2020) received numerous awards and was nominated as a finalist for the Student Academy Awards.

Preceded by KASHISH 2025

57

IS GAY MARRIAGE NEXT? Director: Emily Clark 16 min | 2023 | USA | English | Short Documentary | Asian Premiere In July 2003, a pivotal moment in queer history was captured on a Newsweek cover asking: Is Gay Marriage Next? The lesbian couple featured ignited a spark in a young, closeted woman who, two decades later, looks for the women who gave her hope. Now in a post-Roe era, the question resurfaces with a haunting twist: is gay marriage next— to go?

58

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

Indian Masala Mix - 2 Total Duration: 99 min

This compelling package of short films by Indian and Indian diaspora filmmakers delves into the deeply personal and often challenging journeys of gender identity. Each film confronts societal expectations and binary constructs, presenting narratives that are honest, intimate, and diverse. From moments of self-discovery to quiet resistance, these stories reflect the evolving landscape of queer experiences, celebrating identities that refuse to be confined.

6

FRI 12.45 PM Screen 3

(Post screening Q&A) Also playing on Saturday, June 7, Alliance Française Bombay, 1.45 PM

PLACES I’VE CALLED MY OWN Director: Sushma Khadepaun 29 min | 2023 | India | Hindi | Mumbai Premiere After years in the US and amid her IVF journey, Tara returns to India for her father’s funeral. At home, she confronts a mother in denial about her queerness, an ex-girlfriend who has rebuilt her life with a man, and the lingering presence of a patriarch whose influence still looms large.

F FOR FREEDOM Directors: Arjun Krish, Ria Dinesh 29 min | 2024 | India | Malayalam F for Freedom explores a mother’s quiet struggle for self-expression amidst a disconnected family. When Shyama discovers her son’s secret relationship and proposes an unexpected vacation, buried truths unravel. This emotional journey becomes a catalyst for change, challenging familial bonds and redefining freedom within the walls of home.

KASHISH 2025

59

THE STORY OF YUVRAJ AND SHAHAJAHAN Director: Santosh Ram 25 min | 2024 | India | Marathi | Mumbai Premiere Yuvraj, a young village boy, feels an unspoken pull toward Shahjahan, a traveling bangle seller.

In a quiet, hidden corner of their conservative world, they share their truths. Bound by a society that rejects them, they part with the hope and uncertainty of meeting again.

HOLY CURSE Director: Snigdha Kapoor 16 min | 2024 | USA, India | English, Hindi, Marathi On a visit to India, pre-adolescent Radha grapples with their gender identity when subjected to manipulative orthodox rituals by their family, looking to dispel a supposed ancestral curse allegedly distorting Radha’s thinking.

60

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

International Narrative Shorts Competition – 2 Total Duration: 83 min

The second installment of the International Narrative Shorts Competition brings five films across the queer spectrum- exploring desires and relationships that are fleeting, concealed, suffocating, or even haunting.

Amid the ache, they offer moments of tenderness, resilience, quiet reassurance and also introspective self-questioning!

6

FRI 2.45 PM Screen 3

(Post screening Q&A) Also playing on Saturday, June 7, Alliance Française Bombay, 1.45 PM

ABRAHAM (Ebrahim) Directors: Elnaz Ghaderpour, Reza Gamini 14 min | 2024 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | Persian | Mumbai Premiere Abraham, a transsexual teenager was murdered and burned in a cave outside his village. The main suspect is his religious father who prays in a small mosque every day!

THE SPACE YOU NEED Director: Sam Peter Jackson 21 min | 2024 | UK | English | Asian Premiere Frustrated sci-fi writer Julian is facing a slump in his relationship. So will his fiancé Leo’s trip into orbit with the world’s first ever low-cost alternative spaceline provide them with just the space they need to get back on track?

RUTH Director: Sonia Martí Gallego 22 min | 2024 | Spain | Spanish | Asian Premiere Maya travels to her late Spanish girlfriend’s village, to bid her farewell, only to face the harsh blow that no one knows who she is—or why she’s there!

KASHISH 2025

61

SOLE Director: Ana Berdeja 15 min | 2024 | Mexico | Spanish | Asian Premiere Sole, a seasoned embalmer, aims to honor the dead and comfort the living. But when tasked with preparing a transgender young man’s body, she must choose between his truth and his family’s wishes—while guarding a secret of her own.

ALL THE MEN I MET BUT NEVER DATED Director: Muneeb Hassan 11 min | 2024 | UK, USA | English, Urdu | Asian Premiere A young Asian man grapples with his emotions, concealing his homosexuality to safeguard his family at his own expense. “The closet is Ali’s refuge, but it’s a prison for Oliver can love break through?”

62

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

6

FRI 5.45 PM Screen 3

SALLY!

(In Competition)

Director: Deborah Alice Craig 90 min | 2024 | USA | English | Documentary Feature | Asian Premiere SALLY! illuminates the life of Sally Miller Gearhart – a trailblazing lesbian feminist, activist, professor and fantasy author who played a pivotal role in the 1970s and '80s LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Sally Miller Gearhart (1931-2021) should be best known for her role along with Harvey Milk in helping defeat the Briggs Initiative (aka Prop 6), a 1978 state bill which would've banned gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools. Both she and Milk debated State Senator Briggs on television exposing the lies he was telling about gay men as child molesters. Through candid interviews and archival footage, the film explores her profound impact, the complexities of her character, and her enduring legacy in the fight for equality.

Also playing on Saturday, June 7, Alliance Française Bombay, 3.45 PM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere- Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2024 • Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ Intl. Film Festival, 2024 • Seattle Queer Film Festival, 2024 • Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2025 • Mardi Gras Film Festival, Sydney, Australia, 2025 • BFI Flare, London, UK, 2025 • Lovers Film Festival, Turin, Italy, 2025

DEBORAH CRAIG

DEBORAH CRAIG is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work highlights the challenges and strengths of underrepresented communities. Her films have screened at LGBTQ+, women’s, and documentary film festivals worldwide. She holds degrees from Columbia University and San Francisco State University, where she now teaches.

SALLY! is her feature debut.

KASHISH 2025

63

TRIBUTE TO KASHISH FESTIVAL PATRON Mr. SHYAM BENEGAL SHYAM BENEGAL (1934–2024), fondly known as ‘Shyam Babu’, was a doyen of Indian cinema — an acclaimed filmmaker, screenwriter, and documentary maker whose socially conscious storytelling shaped India’s Parallel Cinema movement.

Starting his career as a copywriter at Lintas, he went on to make his first documentary Gher Betha Ganga (1962) before founding Sahyadri Films. His iconic early features – Ankur, Nishant, Manthan, Bhumika, Junoon, and Mandi – marked him as a pioneer of the New Wave.

His acclaimed “Muslim Women Trilogy” (Mammo, Sardari Begum, Zubeidaa) won National Awards, contributing to his remarkable total of 18 National Film Awards.

He was honored with India’s highest cinematic accolade, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2005), along with the Padma Shri (1976), Padma Bhushan (1991), and numerous other recognitions. Beyond cinema, Benegal was a champion for equal rights and was one of the petitioners in the Supreme Court for the reading down of Section 377.

In 2011, he graciously became the Festival Patron for KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (now KASHISH Pride Film Festival) and remained a warm, steadfast supporter until his passing in December 2024.

We cherish his memory, his cinematic legacy, and his unwavering commitment to equality — and offer him a heartfelt salute.

“It is marvellous to see how KASHISH has grown over the last 14 years, but more important is its mainstream acceptance. Today KASHISH has become an important event in the mainstream cultural space in Mumbai. LGBT persons are still looked on as different and in many societies as criminals. Movies are a great way of communication and breaking these stereotypes. I support KASHISH as it helps to extend understanding of people in the broadest possible way and deepen the sense of humanity by including people of alternate sexuality.”

– Shyam Benegal, in his message in KASHISH 2024 Festival Catalog.

64

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

6

FRI 7.45 PM Screen 3

MANDI

(Market Place)

Director: Shyam Benegal 167 min | 1983| India | Hindi, Deccani (Post screening Q&A) Featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Amrish Puri, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Saeed Jaffrey, Om Puri, Ila Arun, Annu Kapoor, Soni Razdan, and Neena Gupta – MANDI is a satirical comedy exploring politics and prostitution, based on the classic Urdu short story ‘Aanandi’ by Ghulam Abbas.

Set in the heart of Hyderabad, the film follows Rukmini Bai, who runs a vibrant brothel sustained by her wit and steely resolve. When an illicit affair involving one of her girls sparks scandal, opportunistic politicians – eager to seize the brothel’s prime location – call for its closure under the guise of public morality. Forced to relocate to the city’s outskirts, Rukmini and her girls face betrayal, hypocrisy, and displacement – until, ultimately, fate takes a fitting and ironic turn.

Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - London Film Festival, 1983 • Los Angeles Exposition (FILMEX), 1984 • Hong Kong International Film Festival, 1984 • Indian Panorama - Filmostav, Bombay 1984 • 1984 National Film Award - Best Art Direction for Nitish Roy

KASHISH 2025

65

JUNE

6

FRI 11.00 PM Screen 3

Queer After Dark Total Duration: 56 min

A daring collection of queer shorts that explore the thrill and terror of the night. From twisted romances to eerie encounters, these stories delve into desire, danger, and the strange magic that surfaces after dark. Bold, unsettling, and unafraid, Queer After Dark is a journey into the hidden, the haunted, and the deliciously unpredictable!

AWAITING ALBA

(L’attesa Dell’alba)

Director: Giovanni Carpanzano 10 min | 2024 | Italy | Italian | World Premiere Forced by a sudden evening thunderstorm, Alba, a transsexual woman with a past she thought she’d left behind, is drawn to the terrace. There, an unexpected encounter threatens to upend the fragile balance of her present.

DEMONS Director: Emmanuel Imani 20 min | 2024 | Nigeria, UK | English, Yoruba | Asian Premiere A London cop returns to Lagos, risking everything to avenge his lover’s death – confronting deep-rooted corruption and his own inner demons in a gripping, emotional quest for justice.

66

KASHISH 2025

DEAD GIRL Director: Kenz Benmosbah 9 min | 2024 | USA | English | Asian Premiere After her untimely death, Dani comes back from the dead on Halloween night and goes on a quest to win her fiancée back.

RAT! Director: Neal Suresh Mulani 17 min | 2024 | USA | English | Asian Premiere A disgruntled music journalist probably shouldn’t have accused a global pop star of queerbaiting –especially not while alone at his aunt’s isolated cabin.

KASHISH 2025

67

JUNE

7

SAT 9.30 AM Screen 3

Boys' Shorts

Total Duration: 75 min From flirty first glances to quiet heartbreaks, from hilarious mishaps to steamy encounters — this package of boy-centric shorts explores the wide emotional spectrum of queer male experiences. Whether it’s about finding love, navigating awkward friendships, or embracing one’s sensuality, these stories are as diverse as they are relatable. Expect charm, chaos, chemistry... and maybe a few lingering kisses.

(Post screening Q&A)

TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE Director: Baz Sells 9 min | 2025| UK | English | Animation Short | Asian Premiere A movingly tender animation, based on Dean Atta’s eponymous poem, sees Edan and Dula – two boys on a journey of self-acceptance and love – for each other and themselves.

NON SLUT Director: Shehryar Mir 12 min | 2024 | USA | English | Asian Premiere An insecure man attempts to ride out an unusual dating experiment, surrounded by the temptations of a raunchy queer party.

OPEN TO IT - EPISODE 1 Director: Greg Wolf 11 min | 2022 | USA | English A loving gay couple decides to spice things up by becoming a hot gay throuple. But threesomes and open relationships bring more complications than limbs.

68

KASHISH 2025

HIGH TENSION Director: Candra Aditya 27 min | 2025 | Indonesia | Indonesian | World Premiere A happy couple celebrates their six-month anniversary, wrapped in the illusion of a perfect love. But as the night unfolds, buried truths resurface, forcing them to confront whether their relationship is built to last or just a beautiful lie.

STRAWBERRY CREAM Director: Vishnu Sinha 16 min | 2024 | USA, India | English, Hindi | International Premiere In the strawberry fields of Kashmir, a hopelessly sensitive teen falls for his coolerthan-thou friend, and their ensuing summer romance transforms him. Part summer romance and part coming-of-age story set in India, Strawberry Cream follows a first love, a loss of innocence, and a moment of self-discovery.

KASHISH 2025

69

JUNE

7

SAT 11.00 AM Screen 3

Matters of Heart Total Duration: 57 min

From spontaneous crushes to emotional collisions, this collection explores the messy, tender, and often chaotic terrain of queer longing. Whether it’s a hesitant heart, an unresolved past, or the confusion of choosing between connection and caution—these films lay bare the vulnerability of love in all its awkward, beautiful, and unexpected forms.

(Post screening Q&A)

ICE CREAM, ICE QUEEN Director: Jeremy Tianyu Chi 17 min | 2024 | USA, China, New Zealand | English, Korean, Mandarin Chinese | Asian Premiere Lost in the lonely life of New York City, a middle-aged Chinese woman wrestles with the complexities of her unexpected bond with her son’s lesbian violin teacher.

LOVING SILENCE Director: Nick Perlman 15 min | 2024 | USA | English | International Premiere Of all places, when Jerome runs into his old flame, Luke, at a silent retreat, their past threatens to unravel his present.

THE D@TE (L@ Cita) Director: Itziar Castro 10 min | 2023 | Spain | Spanish | Asian Premiere What’s dating like when you’re famous? Is it a myth that famous people flirt more, or on the contrary fame is a repulsive for the game of love? A romantic comedy based on almost real facts.

70

KASHISH 2025

SIMON AT THE NIGHTSHOP Director: Thanasis Tsimpinis 15 min | 2024 | Belgium | Arabic, Dutch, French | Asian Premiere From a spontaneous crush to a thrashing rejection, when Simon finally gets a chance to level the playing field, he lets his heart win over his head.

Preceded by

PROJECT PRIYO

*Ismat Chughtai & Riyad Wadia Award Nominee Director: Shoi* 30 min | 2024| India | Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Malayalam | Documentary Short | Mumbai Premiere Project Priyo explores the lives of five queertrans individuals navigating the intersections of gender, caste, class, geography, and disability in India. Through candid stories of resilience, the film exposes systemic barriers and social exclusion, while celebrating defiance, love, and the power to live authentically in a world that often pushes them to the margins.

(Post screening Q&A)

KASHISH 2025

71

JUNE

7

SAT 12.45 PM

International Narrative Centrepiece

Screen 3

THREE KILOMETERS TO THE END OF THE WORLD (Trei kilometri până la capătul lumii)

Director: Emanuel Pârvu 105 min | 2024 | Romania | Romanian | Mumbai Premiere

The new wave Romanian filmmaker presents a poignant tale of homophobia set in a quaint, conservative town.

Seventeen-year-old Adi returns to his Danube Delta village for the summer, only to face a violent homophobic attack that shatters his world. As his community’s facade of tranquility crumbles, Adi’s journey of self-discovery challenges entrenched traditions, revealing the painful cost of authenticity in a society steeped in denial and repression.

Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Cannes, 2024 • Winner - Queer Palm, Cannes, 2024 • Winner - Emanuel Parvu - European University Film Award, 2024 • Winner - Best Director, International Cinema - Jerusalem Film Festival, 2024 • Winner - Rainbow Spike - Valladolid International Film Festival, 2024 • Winner - Best Film- Sarajevo Film Festival, 2024 • International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa, 2024

EMANUEL PÂRVU

72

EMANUEL PÂRVU (b. 1979) is a Romanian film and theatre actor, director, and writer. A graduate of the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest, he has acted in films by acclaimed Romanian directors including Cristian Mungiu, Adrian Sitaru, Constantin Popescu, and Dan Chișu. After directing several short films, he made his feature debut with The Not So Bright Side of Things (2017), which won the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Director and Best Actor.

Supported by: EU Film Festival

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

7

Two of Us

SAT

Total Duration: 94 min Sometimes love doesn’t end in anger — it just gently drifts into memory.

Two of Us brings stories of lovers who were once inseparable, now find themselves at emotional crossroads. Whether growing apart, clashing within, or drifting away, these films explore the bittersweet beauty of having once belonged. Because sometimes, parting doesn’t mean the love wasn’t real — it just wasn’t forever!

2.45 PM Screen 3

Also playing on Thursday, June 5, Alliance Française Bombay, 3.45 PM

CAR WASH (Túnel De Lavado) Director: Lucas Sogas 30 min | 2023 | Spain | Spanish | Asian Premiere Two boys from a soccer team disguise their love relationship as sheer friendship so as not to be discovered. One night at a car wash could trigger a different path in their lives.

FINDING THE RAINBOW (무지개를 찾아서)

Director: Hwanga Yang 13 min | 2025 | Korea, Republic of | Korean | World Premiere Ae-young and Ji-woo go in search of a rainbow for a perfect breakup.

SILVIA’S HOUSE (La Casa De Silvia) Director: Álvaro Lucas 12 min | 2025 | Spain | Spanish | Asian Premiere Two friends, Martín and Raúl, are walking through the night in Madrid, heading to a party at Silvia’s house. Along the way, they talk, argue, and joke around. Although it is not a comedy, it speaks with humour and affection about friendship, love, and the fears of a generation that has grown up in an uncertain time, with little to hold on to.

KASHISH 2025

73

THRESHOLD Director: Gregory Brecher 16 min | 2024 | USA | English | Asian Premiere It’s been thirty years since Joan & Susie stood before their closest friends to celebrate at a small wedding. Now, in front of children and chosen family, they cross a different threshold.

SUNFLOWERS AT NIGHT Director: Quentin Delcourt 23 min | 2024 | France | English, French | Asian Premiere Back in his hometown to celebrate the success of his new book, David learns his assistant and friend, Michael is becoming a father. Shaken, he’s forced to confront his own truth— especially when past love Sasha reappears that evening.

74

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

7

SAT 5.45 PM Screen 3

NUKKAD NAATAK

(A Street Play)

Director: Tanmaya Shekhar 107 min | 2024 | India | Hindi (Post screening Q&A) A sharp, heartfelt film about youthful idealism, queer identity, and class struggle— and what it means to come of age in contemporary India!

After being expelled for petty theft, college best friends Molshri and Shivang must redeem themselves by enrolling five underprivileged children into school.

As they take to the streets with street theatre, the film explores through Molshri, we witness a young person’s perspective on India’s pressing social issues, while Shivang’s journey offers a poignant glimpse into the challenges of being a gay man in a conservative society.

Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere, Special Jury Prize - Kolkata International Film Festival, 2024 • Jagran Film Festival – Mumbai Chapter, 2025 • UK Asian Film Festival, London, 2025 • Habitat Film Festival, Delhi, 2025

TANMAYA SHEKHAR

TANMAYA SHEKHAR (1989) is a Mumbai-based writer-director. An alumnus of IIT Kanpur, he transitioned to filmmaking and began his career in New York, working on productions for HBO and Focus Features. His short films have screened internationally. His work explores personal and sociopolitical themes through a whimsical and imaginative lens.

KASHISH 2025

75

JUNE

7

SAT 8.00 PM

Indian Narrative Centrepiece

Screen 3

WE ARE FAHEEM & KARUN Director: Onir 75 min | 2025 | India | Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri, English, Malayalam

(Post screening Q&A) A poignant tale of two men navigating love in silence—one closeted by faith, the other by his profession.

In a remote Kashmiri village near the India–Pakistan border, Karun, a young security officer from Kerala, meets Faheem, a local with a disarming smile.

Their quiet connection blossoms into a tender yet doomed romance.

We Are Faheem & Karun is the first Kashmiri-language LGBTQI+ film, exploring love, identity, faith, friendship, and duty—all shadowed by the larger forces of geopolitics and cultural taboos that quietly shape and shatter personal lives.

Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere- Dharmshala International Film Festival, 2024 • Jagran Film Festival - Delhi, Mumbai, Dehradun Chapter, 2025 • International Premiere - BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, 2025 • UK Asian Film Festival, London, 2025

ONIR

76

National Award-winning filmmaker ONIR (1969) has been at the forefront of bringing queer narratives to mainstream Indian cinema and amplifying the voice for queer rights. From the groundbreaking My Brother…Nikhil (2005) to I Am (2011), Shab (2017), Pine Cone (unreleased), My Melbourne (2025), and now We Are Faheem & Karun, Onir continues to push boundaries with honesty and heart. A longtime KASHISH favorite, his films have consistently resonated with audiences and found a special place at the festival.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

7

SAT 10.00 PM Screen 3

BABY

(In Competition)

Director: Marcelo Caetano 107 min | 2024 | Brazil, France, Netherlands, Portuguese | Mumbai Premiere A gritty yet tender tale of survival, longing, and conflicted passion!

São Paulo’s streets can offer danger or opportunity, and for Baby, they deliver both. After being released from a juvenile detention center, Wellington aka Baby finds himself alone and adrift on the streets of São Paulo, without any contact from his parents and lacking the resources to rebuild his life. He encounters Ronaldo, who teaches him new ways of surviving. Gradually, their relationship turns into a conflicting passion.

Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Critics Week program, Cannes, 2024 • Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award - Critics Week program, Cannes, 2024 • Filmfest, Hamburg, 2024 • BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, 2024

MARCELO CAETANO

MARCELO CAETANO (1982) is a Brazilian filmmaker based in São Paulo since 2004. His directorial debut Body Electric premiered in Rotterdam in 2017. He also directed the TV series Hit Parade and Notícias Populares both broadcasted on Canal Brasil. He has collaborated on various productions as an assistant director and casting producer, notably on Tatuagem, Bacurau, Aquarius and Neon Bull. In 2009, Marcelo co-founded Desbun Filmes.

Supported by: KASHISH 2025

77

JUNE

8

SUN 9.30 AM

Screen 3

Of Unicorns and Quiet Roars Total Duration: 57 min

A playful, heartfelt collection of short films that celebrates selfdiscovery, quiet courage, and the magic of being true to yourself.

From tender coming-outs to shimmering fantasies, these stories speak to young hearts and bold spirits alike.

Also playing on Thursday, June 5, Cinépolis Screen 4, 9.30 AM

DRAGFOX Director: Lisa Ott 8 min | 2024 | UK | English | Animation Short | Mumbai Premiere As young trans protagonist Sam wrestles with questions of identity, an unexpected visitor— a flamboyant neighborhood fox named Ginger Snap (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen)— bursts onto the scene. What follows is a charming musical adventure where the unlikely pair discovers the magic of acceptance, connection, and celebrating the uniqueness that sets us apart.

WATER HAZARD (À Tona d’Àgua) Director: Alexander David 23 min | 2024 | Portugal | Portuguese | Indian Premiere A pre-adolescent kid spends a family summer holiday at a golf village. A newly built lake on a golf course becomes the backdrop to a mysterious encounter. And the discovery of an unknown other becomes the discovery of the unknown self.

WOLF Directors: Chris Blaine, Ben Blaine 16 min | 2024 | UK | English | Asian Premiere When Brian and Sammy, best friends since high school, meet up for their yearly Halloween night of trick or treating, Sammy needs to accept that growing up means the future of their friendship might look a little different for them.

78

KASHISH 2025

DRAGON’S BREATH Director: Melanie Easton 10 min | 2024 | Australia | English | Asian Premiere A group of middle-schoolers must convince their friend to perform in the school talent show after she reveals an embarrassing and fantastical secret.

KASHISH 2025

79

JUNE

8

SUN 11.00 AM

Screen 3

International Narrative Shorts Competition – 4 Total Duration: 75 min

The last offering in this year’s International Narrative Shorts Competition brings together five poignant stories where meetings spark transformation. From clandestine affairs to unexpected friendships, these films explore how renewed connections, or moments of vulnerability can open new worlds. Whether it’s revisiting a current relationship or discovering someone anew, each story captures the quiet magic of bonds being made—or remade!

(Post screening Q&A)

VIOLETS (Violetas) Director: Borja Escribano 18 min | 2024 | Spain | Spanish | Asian Premiere In 1945, beneath the oppressive shadow of the Francoist dictatorship, Juan, a university assistant, meets Manuel during a chance encounter in a park. With their initial reservations, a complex love story unfolds between them, shaped by the turbulent political climate and the misunderstanding of those around them.

¡SALSA! Director: Antonina Kerguelén Román 14 min | 2024 | Columbia | American Sign Language, Spanish | Asian Premiere Amid prejudiced gazes, free-spirited Margarita leaves her marriage in search of identity. She meets Liana, a deaf tourist, and sees in her a new world. As their bond deepens, Margarita teaches Liana to dance— discovering a powerful, tactile form of connection beyond words and embracing her own truth.

80

KASHISH 2025

END OF 14 DAYS Director: Sudipta Kundu 13 min | 2024 | Bangladesh, India | Bengali | World Premiere During the pandemic, Bhola and Abbas, young labourers returning to Bangladesh by cycling 1500 km, quarantine in a jungle. Their elderly fellow traveller is hospitalized in critical condition. On the final day of isolation, the friends, anxious for him, find themselves strangely wishing the solitude could last forever.

SEEN

*Ismat Chughtai Award Nominee Director: Shuchi Kothari* 11 min | 2024 | New Zealand, India |English, Gujarati | Asian Premiere Separated from their work colleagues on a motivational retreat, two young women accidentally find themselves inside a subterranean step-well. While searching for their missing phone, they navigate intimacy and desire. Sometimes, it takes a different kind of looking to actually be seen.

ZARI Director: Shruti Parekh 19 min | 2024 | USA, India | English, Hindi | Indian Premiere Neelu, visiting India for her sister’s wedding, feels out of place amid traditional expectations.

At a sari shop, she meets Zeyb, a quiet clerk who expertly models saris for customers. When she accidentally uncovers his secret, the two outsiders form an unexpected bond—one that sparks self-discovery and affirms their identities on their own terms.

KASHISH 2025

81

JUNE

8

SUN 12.45 PM

Screen 3

Indian Narrative Shorts Competition Total Duration: 84 min

This year’s nominations for the Best Indian Narrative Short competition include four compelling films that explore the fundamental desire to love and be loved, the struggle for acceptance, and most importantly—finding comfort in one’s own identity.

(Post screening Q&A)

MY COMRADE (Amar Comrade) Director: Tathagata Ghosh 25 min | 2024 | India | Bengali | Asian Premiere When a wounded rebel accidentally takes refuge in the home of a tribal villager, both the men’s lives spiral into a tense interplay of politics and forbidden love.

JASMINE THAT BLOOMS IN AUTUMN Director: Chandradeep Das 14 min | 2025 | India | Bengali, Hindi | Asian Premiere Love blossoms secretly between two old women at an elderly care home while the spectre of patriarchy looms large overhead.

VELIPADU (Velipādu: The Revelation) *Riyad Wadia Award Nominee Director: Jijo Jessy Kuriakose* 26 min | 2024 | India | Malayalam | Mumbai Premiere Set in central Kerala, Velipādu: “The Revelation” follows Johnny, a priest-in-training, as he navigates queer desire, faith, and identity.

Blending Christian music, intimate detail, and regional aesthetics, the film resists stereotypical narratives to explore plural possibilities of love. A semi-autobiographical tale, it reimagines same-sex affection with tenderness, lyricism, and a distinctly Malayali queer gaze.

82

KASHISH 2025

BECAUSE

*Ismat Chughtai Award Nominee Director: Sunita Malpani* 19 min | 2025 | India | Hindi, English | World Premiere Neil, an open-hearted Hip-hop dancer, and Javed, quietly guarded, hit a crossroads when Neil’s mother wants to meet. Javed, afraid to come out, pulls back. But at a café, Neil’s idea turns looming heartbreak into unexpected hope.

KASHISH 2025

83

JUNE

8

SUN 2.45 PM

Screen 3

THE BEST FRIEND

(O Melhor Amigo)

Director: Allan Deberton 94 min| 2024| Brazil | Portuguese | Narrative Feature After premiering the namesake short at KASHISH 2014, Allan Deberton returns with its vibrant feature-length adaptation — a gay musical, a dazzling ode to the 1980s generation!

Spooked by his long-term boyfriend’s very public proposal, Lucas flees to the resort town of Canoa Quebrada only to run into his unrequited college crush, Felipe there. The tall-tan- handsome Felipe helps the shy-coy timid Lucas out of his shell till he surrenders to the pursuit of liberating intimacy while Felipe loses himself in colorful nights. A burning and uncertain passion under the Brazilian sun.

Festivals & Honors: • Special Premiere - Cinesystem Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2025 • Wicked Queer, Boston, US, 2025 • WorldPride Film Festival, Washington DC, 2025 • Closing Night Gala - Inside Out, Toronto, 2025

ALLAN DEBERTON

84

ALLAN DEBERTON (1982) is a Brazilian filmmaker and Cinema Studies graduate from Fluminense Federal University. His debut feature, Pacarrete (2019), won several festival awards including the Best Director award at the 24th International Film Festival of Kerala, and was submitted for 2021 Golden Globe in non-English category. His award-winning shorts screened at 150+ festivals. His latest film, The Best Friend (2024) continues his exploration of themes related to identity and human connection.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

8

SUN 10.15 PM

CLOSE TO YOU Director: Dominic Savage 100 min | 2023 | Canada, UK | English | Asian Premiere

Closing Feature

Screen 3

Transgender actor Elliot Page returns to the big screen after a seven-year hiatus with an outstanding, nuanced performance!

After four years away, Sam returns to his hometown for his father’s birthday — his first visit since transitioning. A chance encounter with a high school friend rekindles old feelings. As the trip unfolds, Sam confronts unresolved emotions, strained family ties, and a past love, ultimately discovering a deeper sense of self, closure, and newfound confidence.

Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Toronto International Film Festival, 2023 • BFI Flare LGBTQ+ Film Festival, London, UK, 2024 • NewFest - New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2024

DOMINIC SAVAGE

DOMINIC SAVAGE (1962) is a BAFTA-winning British filmmaker who began as a child actor in Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon (1975). His feature debut Love + Hate (2005) won multiple awards, followed by The Escape, starring Gemma Arterton and Dominic Cooper. He created and directed Channel 4’s acclaimed I Am series, collaborating with leading British actresses across three seasons. I Am Ruth, starring Kate Winslet, won two BAFTAs. Close to You is his latest film.

KASHISH 2025

85

Cinepolis Andheri Screen 4 5-8 June, 2025

86

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

Of Unicorns and Quiet Roars Total Duration: 87 min

A playful, heartfelt collection of short films that celebrates self-discovery, quiet courage, and the magic of being true to yourself. From tender coming-outs to shimmering fantasies, these stories speak to young hearts and bold spirits alike.

5

THU 9.30 AM Screen 4

Also playing on Sunday, June 8, Cinépolis Screen 3, 9.30 AM

DRAGFOX Director: Lisa Ott 8 min | 2024 | UK | English | Animation Short | Mumbai Premiere As young trans protagonist Sam wrestles with questions of identity, an unexpected visitor— a flamboyant neighborhood fox named Ginger Snap (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen)— bursts onto the scene. What follows is a charming musical adventure where the unlikely pair discovers the magic of acceptance, connection, and celebrating the uniqueness that sets us apart.

WATER HAZARD (À Tona d’Àgua) Director: Alexander David 23 min | 2024 | Portugal | Portuguese | Indian Premiere A pre-adolescent kid spends a family summer holiday at a golf village. A newly built lake on a golf course becomes the backdrop to a mysterious encounter. And the discovery of an unknown other becomes the discovery of the unknown self.

WOLF Directors: Chris Blaine, Ben Blaine 16 min | 2024 | UK | English | Asian Premiere When Brian and Sammy, best friends since high school, meet up for their yearly Halloween night of trick or treating, Sammy needs to accept that growing up means the future of their friendship might look a little different for them.

KASHISH 2025

87

DRAGON’S BREATH Director: Melanie Easton 10 min | 2024 | Australia | English | Asian Premiere A group of middle-schoolers must convince their friend to perform in the school talent show after she reveals an embarrassing and fantastical secret.

88

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

5

Parenting with Pride

THU

Total Duration: 87 min

What does it mean to nurture, guide, and love—while defying society’s expectations? This short films package explores the deeply human and exemplary experiences of trans and queer individuals who have stepped into the roles of parents, caregivers, and chosen family anchors. Through joy, resilience, and quiet strength, these films reveal the beauty and complexity of queer parenting. They challenge rigid notions of family, instead celebrating bonds formed not by tradition, but by intention, care, and unwavering commitment.

10.45 AM Screen 4

(Post screening Q&A)

TWO SIDES Director: Mi Ni Ni Aung 18 min | 2025 | Myanmar | Burmese | Short Documentary | World Premiere Thit Lwin Htun, a transgender man, lives in a quiet Yangon neighborhood where he runs a barber shop. Content in his body and fulfilled by his work, he now faces a more personal journey: emotionally reconciling his past as the mother of a teenage daughter with his present as a newly married man.

UNHEARD STORIES- KAUNISH Director: Vaibhav Hatkar 11 min | 2023 | India | Hindi | Short Documentary This film sheds light on the heartwarming journey of Kaunish and Aparna, a beautiful couple who share their narrative and express their desire to experience parenthood. Despite confronting their own societal challenges, they have chosen to embrace their journey as parents.

TRANS AND PREGNANT Director: Ramon Te Wake 58 min | 2024 | New Zealand | English | Short Documentary | Asian Premiere A thought provoking and inspiring documentary about two men who are on a journey to parenthood. Not by adoption or surrogacy, but

by Frankie, a trans man, carrying the baby.

KASHISH 2025

89

JUNE

5

THU 12.30 PM Screen 4

Trans Triumphs- 1 Total Duration: 81 min

This inspiring collection of short documentaries highlights the journeys of transgender individuals who’ve become leaders in education, activism, and community life. Their paths weren’t easy, but each found someone — a mother’s love, a mentor’s guidance — who helped them through. Today, they embody those very roles, offering strength, support, and hope to others finding their place in the world. A moving tribute to the power of affirmation and chosen connections.

(Post screening Q&A)

AMMA’S PRIDE Director: Shiva Krish 21 min | 2024 | India | Tamil Srija, a transgender woman and student in Tamil Nadu, marries Arun Kumar despite temple resistance, becoming the state’s first trans woman to legally register a marriage. When media attention costs Arun his job, he turns to alcohol, straining their relationship. Heartbroken, Srija attempts suicide but survives with her mother Valli’s steadfast support and hope for her daughter’s happiness.

GO ON, RITUPARNA ( চরৈ�বে�টি, ঋতু​ুপর্ণা​া� )

Director: Aashish Kumar 31 min | 2024 | USA, India | Assamese, English, Hindi “Xun” to her loving Mother, and “Piku” or “Ritu” to friends, Rituparna Neog has blazed a trail for queer and trans rights, gender justice, and access to free libraries in her native Assam and other parts of India. This film is a tribute to the power of activism, familial love, and community-building.

90

KASHISH 2025

SWEET BEGINNING

(Inithey Aarambam) *Riyad Wadia Award Nominee Director: Amal Allesse* 19 min | 2024 | India | Tamil | Mumbai Premiere In a small private school nestled within the vibrant city of Chennai, two remarkable individuals are quietly revolutionizing the classroom experience, shattering the glass ceiling by becoming transwomen educators. Their mission? To sow the seeds of acceptance and understanding through queer education.

UNHEARD STORIES-VIJAYA Director: Vaibhav Hatkar 10 min | 2023 | India | Marathi Vijaya, a trailblazing transwoman and the first trans forest officer from a tribal community in the Satpuda range. From her student days in Pune—where supportive mentors helped her embrace her identity—to her impactful work at the National AIDS Research Institute, Vijaya’s journey reflects resilience, self-discovery, and the strength of community. Her story is a powerful testament to breaking barriers and building a meaningful, authentic life.

KASHISH 2025

91

JUNE

5

THU 2.30 PM

Indian Documentary Centrepiece

Screen 4

I AM REVATHI

(Njan Revathi)

Director: Abhijith P 115 min | 2025 | India | Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil | Mumbai Premiere

(Post screening Q&A) Returning to KASHISH after his acclaimed fiction debut Antharam (2022), the filmmaker shifts to documentary form to offer a poignant and powerful reallife portrait.

A glimpse into the extraordinary life of A. Revathi, the documentary traces the journey of a trans woman who transformed adversity into activism.

Leaving her home in Tamil Nadu in the 1980s, Revathi found belonging in hijra communities across India. Today, she’s a celebrated writer, speaker, actor, and trans rights activist. Through powerful reflections by Revathi and her peers, I Am Revathi offers an intimate portrait of resilience and the broader realities of trans lives in India.

Also playing on Friday, June 6, Alliance Française Bombay, 5.30 PM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Independent & Experimental Film Festival of Kerala (IEFFK), 2025

P. ABHIJITH

92

P. ABHIJITH (1980), a Kozhikode-based photojournalist and filmmaker, has been documenting Kerala’s transgender community since 2007. His debut documentary Avalilekkulla Dooram won multiple awards. His debut feature Antharam opened KASHISH 2022, where lead trans actress Negha Shahin received the Rainbow Voices award. Abhijith also won the prestigious Pamban Madhavan State Award for news photography.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

5

Family Matters

THU

Total Duration: 88 min

For queer individuals, family can be both a challenge and a source of strength. This vibrant package of five short films explores how queerness reshapes family bonds – from moments of tension and reckoning to acts of love, acceptance, and unexpected support – revealing the many ways queer lives are shaped by, and reshape, family.

4.45 PM Screen 4

(Post screening Q&A) Also playing on Sunday, June 8, Alliance Française Bombay, 3.45 PM

CROSSING THE DESERT Director: Reena Dutt 13 min | 2024 | USA | English, Bengali | International Premiere A tender exploration of the complex bond between a South Asian immigrant mother and her queer American daughter, this story invites us to re-examine our expectations of those we love – and consider what it truly means to accept someone as they are, not as we wish them to be.

PUFFS Director: Chaya Moshayev 14 min | 2024 | Uzbekistan, Israel | Hebrew, Russian, Uzbek | Indian Premiere Ella and Edik, arrive early on holiday to their parents’ home to find their homophobic father – dead and dressed in women’s clothes. While their mother is on her way home, they have to decide what to do.

ELIJAH Director: Razid Season 19 min | 2024 | USA | Bangla, English | Asian Premiere Haider, a Bangladeshi taxi driver faces the reality that the American Dream may never be his.

Crisis spills into his family life as his daughter, Shoshi, is consumed by her desire to live life fully as a man in a trans-phobic immigrant culture.

KASHISH 2025

93

JALSA - THE NAME DAY

*Riyad Wadia Award Nominee Director: Saikat Mondal* 23 min | 2024 | India | Hindi | Mumbai Premiere

On the day of Jalsa, Suresh visits his estranged sibling, now Meneka. Amid rituals, revelations, and song, he begins to understand her world – ultimately embracing her identity with acceptance.

GRANDMA NAI WHO PLAYED FAVORITES Director: Chheangkea 19 min | 2025 | Cambodia, France, USA | Central Khmer | Indian Premiere During her chaotic family’s Qingming visit, dead Grandma Nai sneaks away from her peaceful afterlife after overhearing that her gay grandson is about to get engaged to a woman.

Note: This film contains strobe effects.

94

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

5

THU 6.30 PM Screen 4

BULLETPROOF: A LESBIAN’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE PLOT Director: Regan Latimer 105 min | 2024 | Canada | English | Documentary Feature | Asian Premiere A witty and thought-provoking documentary explores the enduring question: Why do lesbian characters keep dying on television?

Blending original animation, pop culture references, and personal anecdotes, the film offers a sharp and entertaining dive into queer representation on television. Through conversations with TV insiders, LGBTQ+ advocates, and everyday viewers, this campy, fast-paced documentary unpacks how media shapes perceptions and identities – offering both critique and celebration of the stories that have defined, and confined, queer visibility.

Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere -Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival, Toronto, 2024 • OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, Durham, NC, 2024 • Best Documentary - Image Filmout San Diego, CA, 2024 • Best Documentary - Image+Nation Montreal Film Festival • Best Documentary - Perth Queer Film Festival, Australia • Audience Choice Award - London Lesbian Film Festival, London, ON, Canada • QFest St Louis Film Festival, St Louis, Missouri

REGAN LATIMER

REGAN LATIMER is an independent filmmaker with credits as a director, writer, and editor. Her digital series B.J. Fletcher: Private Eye garnered over 16M views and aired on Logo/MTV. She heads Bee Charmer Productions, and is also a co-founder of IWCC and Toronto Web Series Festival. Her credits include Lindy Calls Tracy (screened at KASHISH 2015), Harmony Love Matches for Life Inc. The featured film marks her debut as a documentary feature filmmaker.

KASHISH 2025

95

JUNE

5

THU 8.30 PM Screen 4

WHAT WE WROTE TOGETHER (Lo Que Escribimos Juntos) Director: Nicolás Teté

(In Competition)

93 min | 2024 | Argentina | Spanish | Asian Premiere A tender exploration of love, routine, and the quiet complexities of long-term relationships!

Mariano and Juan, a couple of six years, leave city life behind to pursue Mariano’s dream of opening a plant nursery, supported by the success of Juan’s latest novel. Their tranquil rural life is punctuated by a visit from Juan’s best friend, Carla. As the weekend unfolds, the trio confronts hidden tensions and unspoken truths, challenging the foundations of love, ambition, and companionship.

Also playing on Saturday, June 7, Alliance Française Bombay, 5.30 PM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere & Festival Favorite Award - Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2024 • Latin America Premiere - Mix Brasil, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2024 • European Premiere - Schwule Filmtage MannheimMannheim, Germany, 2025 • Closing Film - Buenos Aires International Film Festival on Diversity & Gender (FIDiG Cine) Argentina, 2025 NICOLÁS TETÉ (1989) is an Argentine filmmaker and writer who studied at Universidad del Cine (FUC). His work includes the fiction features Last Family Holidays (2013), Onyx (2016), and A Skeleton in the Closet (2021), which also screened at KASHISH that year, as well as the documentary Shineless (2018), co-directed with Guillermo Félix. His work has screened NICOLÁS at festivals including BAFICI, Mar del Plata, and Guadalajara. He is also the TETÉ author of two short story collections: Nada nos puede pasar and Aplausos.

96

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

5

THU 10.15PM Screen 4

WARM FILM

(Topli Film) (In Competition)

Director: Dragan Jovićević 92 min | 2024 | Serbia | Serbian | Documentary Feature | Indian Premiere A fascinating exploration of the history of queer cinema in Yugoslavia and the postYugoslav region – from the silent era to today! A Yugoslav ‘The Celluloid Closet’!!

After being offered roles in a gay film with intimate scenes, two young Serbian actors find themselves caught between ambition and the fear of being labelled.

Their research into LGBTIQ representation in Yugoslav and Serbian cinema unfolds against a backdrop of rising nationalism and homophobia. What has queer visibility in film truly meant over the decades – and what risks still remain?

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - Thessaloniki Documentary International Festival, Greece, 2024 • National Premiere - Beldocs - Belgrade International Documentary Festival, Serbia, 2024 • Asian Premiere - Thailand International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2024 • Dokumentale, Berlin, Germany, 2024 • Beijing Queer Film Festival, 2024 • TLVFest - Tel Aviv, Israel, 2024 • Eastern Neighbours Film Festival, Haag, Netherlands, 2024 • Prvi kadar, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2024 • Best Documentary, Best Serbian Queer Film - Merlinka Festival, Belgrade, 2024

DRAGAN JOVIĆEVIĆ, a Belgrade-based filmmaker, studied Film at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts. He creates short films, video art, and installations, and is also a published author and cultural critic. He was the producer of a documentary program at National Serbian Broadcast Avala.

He leads Greifer, a production house in Belgrade uniting multidisciplinary DRAGAN artists across diverse visual forms.

JOVIĆEVIĆ KASHISH 2025

97

JUNE

6

FRI 9.30 AM Screen 4

QUEENS IN FINISTÈRE Director: Vanessa Le Reste

(In Competition)

63 min | 2024 | France | French | Documentary Feature | Asian Premiere From sashaying on stage to organizing the Pride parade – “Mother Drag” and her daughters are everywhere.

15 cm heels, sky-high lashes, and a razor-sharp tongue – meet Britany Hart, the reigning Queen of Brittany, and her daughters as they strut through wild Breton nights and navigate everyday life. Drag shows, parties, sisterhood, and fierce commitment collide in this intimate dive into the Hart family –where drag reigns in a small French town redefining community.

Also playing on Sunday, June 8, Alliance Française Bombay, 10.30 AM Note: This film contains strobe effects.

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - Festival du film de Douarnenez, France, 2024 • Rome Indie Film Festival, Italy, 2024 • Honorable mention - INCLUCINE Festival, Bolívar, Colombia, 2024 • Barcelona Queer Festival, Spain, 2024 • Best Documentary Award - Rainbow Umbrella Film Festival, London, 2025

VANESSA LE RESTE

98

VANESSA LE RESTE is a writer-director trained at La Fémis, the French national film school. After working as a script supervisor, she moved into directing, with her shorts screening at major festivals and on French TV. Now based in Brittany, she founded DAHUD PROD to develop original series and co-produce creative documentaries. Queens in Finistère is her recent documentary.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

6

Sapphic Snapshots

Total Duration: 78 min From moments of bold flirtation to quiet gestures of tenderness, this vibrant collection of short films captures the many hues of love, desire, and connection between women. Whether carefree or complicated, these stories explore the joy, rebellion, and resilience of Sapphic bonds – sometimes defying social expectations, sometimes simply savoring the sweetness of being seen. Together, they create a vivid photo album of what it means to love as a girl who loves girls!

FRI 10.45 AM Screen 4

(Post screening Q&A)

OLD LESBIANS Director: Meghan McDonough 29 min | 2023 | USA | English | Short Documentary | Asian Premiere For over 25 years, retired schoolteacher Arden Eversmeyer travelled across the U.S. to record the oral “herstories” of a largely invisible, rapidly vanishing generation. This film honors her legacy by bringing to life the resilient, joyful voices she preserved – from first crush to first love, from the closet to coming out, and from loss to lasting connection.

IT BURNS

*Aditya Nanda Award Nominee Director: Kate Maveau* 11 min | 2024 | Belgium | No Dialogues | Asian Premiere As the boundaries between the living and the dead blur, Irène’s denial navigates through the five stages of grief, ultimately confronting her profound anguish and sorrow.

COURTING THE NIGHT Director: Michael Carnick 15 min | 2024 | USA | English | Asian Premiere One bar, one night – two couples whose love stories unfold like reflections: distinct at first glance, intimately alike up close.

KASHISH 2025

99

SURAJMUKHI

*Ismat Chughtai Award Nominee Directors: Ritik Mehta, Kriti Edwankar* 13 min | 2025 | India | English | Indian Premiere Surajmukhi, a flower of the sun, aches for the night. Drawn to the moonlit world of Parijatika & raatranis, she tastes freedom and desire. But night is fleeting, and dawn is merciless. As light and dark meet, so do love and loss.

SONDESH (সন্দে� শ) Director: Humaira Hannan Snigdha 10 min | 2024 | Bangladesh | Bengali | Indian Premiere Farhana’s seemingly content marriage to her husband hides her longing for a deeper connection till a chance encounter with Nisha, ignites the spark within her. She is forced to confront her true desires and navigate a world that is hostile of their identities.

100

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

Student Shorts Competition - 1 Total Duration: 93 min

The first part of a mixed package of narrative and documentary short films by student filmmakers from media schools around the world. These five films offer fresh, dynamic interpretations of queer experiences — exploring themes of acceptance, connection, and the unspoken fear of separation.

6

FRI 12.30 PM Screen 4

(Post screening Q&A)

TWO TRAVELLING AUNTIES Director: Christine Seow 22 min | 2025 | UK, Singapore | English | Asian Premiere National Film and Television School, Buckinghamshire, England, UK Singaporeans Norah and Susie, both in their late fifties, ditch conventional life for the open road – documenting their overlanding adventures filled with laughter, challenges, and discovery. Beneath their free-spirited journey lies a story of resilience, shaped by years of judgment in a conservative society. More than a road trip, it’s a tender love story celebrating courage, companionship, and the freedom to live authentically.

MELVILASAM Director: Hariprasad K N 15 min | 2024 | India | Malayalam | Mumbai Premiere K. R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts, Kottayam, Kerala, India In Rosemala village near Kollam, India’s first transgender postwoman, Parvathi T.S. delivers each letter to its rightful address – yet finding her own, both in society and at her workplace, was a long, uphill battle. Struggling against deep-rooted social and economic barriers, she fought for years to be recognized and accepted in her true identity.

KASHISH 2025

101

FAR BETWEEN US Director: Vojtěch Javůrek 12 min | 2024 | Czech Republic, Slovakia | Czech, Slovak |Asian Premiere Academy of Performing Arts, Bratislava, Slovakia Little Vašek, caught between his two dads and the sudden return of his biological mother, becomes haunted by visions of an impending apocalypse. Feeling unheard and isolated, he retreats into a world of silent fears and dangerous games with fire. As tensions among the adults escalate, Vašek locks himself in a shed, convinced that the end is near – and the fire is coming.

LAND/WATER (Dongar/Pani) *Ismat Chughtai Award Nominee

Director: Sanjivani Kamble* 25 min | 2024 | India | English, Marathi | World Premiere MIT Institute of Design, Pune, India When Savi leaves Bombay for a new job in Alibaug, her roommate Anu is left to confront a quiet storm of unspoken feelings. What begins as a farewell becomes a tender, introspective journey of love and friendship on the cusp of change. A bittersweet coming-of-age tale about the ache of growing up, the choices we make, and the bonds that shape us – even as they slip away.

I AM Director: Tony Dia 19 min | 2024 | USA | English | Mumbai Premiere University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Ethan lives separate lives as a socially awkward college student by day and a fearlessly glamorous drag queen by night. That is, until his life is turned upside-down by Kekoa, his school crush. As his two worlds collide, Ethan is forced to confront his fear of change in order to win the boy of his dreams.

102

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

6

FRI 2.30 PM Screen 4

A LIFE INSIDE ME Director: Jackie R. Bala 102 min | 2024 | India | Hindi | Narrative Feature (Post screening Q&A) A poignant and powerful drama that delves into the emotional journey of an elderly man grappling a lifelong truth!

Sitaram, an elder confronting the twilight of his life, begins to break a lifelong silence about his gender identity. As he embraces self-acceptance and shares his truth with his family, his daughter Mira navigates her own challenges – a strained marriage and the unexpected news of her pregnancy. Their intertwined journeys offer a poignant reflection on identity, acceptance, and the courage to live authentically amidst the weight of tradition and societal expectations.

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere, Winner - Best Indian Feature Film - Out & Loud - Pune International Queer Film Festival

JACKIE R. BALA

JACKIE R. BALA is an Indian director, producer, and screenwriter known for his award-winning short films. His recent works have garnered multiple nominations and accolades at national and international film festivals, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Actor Award for There Is No Human (2022). With a distinct voice and a flair for impactful storytelling, he continues to carve out a space in contemporary cinema. A Life Inside Me marks his debut feature.

Preceded by

KASHISH 2025

103

À LA CARTE Director: Iván Vigara 8 min | 2024 | Spain | Spanish | Mumbai Premiere One letter can tell more than a lifetime. Iván faces the moment of opening up to his recent date after returning from dinner. When they get home and everything seems ready for their first sexual encounter, Iván surprises Mónica with a letter that will reveal a reality that she ignored.

104

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

6

Face2Face

FRI

Total Duration: 86 min In a world that often turns away from what it doesn’t understand, sometimes the only way forward is to confront it – head-on.

Face2Face is a striking selection of short films where protagonists come face to face with fear, prejudice, shame, or loss- whether in themselves or in the world around them. These stories reflect moments of personal reckoning, resilience, and empowerment, showing how meaningful change often begins with a courageous confrontation.

4.45 PM Screen 4

Also playing on Saturday, June 7, Alliance Française Bombay, 12.00 Noon

GILLYFISH Director: Sarah Sellman 11 min | 2024 | Ireland, UK, USA | English | Asian Premiere When Gillian assumes her partner’s identity to confront their estranged father, an unexpected connection begins to unfold. In this quietly powerful short, healing arrives in unusual forms – through disguise, empathy, and the courage to step into someone else’s shoes.

YOU WERE NOT HERE (No estabas aquí)

Director: Joaquín “Chabata” Zavala 19 min | 2024 | Peru | Spanish | Mumbai Premiere Gravely ill Mariella reunites with her estranged son Gabriel after seven years. As old wounds resurface, she struggles to accept his sexuality—while he wrestles with offering forgiveness before it’s too late.

KASHISH 2025

105

PERSIAN BLUE

*Aditya Nanda Award Nominee Director: Shahrad Shahvareh* 11 min | 2024 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | Persian | Asian Premiere A surreal and visually arresting exploration of memory, trauma, and identity, this film delves into the haunting past of an Iranian transgender person, blurring the line between reality and illusion.

Through dreamlike sequences and symbolic imagery, the film captures the inner turmoil and emotional resilience of a soul seeking peace in a world that denies them visibility.

LOVIN’ HER Director: day 15 min | 2024 | Canada | English | Indian Premiere An elderly trans woman navigates the complexities of a fading memory, delving into the intricacies of love and the burgeoning of her evolving gender identity.

KOKUHAKU Director: Adrià Guxens 15 min | 2024 | Spain | Japanese, Spanish | Mumbai Premiere During an interview, Tadashi, a young SpanishJapanese actor who plays female characters in a theatrical practice similar to kabuki, will return to the past to relive his most intimate memories.

LADY IS WITH ME Director: Saeed Bonardi 15 min | 2025 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | Persian | World Premiere At a remote military outpost, Farid, a lively and talkative soldier, entertains his comrades with heartfelt love letters from a mysterious girl named Leily. But beneath the laughter and camaraderie lies an emotional undercurrent – a quiet story of longing, secrets, and unspoken truths.

106

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

Student Shorts Competition - 2 Total Duration: 94 min

This second set features four thought-provoking shorts by student filmmakers from media schools across Asia and Europe. Exploring queer struggles on societal, familial, and personal levels, the films reveal moments of resilience, vulnerability, and quiet courage to navigate or sometimes succumb to everyday challenges.

6

FRI 6.30 PM Screen 4

(Post screening Q&A)

AND THE WHITE WALL Directors: Inbal Selah, Adar Perlman 20 min | 2024 | Israel | Hebrew | International Premiere The Steve Tisch School of Film and Television, Tel-Aviv, Israel In a dystopian future where homosexual relations are outlawed, Tomer – a recently released prisoner is nearing the end of his mandatory service. But a chance encounter with someone from his past stirs forbidden emotions. In a society under constant surveillance, even a single misstep could have devastating consequences.

AFTER ALL ( 事过方显) *Aditya Nanda Award Nominee Director: Chongyan Liu* 25 min | 2024 | UK, France, Germany | English, German | Indian Premiere Le Fresnoy - Studio national des arts contemporains, Tourcoing, France A therapist at a Berlin university navigates delicate emotional terrain as she provides solace to a grieving student grappling with the suicide of a trans woman on campus.

KASHISH 2025

107

RAFU *Riyad Wadia Award Nominee Director: Arnav Utmani* 25 min | 2024 | India | Hindi | World Premiere Annapurna College of Film and Media, Hyderabad, Telangana Noor, a queer writer in his early twenties, comes to terms with his sexuality and childhood trauma through a fictional character of a queer deity, who comes alive into the contemporary world and chooses not to be worshipped.

A LITTLE BIT OF GLITTER Director: Siddharth Menon 24 min | 2024 | UK | English, Hindi | International Premiere London Film School, United Kingdom When Vidya, a recently widowed elderly Indian woman sublets a room in her house to a 19-year-old black gay man, she re-discovers her sense of self and her love for makeup, despite complications from the family.

108

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

6

FRI 8.30 PM Screen 4

FOUR MOTHERS Director: Darren Thornton 89 min | 2024 | Ireland, UK | English | Narrative Feature | Indian Premiere Based on the Italian comedy ‘Mid-August Lunch’ (2008), this heartwarming, bittersweet comedy from Ireland will put a smile on your face.

Edward, a novelist saddled with caring for his elderly mother, finally finds himself on the brink of literary success. With pressure to go on a US book tour mounting, the last thing Edward needs is his friends jetting off to Spain for an impromptu Pride holiday, leaving their mothers on his doorstep! Over a chaotic weekend, he has to juggle his burgeoning career with the care of four eccentric, combative, and wildly different ladies.

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - Audience Award: Best Narrative Feature - BFI London Film Festival, 2024 • Silver Q-Hugo -The 60th Chicago International Film Festival, 2024 • Creative Europe Media • The 44th Istanbul Film Festival, Turkey, 2025

DARREN THORNTON

DARREN THORNTON (1976) is an award-winning Irish director and writer working in film and television. He debuted with the IFTA-winning series Love is the Drug (2004), for RTÉ. His first feature, A Date for Mad Mary, won Best Irish Feature at the 2016 Galway Film Fleadh. His short films Frankie and Two Hearts both won the Prix UIP and earned European Academy Award nominations. His most recent feature, Four Mothers (2024), was cowritten with his brother Colin Thornton.

Supported by: KASHISH 2025

109

JUNE

6

FRI 10.15 PM Screen 4

RESET

(In Competition)

Director: Patricia Ryczko 95 min | 2024 | Poland | Polish | Narrative Feature | Asian Premiere When a LGBT mother is stripped of her civil rights, she must confront a brutal near- future technocratic regime, or risk losing her family.

Set in the near future, Sonja, 41, is a dedicated housewife raising her daughter, Mia. She has kept her civil partnership with Adela, 27, hidden from everyone out of fear. One day, Sonja’s Citizen Pass suddenly stops working, stripping away all her freedoms. Unbeknownst to her, this glitch will unveil her past, a past she desperately concealed from the state to avoid persecution as a terrorist.

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere- Abitibi-Témiscamingue International Film Festival, Quebec, Canada, 2024 • US Premiere - Wicked Queer Boston LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2025

PATRICIA RYCZKO

110

PATRICIA RYCZKO is a director, and screenwriter, graduated from Polish National Filmschool and Wajda Film School, Patricia Ryczko’s feature debut I am REN had its world premiere at the 35th Warsaw Film Festival in 2019, and the polish theatrical release in 2020. Her short films have won quite a few international prizes. Ryczko is known as a published author, her first novel, a Scandinavian psychological thriller A Child Made to Order placed itself among the top-selling novels in the Mystery & Suspense category on Amazon UK & US. Reset is her second feature film.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

International Narrative Shorts Competition – 3 Total Duration: 61 min

The third installment of the International Narrative Shorts Competition presents three compelling films that explore queer experiences across cultures. These stories delve into the complexities of identity, love, and belonging, offering intimate and nuanced perspectives on how individuals navigate relationships, familial expectations, and the search for authentic connection.

7

SAT 9.30 AM Screen 4

MY SENSES ARE ALL I HAVE TO OFFER

(As Minhas Sensações São Tudo O Que Tenho Para Oferecer) Director: Isadora Neves Marques 20 min | 2024 | Portugal | Portuguese | Asian Premiere Lourdes and her girlfriend Lana can communicate telepathically using “sensory pills.” After dating for some time, Lourdes brings Lana to meet her parents at their country house, where they confront their relationship and the limits of their telepathy.

FAREWELL, SARANGHAE, FAREWELL (サラバ、さらんへ、サラバ) Director: Sunhye Hong 26 min | 2024 | Japan, Republic of Korea| Japanese | Indian Premiere Naho dreams of becoming a K-pop idol in Korea, while Hitomi, though always supportive, secretly doubts it could ever come true. But when Naho unexpectedly passes the audition, Hitomi makes a surprising decision.

CLEMENTINE Director: Sally Tran 15 min | 2024 | USA | English | Asian Premiere A late-blooming trans woman grapples with a life-altering, assigned-male-at-birth Trans specific dilemma and, with the help of her besties, navigates the complexities of this debacle as she determines her path on her own terms.

KASHISH 2025

111

JUNE

7

SAT 10.45 AM

International Documentary Centrepiece

Screen 4

IF I DIE, IT’LL BE OF JOY (Si Je Meurs, Ce Sera De Joie)

Director: Alexis Taillant 80 min | 2024 | France | French | Indian Premiere

A meditative exploration of sexuality and aging, this intimate triptych restores dignity at every stage, confronting an ageist, death-averse society that that often hides the realities of aging and mortality.

Micheline, 81, dreams of orgasms and tells anyone who will listen that she is burning with desire. Francis, 70, a seasoned activist relentlessly challenges taboos surrounding old age. Yves, 68, feels like a shell in a stormy sea and desperately seeks love. In a world that underestimates the power of elderly people, these three are part of a group of activists who defy prejudices dare to reinvent sexuality, love and rethink old age.

ALEXIS TAILLANT

112

Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Frameline, USA, 2024 • Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, China, 2024 • Lili Award for Best Documentary - Mix Copenhagen, Denmark, 2024 • Audience Award - Image+nation, Montreal LGBTQ FF, Canada, 2024 • Human Value Award- Festival IMPACTE!, Catalonia, Spain, 2025 • Movies that Matter, The Hague, Netherlands, 2025 • Best Documentary Award- Roze Filmdagen, Netherlands, 2025 • Audience Award- LGBT+ Film Festival, Poland, 2025 French filmmaker and producer ALEXIS TAILLANT directed his first documentary, Virages (2009), produced by the company Le Miroir and broadcast on France Televisions in France. The film follows six road accident victims and tells the story of the metamorphosis of their lives. In 2015, he directed the documentary Stendhal’s Vertigo (2015) co-produced with Italy and Belgium and broadcast on RTBF, France Televisions, RSI and RTS. The film presents the Stendhal syndrome, a strange art- related disease. The film selected is his third documentary.

Supported by:

KASHISH 2025

Preceded by

HANDWOVEN Directors: Mason Cazalet, Dasha Levin, Mihika Das, Matthew Wisdom 9 min | 2024 | USA | English | Short Documentary | Asian Premiere For 500 years, the Navajo have raised sheep as a way of life. After U.S. government exploitation decimated their flocks, non-binary Navajo shepherd and weaver Nikyle Begay is determined to preserve their tradition. Tending their herds like family, Nikyle finds spiritual and emotional nourishment through the daily care and weaving of Navajo wool.

KASHISH 2025

113

JUNE

7

SAT 12.30 PM Screen 4

ODD FISH (Ljósvíkingar)

(In Competition)

Director: Snævar Sölvason 104 min | 2024 | Iceland | Icelandic, English | Narrative Feature | Asian Premiere Co-written by trans writer Veiga Grétarsdóttir, and trans actor Arna Magnea Danks as one of the leads – ‘Odd Fish’ is a heartfelt dramedy exploring themes of identity, acceptance, and the enduring power of connection.

In a quaint fishing village in Iceland’s Westfjords, childhood friends Hjalti and Björn run a seasonal seafood restaurant. When an opportunity arises to operate year-round, Björn comes out as a trans woman and will be known as Birna from now on. This revelation tests their lifelong bond, prompting both to navigate personal transformations and the evolving dynamics of their friendship.

Festivals & Honors: • National Premiere in Icelandic Cinemas on September 6, 2024 • Edda Awards, Iceland 2024 – Best Film, Nominee • International Premiere: Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2025 • LGBT+ Film Festival, Poland, 2025 • Minneapolis StPaul International Film Festival, 2025 • Outshine Film Festival, USA, 2025 • Washington, DC International Film Festival (Filmfest DC), 2025 • Seattle International Film Festival, 2025 SNÆVAR SÖLVASON (1985) is an Icelandic film director and screenwriter.

He is an alumnus of The Icelandic Film School, and is known for From Iceland to Eden (2019), Albatross (2015) and Odd Fish (2024).

SNÆVAR SÖLVASON

114

Supported by: KASHISH 2025

JUNE

7

SAT 2.30 PM Screen 4

AUM PENJOR Director: Karma Jerry 140 min | 2024 | Bhutan | Dzongkha | Indian Premiere A profoundly moving film that masterfully weaves beautiful storytelling, outstanding performances, and timely social commentary, ‘Aum Penjor’ shines as a landmark achievement in Bhutanese cinema.

Aum Penjor, a transgender singer and local celebrity at a queer club, unexpectedly finds an abandoned baby one rainy night. As she takes the child home, she discovers maternal instincts she never knew she had, setting her on an emotional, transformative journey. Against the backdrop of a conservative society, the film beautifully portrays her struggle for identity, acceptance, and the quiet courage to embrace unexpected love and change.

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - Opening Film - Kingdom of Bhutan International Film Festival, 2024 • TLVFest, Israel, 2024

KARMA JERRY

KARMA JERRY, an alumnus of Bhutan National Film School of Denmark, is a veteran Bhutanese filmmaker with over 80 films to his credit. Mostly self-taught, he brings deep expertise across all stages of filmmaking. With 17+ national awards, Karma has a proven track record of creating both award-winning and commercially successful films, driven by passion and strong team leadership.

KASHISH 2025

115

JUNE

7

SAT 5.15 PM Screen 4

THE OLD STORIES UNDER THE CITY WALL Director: Wu Zhenhui 39 min | 2023 | China | Chinese | Narrative Short | Indian Premiere Set in 1990s Nanjing, the film follows high schoolers Wu Nan and Chen Xiao, whose deep friendship is tested when Chen Xiao prepares to leave the city for family and academic reasons. As their separation looms, Wu Nan begins to question whether his feelings go beyond friendship.

Gracefully unfolding their bond, the film explores heartache, emotional entanglements with Xiao Jing, and the characters’ inner worlds through delicate, conflict-minimized storytelling. Rich with Nanjing’s spaces, food culture, and urban spirit, it exudes a prose-like, ethereal charm.

116

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

7

SAT 6.30 PM Screen 4

OUTERLANDS

(In Competition)

Director: Elena Oxman 100 min | 2025 | USA | English | Asian Premiere A passionate story of loss, discovery, and acceptance, this slow-burn non-binary drama unfolds against the backdrop of a changing San Francisco.

Cass (they/them) juggles jobs as a nanny, restaurant server, and party drug dealer just to afford their tiny San Francisco apartment. When Kalli, a co-worker and recent hook-up, asks Cass to watch her daughter for a weekend, Cass jumps at the chance to impress. But when Kalli vanishes, Cass is forced to confront the truths and pains they’ve long been avoiding.

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - SXSW Film & TV Festival, 2025 • BFI Flare: London’s LGBTQIA+ Film Festival • Closing Film - San Francisco International Film Festival, 2025 • Audience Award - Wicked Queer: Boston LGBTQ+ Film Festival, USA, 2025 • Pride Award - Turin Lovers Film Festival, 2025

ELENA OXMAN

ELENA OXMAN (they/them) is a writer-director working across documentary and narrative films. A two-time SFFILM FilmHouse Resident, they directed the short Lit (2014), starring D-Lo, which premiered at the Palm Springs ShortFest, Frameline, Outfest, and beyond. A Yale graduate with a PhD in English from UNC-Chapel Hill, Elena co-founded American Beat, producing acclaimed documentaries. They’ve taught film at Stanford, UNC, Duke, and more. Outerlands marks their feature debut.

KASHISH 2025

117

JUNE

7

SAT 8.30 PM Screen 4

#TWOMOMS Director: Satoko Nagamura

89 min | 2025 | Japan | Japanese | Documentary Feature | World Premiere A lesbian mother’s lens on four female same-sex couples building families in Japan.

This documentary follows four female same-sex couples in Japan as they build their families through assisted reproductive technology. Each couple faces discrimination and legal challenges, and the film portrays the common joys and struggles of becoming parents, as well as the additional trials of being an LGBTQ+ family in modern Japan. Uniquely, this film is shot by a lesbian mother who is also navigating her own journey through parenthood. It invites viewers to reflect on the hidden diversity of families within Japanese society.

Also playing on Thursday, June 5, Alliance Française Bombay, 1.45 PM Festivals & Honors • Best LGBTQ Film Award- LA Independent Women Film Awards, 2025 • World Premiere - KASHISH Pride Film Festival, India, 2025

SATOKO NAGAMURA

118

SATOKO NAGAMURA, a first-time filmmaker and lesbian woman from Tokyo, draws inspiration from her challenging childhood to create safe, inclusive spaces through her bar, café, and community work. Beyond her businesses, she counsels single women and same-sex couples on reproductive healthcare, actively lobbies for legal reforms, and serves as co-chair of the NPO ‘Kodomap’, supporting LGBTQ families. With a deep commitment to advocacy and belonging, Satoko brings her passion and activism to the screen in her filmmaking debut.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

CHANCE ENCOUNTERS Total Duration: 91 min

Call it coincidence, destiny, or sheer luck – sometimes, a single fleeting moment can alter the course of a life. But are chance encounters ever truly accidental? This package of five short films explores the wild, whimsical, and unpredictable ways strangers cross paths – sparking connection, transformation, or simply a memorable detour from the everyday.

7

SAT 10.15 PM Screen 4

SAIGON KISS Director: Hong Anh Nguyen 22 min | 2024 | Viet Nam | Vietnamese | Indian Premiere

streets of Saigon.

Mo roams through the rush hour traffic to avoid an unwanted phone call. When she meets Vicky by the side of the street with her broken motorbike, a visceral chance encounter unfolds between the two young queer women on the loud

REVIVED Director: Uriya Hertz 17 min | 2024 | Israel | Hebrew | Indian Premiere After a night out at a Jerusalem bar, Aaron finds out that his bag is missing. Unable to return home without it, he receives assistance from Sefi, the bartender. The fates of both will be linked tonight.

MAN>CODE Director: Adrian Gardner 14 min | 2023 | UK | English | Mumbai Premiere Lucas, a computer techie goes on an ordeal when he invites Theo around for what he thought would be no-strings-attached fun, but it takes an odd turn when his ex-girlfriend returns home early.

KASHISH 2025

119

J IS FOR JUST AN AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM Director: Yung Hsiang Chuang 23 min | 2023 | Taiwan | Chinese, English | Indian Premiere M and Jiang, a couple in a long-standing open relationship, set out for an outing together. What begins as a casual summer hike slowly drifts into unfamiliar terrain, guided by M’s adventurous impulse. Amid the summer afternoon air, there is a faint scent of restlessness lingering.

JUJU VS. THE POSSIBILITIES OF LOVE, LIFE AND DEATH Director: Htet Aung Lwyn 15 min | 2024 | Myanmar, Thailand | Burmese | Indian Premiere JuJu, a Burmese trans woman, works at an independent cinema in Bangkok. A chance encounter leads to a series of conversations speculating on future possibilities, imagined through the language of film.

120

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

8

Best of IRIS PRIZE

SUN

Total Duration: 57 min

A showcase of three acclaimed short films from the Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival, Cardiff - home to the world’s largest LGBT+ short film prize (£30,000, supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation), enabling winners to make their next short in Cardiff. As a BAFTA A-list qualifying festival, Iris has partnered with KASHISH since 2010, with KASHISH’s Best Indian Narrative Short winner earning a nomination to compete for this prestigious international prize.

9.30 AM Screen 4

Also playing on Thursday, June 5, Alliance Française Bombay, 10.30 AM

BLOOD LIKE WATER Director: Dima Hamdan 14 min | 2023 | Palestine | Arabic | Mumbai Premiere Shadi embarks on a secret adventure, and accidentally drags his family into a trap where they only have two choices; either collaborate with the Israeli occupation or be shamed and humiliated by their own people.

JIA Director: Vee Shi 15 min | 2023 | Australia | Mandarin, English | Mumbai Premiere A grieving Chinese mother travels to Australia and embarks on a road trip with Eric, to remember her late son. Ming’s conservative values are tested when she learns Eric was her son’s lover.

SISTER WIVES Director: Louisa Connolly-Burnham 28 min | 2024 | UK | English | Mumbai Premiere When an unexpected twist forces two sisters into marriage with the same man, they choose to take charge and restart their lives on their own terms.

KASHISH 2025

121

JUNE

8

SUN 10.45 AM Screen 4

CALL ME AGNES Director: Daniel Donato 94 min | 2024 | Netherlands | Dutch, English, Indonesian, Portuguese | Indian Premiere This hybrid musical blends fiction and real life to weave a mesmerizing tale of love, identity, and the courage to be yourself — where every decision holds the power to change everything.

Agnes’ life in Netherlands revolves around playing badminton with her friends and working at a restaurant she has set up inside her house with her best friend Rini. One day her younger brother Indra unexpectedly arrives from Indonesia, looking for his brother Hans. Agnes is faced with an uneasy choice: to continue lying or to reveal the truth about who she is!

Also playing on Friday, June 6, Alliance Française Bombay, 12.00 Noon Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Nederlands Film Festival - Utrecht, Netherlands, 2024 • International Premiere & Closing Night Film - Queer Lisboa - Lisbon, Portugal, 2024 • MIX Copenhagen LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Denmark, 2024 • Merlinka International Queer Film Festival - Belgrade, Serbia, 2024 • LGBT+ Film Festival Poland - Warsaw, Poland, 2025 • Diaspora Film Festival, Incheon Metropolitan city, Korea, 2025 • XPOSED Queer Film Festival Berlin, Germany, 2025

DANIEL DONATO

122

DANIEL DONATO (1987) is a Brazilian filmmaker with degrees from UNISINOS (Brazil), CFP del SICA (Argentina), the Netherlands Film Academy, and the Erasmus Mundus Viewfinder program. His short Hello My First Love, Over and Out premiered at Visions du Réel. As a cinematographer, his work has screened at top festivals worldwide. Call Me Agnes is his debut feature.

Supported by: KASHISH 2025

JUNE

8

SUN 12.30 PM Screen 4

SOME NIGHTS I FEEL LIKE WALKING Director: Petersen Vargas

103 min | 2024 | Philippines, Singapore, Italy | Filipino | Indian Premiere An exploration of self-discovery, reflecting on identity and belonging in the vibrant, nocturnal heart of Manila!

Manila at night is teeming with possibility of danger but also of tenderness.

A band of Manila street hustlers embarks on a bittersweet journey to fulfill their friend’s dying wish: to take his body home. As they navigate dark city corners and rural roads, they forge a deep solidarity, realizing that, despite their struggles, and differences their only true home is each other.

Also playing on Sunday, June 8, Alliance Française Bombay, 5.30 PM Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Estonia, 2024 • Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, Taiwan, 2024 • Festival Mix Brasil de Cultura da Diversidade, Brazil, 2024 • Singapore International Film Festival, 2024 • Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 2024 • Best Feature - Perth Queer Film Festival, Australia, 2025 • BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, 2025 • Roze Filmdagen: Amsterdam LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Netherland, 2025 • Korea Queer Film Festival, 2025 • Queergestreift Film Festival, Germany, 2025

PETERSEN VARGAS

PETERSEN VARGAS (1992), alumnus of the Asian Film Academy and a cum laude graduate from the University of the Philippines Film Institute, explores Filipino youth through a queer, regional lens. His last short, How to Die Young in Manila (2020), screened at Busan, Singapore, Tallinn, Iris Prize, BFI Flare, and won awards at Sydney

KASHISH 2025

123

JUNE

8

SUN 2.30 PM Screen 4

SEBASTIAN Director: Mikko Mäkelä 111 min | 2024 | UK, Finland, Belgium | English, French | Indian Premiere How far would one go to chase the story? A sharp cautionary tale about toxic ambition and the relentless pressures of success.

Max, a 25-year-old aspiring writer in London, begins a double life as a sex worker under the pseudonym Sebastian to research the debut novel he’s long dreamed of writing. But as the lines between his two worlds blur, Max must confront whether Sebastian is just a writer’s tool for authenticity - or if something deeper is at stake.

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - World Cinema Dramatic Competition, Sundance, 2024 • Provincetown International Film Festival, 2024 • Frameline: San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, 2024 • Honorable Mention - OUTshine Film Festival, 2024 • Greek Premiere - Thessaloniki International Film Festival, 2024 • Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, 2024 • Best Queer Film - Q Cinema International Film Festival, Philippines, 2024

MIKKO MÄKELÄ

MIKKO MÄKELÄ (1989) is a Finnish-British writer/director based in London, named by IndieWire as an LGBTQ Filmmaker on the Rise. Their micro-budget feature A Moment In The Reeds (2017) screened at nearly 100 festivals worldwide and earned multiple award nominations. A Berlinale Talents and BIFA Springboard alum, Mikko co-founded Bêtes Sauvages and produces with partner James Watson.

Supported by:

124

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

8

SUN 4.45 PM Screen 4

FATHERHOOD

(Tre Fedre )

Directors: Even G. Benestad, August B. Hanssen

(In Competition)

75 min | 2025 | Norway | Norwegian | Asian Premiere A universal story of first-time parenthood – with one twist: a polyamorous relationship at the heart of this family.

Three men are expecting their first child. Kristopher, David, and Sindre are all in their early 30s and live together in a multi-partner relationship. Kristopher is the birth father, and together they’re about to face the everyday challenges in the extraordinary experience of establishing a family. Are they ready for what awaits them?

Also playing on Friday, June 6, Alliance Française Bombay, 10.30 AM Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (TiDF27), 2025 • BFI Flare, London, UK 2025

EVEN G. BENESTAD

Directors EVEN G. BENESTAD and AUGUST B. HANSSEN have collaborated on a number of films. Benestad debuted with the festival hit All About My Father (2002). The film depicts growing up with a transfather and garnered prizes all over the world. Between them Benestad & Hanssen have directed Natural Born Star (2007), Pushwagner (2012), Club7 (2013), Ida’s Diary (2014) and The Earth is a Chili (2019). Fatherhood is their third film as co-directors.

AUGUST B. HANSSEN KASHISH 2025

125

JUNE

8

SUN 6.30 PM Screen 4

HIGH TIDE Director: Marco Calvani 101 min | 2024 | USA | English, Portuguese | Asian Premiere A romantic drama about finding connection in shared loneliness and alienation in a foreign land.

Heartbroken and adrift, undocumented Brazilian immigrant Lourenço searches for purpose in Provincetown’s queer haven while waiting for his distant American lover, Joe, who offers a glimpse of a brighter future. As summer fades, Lourenço meets charismatic vacationer Maurice. Despite their different worlds, they form an unexpected bond that pushes them both to reconcile their uncertain paths.

Also playing on Thursday, June 5, Alliance Française Bombay, 5.30 PM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere – SXSW Film Festival, Austin, TX, USA, 2024 • Hamptons International Film Festival, New York, 2024 • Provincetown International Film Festival, 2024 • Best First Feature - Frameline: San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, 2024 • Best First Feature, Best Actor (Marco Pigossi) - FilmOut San Diego LGBTQ Film Festival, 2024 • U.S. Centerpiece - NewFest: NewYork LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2024 • European Premiere - BFI Flare Film Festival, 2025 • Nominee- GLAAD Media Awards 2025

MARCO CALVANI

126

MARCO CALVANI (1980) is an award-winning Italian writer, director, producer, and actor with a 20-year theatre career across Europe and New York. His first short, The View From Up Here, starred Academy Award winner Melissa Leo. Now based in Los Angeles, he appears in Netflix’s The Four Seasons. High Tide marks his feature debut, where he directs his husband, Brazilian heartthrob Marco Pigossi, in the lead role.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

8

SUN 10.15PM

CLOSE TO YOU Director: Dominic Savage

100 min | 2023 | Canada, UK | English | Asian Premiere

Closing Feature

Screen 4

Transgender actor Elliot Page returns to the big screen after a seven-year hiatus with an outstanding, nuanced performance!

After four years away, Sam returns to his hometown for his father’s birthday — his first visit since transitioning. A chance encounter with a high school friend rekindles old feelings. As the trip unfolds, Sam confronts unresolved emotions, strained family ties, and a past love, ultimately discovering a deeper sense of self, closure, and newfound confidence.

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - Toronto International Film Festival, 2023 • BFI Flare LGBTQ+ Film Festival, London, UK, 2024 • NewFest - New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2024

DOMINIC SAVAGE

DOMINIC SAVAGE (1962) is a BAFTA-winning British filmmaker who began as a child actor in Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon (1975). His feature debut Love + Hate (2005) won multiple awards, followed by The Escape, starring Gemma Arterton and Dominic Cooper. He created and directed Channel 4’s acclaimed I Am series, collaborating with leading British actresses across three seasons. I Am Ruth, starring Kate Winslet, won two BAFTAs. Close to You is his latest film.

KASHISH 2025

127

Alliance Française Bombay 5-8 June, 2025

128

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

5

Best of IRIS PRIZE

THU

Total Duration: 57 min

A showcase of three acclaimed short films from the Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival, Cardiff - home to the world’s largest LGBT+ short film prize (£30,000, supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation), enabling winners to make their next short in Cardiff. As a BAFTA A-list qualifying festival, Iris has partnered with KASHISH since 2010, with KASHISH’s Best Indian Narrative Short winner earning a nomination to compete for this prestigious international prize.

10.30 AM Alliance Française Bombay

Also playing on Sunday, June 8, Cinépolis Screen 4 , 9.30 AM

BLOOD LIKE WATER Director: Dima Hamdan 14 min | 2023 | Palestine | Arabic | Mumbai Premiere Shadi embarks on a secret adventure, and accidentally drags his family into a trap where they only have two choices; either collaborate with the Israeli occupation or be shamed and humiliated by their own people.

JIA Director: Vee Shi 15 min | 2023 | Australia | Mandarin, English | Mumbai Premiere A grieving Chinese mother travels to Australia and embarks on a road trip with Eric, to remember her late son. Ming’s conservative values are tested when she learns Eric was her son’s lover.

SISTER WIVES Director: Louisa Connolly-Burnham 28 min | 2024 | UK | English | Mumbai Premiere When an unexpected twist forces two sisters into marriage with the same man, they choose to take charge and restart their lives on their own terms.

KASHISH 2025

129

JUNE

5

THU 12.00 Noon

Alliance Française Bombay

Short Documentary Competition – 2 Total Duration: 86 min

Two absorbing documentaries from two different countries and cultures explore two vital pillars of the LGBTQ+ experience – camaraderie and access to healthcare. Without any of these, queer lives are left vulnerable to isolation and prejudice. Both films are crafted by friends united in their passion for LGBTQ+ activism and for documenting urgent, authentic community stories.

BECAUSE OF YOU: A HISTORY OF KILAWIN KOLEKTIBO

(Dahil Sa ‘Yo: Ang Storya Ng Kilawin Kolektibo) Directors: Barbara Malaran, Desireena Almoradie 41 min | 2025 | USA, Canada, Philippines | English, Tagalog | Asian Premiere Joyful, raw, revolutionary documentary traces the history of Kilawin Kolektibo, a pioneering collective of Filipnxs who, in the 1990s, against a racist, lesbophobic backdrop, came together for the first time in NYC to create a safe and loving community. Having experienced marginalization in Filipino culture because of their queerness and in mainstream gay culture because of their race, language, and gender, the members of the group sought political empowerment and increased visibility.

But above all, they sought to create a space of friendship and safety for those who found themselves suspended between cultures and identities.

EXILE (‫)يا ريت‬ Directors: Yesmine Fersi, Lina Hamouda, Minyar Mrabti 45 min | 2024 | Tunisia | Arabic, English, French | Asian Premiere In Tunisia, a silent HIV epidemic spreads through the repressed queer community, buried under stigma and discrimination. This film follows two individuals navigating life where their identities are criminalized and healthcare is out of reach. As the virus spreads, so does isolation, forcing a confrontation with prejudice and systemic neglect.

130

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

5

THU 1.45 PM Alliance Française Bombay

#TWOMOMS Director: Satoko Nagamura 89 min | 2025 | Japan | Japanese | Documentary Feature | World Premiere A lesbian mother’s lens on four female same-sex couples building families in Japan.

This documentary follows four female same-sex couples in Japan as they build their families through assisted reproductive technology. Each couple faces discrimination and legal challenges, and the film portrays the common joys and struggles of becoming parents, as well as the additional trials of being an LGBTQ+ family in modern Japan. Uniquely, this film is shot by a lesbian mother who is also navigating her own journey through parenthood. It invites viewers to reflect on the hidden diversity of families within Japanese society.

Also playing on Saturday, June 7, Cinépolis Screen 4, 8.30 PM Festivals & Honors: • Best LGBTQ Film Award- LA Independent Women Film Awards, 2025 • World Premiere - KASHISH Pride Film Festival, India, 2025

SATOKO NAGAMURA

SATOKO NAGAMURA, a first-time filmmaker and lesbian woman from Tokyo, draws inspiration from her challenging childhood to create safe, inclusive spaces through her bar, café, and community work. Beyond her businesses, she counsels single women and same-sex couples on reproductive healthcare, actively lobbies for legal reforms, and serves as co-chair of the NPO ‘Kodomap’, supporting LGBTQ families. With a deep commitment to advocacy and belonging, Satoko brings her passion and activism to the screen in her filmmaking debut.

KASHISH 2025

131

JUNE

5

THU 3.45 PM Alliance Française Bombay

Two of Us

Total Duration: 94 min Sometimes love doesn’t end in anger — it just gently drifts into memory. Two of Us brings stories of lovers who were once inseparable, now find themselves at emotional crossroads. Whether growing apart, clashing within, or drifting away, these films explore the bittersweet beauty of having once belonged. Because sometimes, parting doesn’t mean the love wasn’t real — it just wasn’t forever!

Also playing on Saturday, June 7, Cinépolis Screen 3, 2.45 PM

CAR WASH

(Túnel De Lavado) Director: Lucas Sogas 30 min | 2023 | Spain | Spanish | Asian Premiere Two boys from a soccer team disguise their love relationship as sheer friendship so as not to be discovered. One night at a car wash could trigger a different different path in their lives.

FINDING THE RAINBOW (무지개를 찾아서)

Director: Hwanga Yang 13 min | 2025 | Korea, Republic of | Korean | World Premiere Ae-young and Ji-woo go in search of a rainbow for a perfect breakup.

SILVIA’S HOUSE

(La Casa De Silvia)

Director: Álvaro Lucas 12 min | 2025 | Spain | Spanish | Asian Premiere Two friends, Martín and Raúl, are walking through the night in Madrid, heading to a party at Silvia’s house. Along the way, they talk, argue, and joke around. Although it is not a comedy, it speaks with humour and affection about friendship, love, and the fears of a generation that has grown up in an uncertain time, with little to hold on to.

132

KASHISH 2025

THRESHOLD Director: Gregory Brecher 16 min | 2024 | USA | English | Asian Premiere It’s been thirty years since Joan & Susie stood before their closest friends to celebrate at a small wedding. Now, in front of children and chosen family, they cross a different threshold.

SUNFLOWERS AT NIGHT Director: Quentin Delcourt 23 min | 2024 | France | English, French | Asian Premiere Back in his hometown to celebrate the success of his new book, David learns his assistant and friend, Michael is becoming a father. Shaken, he’s forced to confront his own truth— especially when past love Sasha reappears that evening.

KASHISH 2025

133

JUNE

5

THU 5.30 PM Alliance Française Bombay

HIGH TIDE Director: Marco Calvani

101 min | 2024 | USA | English, Portuguese | Asian Premiere A romantic drama about finding connection in shared loneliness and alienation in a foreign land.

Heartbroken and adrift, undocumented Brazilian immigrant Lourenço searches for purpose in Provincetown’s queer haven while waiting for his distant American lover, Joe, who offers a glimpse of a brighter future. As summer fades, Lourenço meets charismatic vacationer Maurice. Despite their different worlds, they form an unexpected bond that pushes them both to reconcile their uncertain paths.

Also playing on Sunday, June 8, Cinépolis Screen 4, 6.30 PM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere – SXSW Film Festival, Austin, TX, USA, 2024 • Hamptons International Film Festival, New York, 2024 • Provincetown International Film Festival, 2024 • Best First Feature - Frameline: San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, 2024 • Best First Feature, Best Actor (Marco Pigossi) - FilmOut San Diego LGBTQ Film Festival, 2024 • U.S. Centerpiece - NewFest: NewYork LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2024 • European Premiere - BFI Flare Film Festival, 2025 • Nominee- GLAAD Media Awards 2025

MARCO CALVANI

134

MARCO CALVANI (1980) is an award-winning Italian writer, director, producer, and actor with a 20-year theatre career across Europe and New York. His first short, The View From Up Here, starred Academy Award winner Melissa Leo. Now based in Los Angeles, he appears in Netflix’s The Four Seasons. High Tide marks his feature debut, where he directs his husband, Brazilian heartthrob Marco Pigossi, in the lead role.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

6

FRI 10.30 AM Alliance Française Bombay

FATHERHOOD

(Tre Fedre )

Directors: Even G. Benestad, August B. Hanssen 75 min | 2025 | Norway | Norwegian | Asian Premiere A universal story of first-time parenthood – with one twist: a polyamorous relationship at the heart of this family.

Three men are expecting their first child. Kristopher, David, and Sindre are all in their early 30s and live together in a multi-partner relationship. Kristopher is the birth father, and together they’re about to face the everyday challenges in the extraordinary experience of establishing a family. Are they ready for what awaits them?

Also playing on Sunday, June 8, Cinépolis Screen 4, 4.45 PM. Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (TiDF27), 2025 • BFI Flare, London, UK 2025

EVEN G. BENESTAD

Directors EVEN G. BENESTAD and AUGUST B. HANSSEN have collaborated on a number of films. Benestad debuted with the festival hit All About My Father (2002). The film depicts growing up with a transfather and garnered prizes all over the world.

Between them Benestad & Hanssen have directed Natural Born Star (2007), Pushwagner (2012), Club7 (2013), Ida’s Diary (2014) and The Earth is a Chili (2019). Fatherhood is their third film as co-directors.

AUGUST B. HANSSEN KASHISH 2025

135

JUNE

6

FRI 12.00 Noon

Alliance Française Bombay

CALL ME AGNES Director: Daniel Donato 94 min | 2024 | Netherlands | Dutch, English, Indonesian, Portuguese | Indian Premiere This hybrid musical blends fiction and real life to weave a mesmerizing tale of love, identity, and the courage to be yourself — where every decision holds the power to change everything.

Agnes’ life in Netherlands revolves around playing badminton with her friends and working at a restaurant she has set up inside her house with her best friend Rini. One day her younger brother Indra unexpectedly arrives from Indonesia, looking for his brother Hans. Agnes is faced with an uneasy choice: to continue lying or to reveal the truth about who she is!

Also playing on Sunday, June 8, Cinépolis Screen 4, 10.45 AM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Nederlands Film Festival - Utrecht, Netherlands, 2024 • International Premiere & Closing Night Film - Queer Lisboa - Lisbon, Portugal, 2024 • MIX Copenhagen LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Denmark, 2024 • Merlinka International Queer Film Festival - Belgrade, Serbia, 2024 • LGBT+ Film Festival Poland - Warsaw, Poland, 2025 • Diaspora Film Festival, Incheon Metropolitan city, Korea, 2025 • XPOSED Queer Film Festival Berlin, Germany, 2025

DANIEL DONATO

136

DANIEL DONATO (1987) is a Brazilian filmmaker with degrees from UNISINOS (Brazil), CFP del SICA (Argentina), the Netherlands Film Academy, and the Erasmus Mundus Viewfinder program. His short Hello My First Love, Over and Out premiered at Visions du Réel. As a cinematographer, his work has screened at top festivals worldwide. Call Me Agnes is his debut feature.

Supported by: KASHISH 2025

JUNE

Indian Masala Mix – 1 Total Duration: 76 min

At any given age, the road to acceptance always feels long and lonely but perseverance ultimately brings the dignity and respect one deserves. The first part of this year’s Indian narrative shorts traces deeply personal journeys toward acceptance – whether from oneself, family, friends, peers, or society.

6

FRI 1.45 PM Alliance Française Bombay

Also playing on Thursday, June 5, Cinépolis Screen 3, 5.45 PM

MAKEUP MY SHIELD Director: Kunal Vijaykar 6 min | 2024 | India | Marathi | Music Video In this Marathi music video, a trans woman escapes hurtful criticism into a dreamlike Lavani performance. Embracing traditional attire, she finds power in makeup—as comfort, beauty, and a shield against judgment.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Director: Saanvi S 10 min | 2024 | India | English, Hindi | World Premiere A heartwarming mockumentary about a trans woman navigating everyday microaggressions and bias in the workplace. With humor and relatable moments, it highlights how small acts of respect can lead to meaningful, transformative change.

I AM TEJIMOLA Director: Aditav Dowerah 7 min | 2024 | India | Assamese | Animation Short | World Premiere As a sinister presence emerges, our protagonist draws strength from the Assamese folktale Tejimola-he moi, the shapeshifter. This evocative film explores gender expression and the body as resistance against rigid societal norms.

KASHISH 2025

137

COULD IT BE? Director: Sandeep Keshari 8 min | 2024 | India | Hindi, English | World Premiere A coming-of-age tale set in the bustling chawls of Bombay, where 17-year-old Kartik’s unexpected feelings for his friend Arjun put their bond to the test.

ENVY (Daah)

Director: Ronit Singha 11 min | 2024 | India | Hindi | World Premiere A college student struggles to accept his sexuality while maintaining a pretentious life shaped by reputation and relationships.

His journey unfolds through envy towards a confident queer batchmate and a constant battle with his inner self.

TUTTI FRUTTI CAKE Director: Rohit Prajapati 18 min | 2025 India | Hindi Maya, a transwoman, and her chosen family host a vibrant Diwali party celebrating love and acceptance. As tensions simmer beneath the festivities, unexpected transformations and surprises spark healing, joy, and reconciliation – making it a night of true new beginnings.

THE WITCH OF VIHAR LAKE *Ismat Chughtai Award Nominee

Director: Joey Kaushik* 15 min | 2025 | India | Marathi | World Premiere In a village near Vihar Lake, where fearsome tales of a witch keep people away, young Mitthu and his sister Ishita grow up in the shadow of dread. One fateful night unravels lifealtering truths – about Ishita, himself, and the witch.

138

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

6

FRI 3.45 PM Alliance Française Bombay

QUEER, BROKE & AMAZING! Directors: C. A. Griffith, H. L. T. Quan 89 min | 2024 | USA | English | Documentary Feature | International Premiere A hard-hitting exposé shattering the myth of gay affluence, uncovering the financial struggles and survival of queer working-class communities in the Deep South.

Queer, Broke & Amazing! is an inspiring look at low-income LGBTQ+ communities across the U.S.—from coastal cities to the Deep South, Midwest, Navajo Nation, and Borderlands. Drawn from 200+ interviews, the documentary shatters the myth of gay affluence, celebrating the resilience, love, and fierce resistance of queer people fighting to survive, thrive, and build freedom amid rising hatred and legislative attacks.

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - San Antonio Film Festival, 2024 • Seattle Queer Film Festival, 2024 • Bayard Rustin Best LGBTQ Award - Film’s Final Cut - National Conference of Black Political Scientists, 2023

C. A. GRIFFITH, H. L. T. QUAN

C. A. GRIFFITH (1964) and H. L. T. QUAN (1967) are award-winning filmmakers, professors, and writers whose social justice themed work spotlights ordinary people doing the extraordinary to resist injustice and create inclusive, just communities. Their credits include Mountains That Take Wing: Angela Davis & Yuri Kochiyama (2010, documentary narrative) and Del Otro Lado/The Other Side (1999, dramatic narrative), a gay male, Spanish language, feature film shot in Mexico.

KASHISH 2025

139

JUNE

6

FRI 5.30 PM

Indian Documentary Centrepiece

Alliance Française Bombay

I AM REVATHI

(Njan Revathi)

Director: Abhijith P 115 min | 2025 | India | Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil | Mumbai Premiere Returning to KASHISH after his acclaimed fiction debut Antharam (2022), the filmmaker shifts to documentary form to offer a poignant and powerful real-life portrait.

A glimpse into the extraordinary life of A. Revathi, the documentary traces the journey of a trans woman who transformed adversity into activism. Leaving her home in Tamil Nadu in the 1980s, Revathi found belonging in hijra communities across India. Today, she’s a celebrated writer, speaker, actor, and trans rights activist. Through powerful reflections by Revathi and her peers, I Am Revathi offers an intimate portrait of resilience and the broader realities of trans lives in India.

Also playing on Thursday, June 5, Cinépolis Screen 4, 2.30 PM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Independent & Experimental Film Festival of Kerala (IEFFK), 2025

P. ABHIJITH

140

P. ABHIJITH (1980), a Kozhikode-based photojournalist and filmmaker, has been documenting Kerala’s transgender community since 2007. His debut documentary Avalilekkulla Dooram won multiple awards. His debut feature Antharam opened KASHISH 2022, where lead trans actress Negha Shahin received the Rainbow Voices award. Abhijith also won the prestigious Pamban Madhavan State Award for news photography.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

7

SAT 10.30 AM Alliance Française Bombay

PRIDE & PRAYER Director: Panta Mosleh 62 min | 2024 | USA, Canada | English, Persian | Documentary Feature | World Premiere A raw, realistic look at what it means to fully embrace yourself — as a woman, Muslim, and queer!

Pride & Prayer is a deeply personal documentary that follows filmmaker Panta Mosleh, a queer Muslim woman, on a journey to reconnect with her faith while embracing her identity. Set against the vibrant backdrop of queer Muslim life in Canada, the film weaves intimate conversations, family tensions, and moments of spiritual reflection. Through vulnerability and quiet defiance, Pride & Prayer explores what it means to find belonging at the intersection of queerness and Islam, offering a tender portrait of resilience, community, and reconciliation.

Also playing on Friday, June 6, Cinépolis Screen 3, 9.30 AM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - KASHISH Pride Film Festival, 2025

PANTA MOSLEH

PANTA MOSLEH is a queer Muslim Iranian-Canadian filmmaker, writer, and director based in Vancouver. She is alumnus of the Sundance Institute, Netflix’s Diversity of Voices initiative, and the Amazon MGM Writing Program. With over a decade of experience in scripted and documentary work, her storytelling centers underrepresented voices with humor, heart, and visual boldness. Her short film Hatch won Best Short at the Red Sea International Film Festival. Pride & Prayer is her most personal work to date – a reclamation of faith and identity on her own terms.

KASHISH 2025

141

JUNE

7

SAT 12.00 AM Alliance Française Bombay

Face2Face

Total Duration: 86 min In a world that often turns away from what it doesn’t understand, sometimes the only way forward is to confront it – head-on. Face2Face is a striking selection of short films where protagonists come face to face with fear, prejudice, shame, or loss- whether in themselves or in the world around them. These stories reflect moments of personal reckoning, resilience, and empowerment, showing how meaningful change often begins with a courageous confrontation.

Also playing on Friday, June 6, Cinépolis Screen 4, 4.45 PM

GILLYFISH Director: Sarah Sellman 11 min | 2024 | Ireland, UK, USA | English | Asian Premiere When Gillian assumes her partner’s identity to confront their estranged father, an unexpected connection begins to unfold. In this quietly powerful short, healing arrives in unusual forms – through disguise, empathy, and the courage to step into someone else’s shoes.

YOU WERE NOT HERE (No estabas aquí)

Director: Joaquín “Chabata” Zavala 9 min | 2024 | Peru | Spanish | Mumbai Premiere Gravely ill Mariella reunites with her estranged son Gabriel after seven years. As old wounds resurface, she struggles to accept his sexuality—while he wrestles with offering forgiveness before it’s too late.

142

KASHISH 2025

PERSIAN BLUE

*Aditya Nanda Award Nominee Director: Shahrad Shahvareh* 11 min | 2024 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | Persian | Asian Premiere A surreal and visually arresting exploration of memory, trauma, and identity, this film delves into the haunting past of an Iranian transgender person, blurring the line between reality and illusion.

Through dreamlike sequences and symbolic imagery, the film captures the inner turmoil and emotional resilience of a soul seeking peace in a world that denies them visibility.

LOVIN’ HER Director: day 15 min | 2024 | Canada | English | Indian Premiere An elderly trans woman navigates the complexities of a fading memory, delving into the intricacies of love and the burgeoning of her evolving gender identity.

KOKUHAKU Director: Adrià Guxens 15 min | 2024 | Spain | Japanese, Spanish | Mumbai Premiere During an interview, Tadashi, a young SpanishJapanese actor who plays female characters in a theatrical practice similar to kabuki, will return to the past to relive his most intimate memories.

LADY IS WITH ME Director: Saeed Bonardi 15 min | 2025 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | Persian | World Premiere At a remote military outpost, Farid, a lively and talkative soldier, entertains his comrades with heartfelt love letters from a mysterious girl named Leily. But beneath the laughter and camaraderie lies an emotional undercurrent – a quiet story of longing, secrets, and unspoken truths.

KASHISH 2025

143

JUNE

7

SAT 1.45 PM Alliance Française Bombay

Indian Masala Mix – 2 Total Duration: 99 min

This compelling package of short films by Indian and Indian diaspora filmmakers delves into the deeply personal and often challenging journeys of gender identity. Each film confronts societal expectations and binary constructs, presenting narratives that are honest, intimate, and diverse. From moments of self-discovery to quiet resistance, these stories reflect the evolving landscape of queer experiences, celebrating identities that refuse to be confined.

(Post screening Q&A) Also playing on Friday, June 6, Cinépolis Screen 3, 12.45 PM

PLACES I’VE CALLED MY OWN Director: Sushma Khadepaun 29 min | 2023 | India | Hindi | Mumbai Premiere After years in the US and amid her IVF journey, Tara returns to India for her father’s funeral. At home, she confronts a mother in denial about her queerness, an ex-girlfriend who has rebuilt her life with a man, and the lingering presence of a patriarch whose influence still looms large.

F FOR FREEDOM Directors: Arjun Krish, Ria Dinesh 29 min | 2024 | India | Malayalam F for Freedom explores a mother’s quiet struggle for self-expression amidst a disconnected family. When Shyama discovers her son’s secret relationship and proposes an unexpected vacation, buried truths unravel. This emotional journey becomes a catalyst for change, challenging familial bonds and redefining freedom within the walls of home.

144

KASHISH 2025

THE STORY OF YUVRAJ AND SHAHAJAHAN Director: Santosh Ram 25 min | 2024 | India | Marathi | Mumbai Premiere

uncertainty of meeting again.

Yuvraj, a young village boy, feels an unspoken pull toward Shahjahan, a traveling bangle seller.

In a quiet, hidden corner of their conservative world, they share their truths. Bound by a society that rejects them, they part with the hope and

HOLY CURSE Director: Snigdha Kapoor 16 min | 2024 | USA, India | English, Hindi, Marathi On a visit to India, pre-adolescent Radha grapples with their gender identity when subjected to manipulative orthodox rituals by their family, looking to dispel a supposed ancestral curse allegedly distorting Radha’s thinking.

KASHISH 2025

145

JUNE

7

SAT

3.45 PM Alliance Française Bombay

SALLY! Director: Deborah Alice Craig

(In Competition)

90 min | 2024 | USA | English | Documentary Feature | Asian Premiere SALLY! illuminates the life of Sally Miller Gearhart – a trailblazing lesbian feminist, activist, professor and fantasy author who played a pivotal role in the 1970s and ‘80s LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Sally Miller Gearhart (1931-2021) should be best known for her role along with Harvey Milk in helping defeat the Briggs Initiative (aka Prop 6), a 1978 state bill which would’ve banned gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools. Both she and Milk debated State Senator Briggs on television exposing the lies he was telling about gay men as child molesters. Through candid interviews and archival footage, the film explores her profound impact, the complexities of her character, and her enduring legacy in the fight for equality.

Also playing on Friday, June 6, Cinépolis Screen 3, 5.45 PM Festivals & Honors • World Premiere- Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2024 • Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ Intl. Film Festival, 2024 • Seattle Queer Film Festival, 2024 • Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2025 • Mardi Gras Film Festival, Sydney, Australia, 2025 • BFI Flare, London, UK, 2025 • Lovers Film Festival, Turin, Italy, 2025

DEBORAH CRAIG

146

DEBORAH CRAIG is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work highlights the challenges and strengths of underrepresented communities.

Her films have screened at LGBTQ+, women’s, and documentary film festivals worldwide. She holds degrees from Columbia University and San Francisco State University, where she now teaches. SALLY! is her feature debut.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

7

SAT 5.30 PM

Alliance Française Bombay

WHAT WE WROTE TOGETHER (Lo Que Escribimos Juntos) Director: Nicolás Teté

(In Competition)

93 min | 2024 | Argentina | Spanish | Asian Premiere A tender exploration of love, routine, and the quiet complexities of long-term relationships!

Mariano and Juan, a couple of six years, leave city life behind to pursue Mariano’s dream of opening a plant nursery, supported by the success of Juan’s latest novel. Their tranquil rural life is punctuated by a visit from Juan’s best friend, Carla. As the weekend unfolds, the trio confronts hidden tensions and unspoken truths, challenging the foundations of love, ambition, and companionship.

Also playing on Thursday, June 5, Cinépolis Screen 4, 8.30 PM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere & Festival Favorite Award - Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2024 • Latin America Premiere - Mix Brasil, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2024 • European Premiere - Schwule Filmtage MannheimMannheim, Germany, 2025 • Closing Film - Buenos Aires International Film Festival on Diversity & Gender (FIDiG Cine) Argentina, 2025

NICOLÁS TETÉ

NICOLÁS TETÉ (1989) is an Argentine filmmaker and writer who studied at Universidad del Cine (FUC). His work includes the fiction features Last Family Holidays (2013), Onyx (2016), and A Skeleton in the Closet (2021), which also screened at KASHISH that year, as well as the documentary Shineless (2018), co-directed with Guillermo Félix. His work has screened at festivals including BAFICI, Mar del Plata, and Guadalajara. He is also the author of two short story collections: Nada nos puede pasar and Aplausos.

KASHISH 2025

147

JUNE

8

SUN

10.30 AM Alliance Française Bombay

QUEENS IN FINISTÈRE Directors: Vanessa Le Reste

(In Competition)

63 min | 2024 | France | French | Documentary Feature | Asian Premiere From sashaying on stage to organizing the Pride parade – “Mother Drag” and her daughters are everywhere.

15 cm heels, sky-high lashes, and a razor-sharp tongue – meet Britany Hart, the reigning Queen of Brittany, and her daughters as they strut through wild Breton nights and navigate everyday life. Drag shows, parties, sisterhood, and fierce commitment collide in this intimate dive into the Hart family –where drag reigns in a small French town redefining community.

Also playing on Friday, June 6, Cinépolis Screen 4, 9.30 AM Note: This film contains strobe effects.

Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - Festival du film de Douarnenez, France, 2024 • Rome Indie Film Festival, Italy, 2024 • Honorable mention - INCLUCINE Festival, Bolívar, Colombia, 2024 • Barcelona Queer Festival, Spain, 2024 • Best Documentary Award - Rainbow Umbrella Film Festival, London, 2025

VANESSA LE RESTE

148

VANESSA LE RESTE is a writer-director trained at La Fémis, the French national film school. After working as a script supervisor, she moved into directing, with her shorts screening at major festivals and on French TV. Now based in Brittany, she founded DAHUD PROD to develop original series and co-produce creative documentaries. Queens in Finistère is her recent documentary on a Drag Queen family in rural France.

KASHISH 2025

JUNE

8

SUN 12.00 Noon

OUT

Director: Dennis Alink 95 min | 2023 | Netherlands, Germany | Dutch Shot in mesmerizing black and white, this deeply personal ensemble film, created by queer filmmakers and actors from their own lived experiences, traces the journey from feeling like an outsider in the conservative countryside to facing fresh pressures within queerfriendly spaces.

Tom and Ajani, closeted teens from rural Netherlands, escape to Amsterdam to chase their filmmaking dreams and explore queer nightlife. But as thrills give way to challenges, each begins to question their identity and place in the world.

Special Presentation Centrepiece

Alliance Française Bombay

Also playing on Thursday, June 5, Cinépolis Screen 3, 2.45 PM Festivals & Honors: • World Premiere - Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2024 • Taiwan International Queer Film Festival, 2024 • International queer film festival Merlinka, 2024 • Sunny Bunny LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Ukraine, 2025

DENNIS ALINK

DENNIS ALINK (1989) is an Amsterdam-based filmmaker working in both documentary and fiction. His debut feature Sluizer Speaks (2014) and follow-up Unknown Brood (2016) premiered at IDFA, with the latter earning two Los Angeles Film Award nominations and a successful run in cinemas, on TV, and VOD. He went on to direct Goin’ Rectal (2018) and Freek (2019). Dennis also directs for clients such as Netflix (Tour de France: Unchained), ESPN, and the European Union, and regularly appears on Dutch television as a film expert.

KASHISH 2025

149

JUNE

8

SUN

1.45 PM Alliance Française Bombay

Trans Triumphs- 2 Total Duration: 103 min

A powerful mixed package of short documentaries and fiction capturing trans and queer experiences across Canada, Myanmar, India, Japan, and the UK. From stories of assault, rejection, and transphobia to moments of resilience, hope, and compassion, these films shine a light on individuals rising like a phoenix — reclaiming their dignity and triumphing against the odds.

BEAUTY IS REVENGE Director: Atif Siddiqi 14 min | 2024 | Canada | English | Short Documentary | Asian Premiere Inspired by a personal experience of assault and theft, this short film raises awareness about the potential dangers of dating men online — an experience that also fueled the filmmaker aka Tranie Tronic’s latest music album, Transgression.

A PLACE TO BELONG Director: Theingi Win 16 min | 2025 | Myanmar, UK | Burmese | Short Documentary | Asian Premiere For Ko Nge, a transgender woman, aging brings double the hardship — declining health from years of oestrogen use, dwindling income, and deep loneliness despite past efforts to find love. Yet her beauty salon remains a vibrant refuge, offering safety and community for young trans sex workers in the neighborhood, keeping her purpose alive.

A NIGHT ON THE FOOTPATH Director: Bharat Duvvada 28 min | 2025 | India | Telugu | Narrative Short | Asian Premiere Each night, Teena navigates the streets as a transgender sex worker, facing hostility, loneliness, and rare moments of kindness.

Through fleeting encounters, the film explores identity and resilience. One act of compassion offers her hope, but is it enough to change a life shaped by rejection and struggle?

150

KASHISH 2025

BARA Director: Chavo 20 min | 2024 | Japan | Japanese | Narrative Short | Indian Premiere In a quiet rural Japanese town, a gay adult cinema becomes a rare refuge for the local LGBTQ+ community. There, a drag queen and a closeted man cross paths, forming a fleeting bond. Set against a backdrop where diversity is celebrated yet same-sex marriage remains illegal, BARA features non-professional gay actors, bringing raw authenticity to this gentle, intimate story of connection.

WE’LL GO DOWN IN HISTORY Directors: Cameron Richards, Charlie Tidmas 25 min | 2025 | UK | English | Short Documentary | International Premiere We’ll Go Down In History tells the story of TRUK United, a grassroots, proudly trans football club. Filmed over two years, it captures the team’s highs and lows on and off the pitch as they create a safe haven for their community in the face of rising transphobia.

KASHISH 2025

151

JUNE

8

SUN

3.45 PM Alliance Française Bombay

Family Matters Total Duration: 88 min

For queer individuals, family can be both a challenge and a source of strength. This vibrant package of five short films explores how queerness reshapes family bonds – from moments of tension and reckoning to acts of love, acceptance, and unexpected support – revealing the many ways queer lives are shaped by, and reshape, family.

(Post screening Q&A) Also playing on Thursday, June 5, Cinépolis Screen 4, 4.45 PM

CROSSING THE DESERT Director: Reena Dutt 13 min | 2024 | USA | English, Bengali | International Premiere A tender exploration of the complex bond between a South Asian immigrant mother and her queer American daughter, this story invites us to re-examine our expectations of those we love – and consider what it truly means to accept someone as they are, not as we wish them to be.

PUFFS Director: Chaya Moshayev 14 min | 2024 | Uzbekistan, Israel | Hebrew, Russian, Uzbek | Indian Premiere Ella and Edik, arrive early on holiday to their parents’ home to find their homophobic father – dead and dressed in women’s clothes. While their mother is on her way home, they have to decide what to do.

ELIJAH Director: Razid Season 19 min | 2024 | USA | Bangla, English | Asian Premiere Haider, a Bangladeshi taxi driver faces the reality that the American Dream may never be his.

Crisis spills into his family life as his daughter, Shoshi, is consumed by her desire to live life fully as a man in a trans-phobic immigrant culture.

152

KASHISH 2025

JALSA - THE NAME DAY

*Riyad Wadia Award Nominee

Director: Saikat Mondal* 23 min | 2024 | India | Hindi | Mumbai Premiere On the day of Jalsa, Suresh visits his estranged sibling, now Meneka. Amid rituals, revelations, and song, he begins to understand her world – ultimately embracing her identity with acceptance.

GRANDMA NAI WHO PLAYED FAVORITES Director: Chheangkea 19 min | 2025 | Cambodia, France, USA | Central Khmer | Indian Premiere During her chaotic family’s Qingming visit, dead Grandma Nai sneaks away from her peaceful afterlife after overhearing that her gay grandson is about to get engaged to a woman.

Note: This film contains strobe effects.

KASHISH 2025

153

JUNE

8

SUN

5.30 PM Alliance Française Bombay

SOME NIGHTS I FEEL LIKE WALKING Directors: Petersen Vargas 103 | 2024 | Philippines, Singapore, Italy | Filipino | Indian Premiere An exploration of self-discovery, reflecting on identity and belonging in the vibrant, nocturnal heart of Manila Manila at night is teeming with possibility of danger but also of tenderness.

A band of Manila street hustlers embarks on a bittersweet journey to fulfill their friend’s dying wish: to take his body home. As they navigate dark city corners and rural roads, they forge a deep solidarity, realizing that, despite their struggles, and differences their only true home is each other.

Also playing on Sunday, June 8, Cinépolis Screen 4, 12.30 PM Festivals & Honors • World Premiere - Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Estonia, 2024 • Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, Taiwan, 2024 • Festival Mix Brasil de Cultura da Diversidade, Brazil, 2024 • Singapore International Film Festival, 2024 • Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 2024 • Best Feature - Perth Queer Film Festival, Australia, 2025 • BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, 2025 • Roze Filmdagen: Amsterdam LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Netherland, 2025 • Korea Queer Film Festival, 2025 • Queergestreift Film Festival, Germany, 2025

PETERSEN VARGAS

154

PETERSEN VARGAS (1992), alumnus of the Asian Film Academy and a cum laude graduate from the University of the Philippines Film Institute, explores Filipino youth through a queer, regional lens. His last short, How to Die Young in Manila (2020), screened at Busan, Singapore, Tallinn, Iris Prize, BFI Flare, and won awards at Sydney and Bangkok. His features include 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten (2016), An Inconvenient Love (2022) and A Very Good Girl (2023).

KASHISH 2025

PANEL DISCUSSIONS AT KASHISH 2025 Thursday, June 5 | 4.30 – 5.30 PM | Cinepolis Screen 3, Andheri West

Indian Trans Actors to the Front, Please Despite India’s rich cinematic legacy, trans actors have remained largely sidelined- confined to stereotypical roles or erased entirely from stories that are, in fact, their own.

This powerful panel flips the script, placing trans voices at the center of the conversation on representation in Indian entertainment. Bringing together trans performers, filmmakers, and activists, the discussion delves into the systemic barriers that persist, the fight for authentic casting, and the urgent need for inclusive storytelling. From indie films to mainstream Bollywood and the booming world of streaming platforms- what does true representation look like, and who gets to define it? As India’s storytelling landscape continues to evolve, this is not just a call to make room- it’s a rallying cry to pass the mic to trans actors who are breaking ground and demanding change.

Panelists: A Revathi (actress, author), Faraz Ansari (filmmaker), Lauren Robinson (actor, art educator), Trinetra Haldar (actress) Moderator: Nishtha Nishant (activist) Supported by: Keshav Suri Foundation Friday, June 6 | 4,30 - 5.30 | Cinepolis Screen 3, Andheri West

Behind the Smiles: Queer Youth & Mental Health LGBTQ+ youth in India face disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts—driven by stigma, discrimination, and the pressure to hide their identities. This panel brings together queer voices, mental health professionals, and grassroots organizations to explore how we can build affirming, accessible, and community-rooted mental health support. From lived experiences to policy shifts, we’ll discuss what it takes to break the silence, challenge systemic barriers, and create spaces where queer youth can truly thrive.

Panelists: Sulagna Chatterjee (writer, director), Yadnya Ankita (trans activist), Pallari Gajaria (queer affirmative mental health professional) Moderator: Richa Vashisht (mental health professional) KASHISH 2025

155

Saturday, June 7 | 4.30 – 5.30 PM | Cinepolis Screen 3, Andheri West

Portrayals with Pride: LGBTQ+ depictions in Mainstream Pop-Culture As conversations around gender and sexuality gain momentum in India, mainstream pop culture is beginning to reflect this shift, slowly moving away from caricatures and silences toward more nuanced and humanized portrayals of LGBTQ+ lives. There’s a visible, though still evolving, effort to bring queer narratives to the forefront. This panel will explore how Indian cinema, and digital platforms are shaping public perceptions breaking taboos, and challenging long-held stereotypes—while also reflecting on the journey ahead for truly authentic and inclusive storytelling.

Proposed Panelists: Onir (filmmaker), Pratiek Smita Patil (actor), Rajshri Deshpande (actress), Satya Rai Nagpaul (cinemmatographer), Tillotama Shome (actress) Moderator: Ashish Sawhny (filmmaker) Sunday, June 8| 5.00 – 6.00 PM | Cinepolis Screen 4, Andheri West KASHISH 2025 Filmmakers Interface KASHISH Pride Film Festival has emerged as a renowned platform for showcasing diverse LGBTQ+ narratives from across the world. Each year, the festival welcomes a vibrant gathering of emerging filmmakers who come not only to present their films and participate in post-screening Q&As, but also to connect, collaborate, and build meaningful networks that may shape their future journeys.

KASHISH also offers scholarships to select emerging Indian filmmakers, enabling them to attend the festival and engage deeply with the community.

In this candid conversation with some of these filmmakers, we explore what drives them to tell these stories against all odds, what showcasing their work at KASHISH means to them, and what lies ahead in their creative journeys.

Panelists: KASHISH 2025 Filmmakers (TBD) Moderator: Sagar Malkar (producer, podcaster) Supported by: Whistling Woods International

156

KASHISH 2025

KASHISH 2025 FESTIVAL TEAM Festival Director Sridhar Rangayan Artistic Director Saagar Gupta

Preview Team Aayushi Mandloi, Abhay Kulkarni, Abhra Das, Bhagirathi Raman, Guelcin, Murali Raman, Nishtha Nishant, Shreya Reddy, Swarno Banerjee

Director of Operations Aaron D’souza

Opening Night Hosts Rohini Ramnathan, Renil Abraham

Director of Registrations Chandresh Mehta

Closing Night Hosts Sid Makkar, SeduQtress SoniQa

Jury Coordinator Abhra Das

Festival Theme Animation Shreyasi Mondal

Panel Coordinator Bhagirathi Raman

Festival Trailer Priyanka Arora

Hospitality Coordinator Arun Nair

Digital Marketing Durraiya Hasta (Digital Fix)

Technical Coordinators Amar Rajpoot, Koustabh Mukherjee

PR Agency Actimedia PR & Digital

Venue Manager, Cinepolis Andheri Tinesh Chopade

Website Design Idigitize

Venue Manager, Alliance Francaise Juhi Rajpal

Catalog Design Yogesh Jahagirdar

Cinepolis Foyer In-charge Raj Kanaujiya

Catalog Program Notes Saagar Gupta

Production Team Harshada Patil, Parikshit Shete Atul Chavare, Mona Ambegaonkar

Opening & Closing Ceremony Script Divya Vinekar

Costumes Bipin Tanna Art Director Sumeet Patil KASHISH 2025

… and ALL OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS!

157

FRIENDS OF KASHISH 2025 Thanks to each one of the below contributors to our crowdfunding donation campaign. All of you have made this festival possible, with your support.

Sharon & Dan Otmar Anonymous Animesh Bahadur Mohamed Khaki Sreedhar Guggalla Harshal Ruikar Jo Mayuresh Tapale Anjum Rajabali Anonymous Anonymous Dean Hamer Hrishit S Jerry Johnson Kalpana Nair Parag Pradhan Alan Maurice Aruna Desai Chitra Palekar Davy Van Obbergen Devesh Khatu Ivan John Kartik Desai Nandita Das Padma Iyer Sandhya Krishnan Surekha Kanse Aniruddha Maitra Ankit Bhuptani Avantika Akerkar Grant Vidgen Jigar Vora Jonas Jacobson Juthika Nagpal Rajkiran Reema Moudgil Sunil Malkany Suraj Agarwal Thomas C Whittum V. S. Narang

GAURDIAN GAURDIAN FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY WELL WISHER WELL WISHER WELL WISHER FRIEND FRIEND FRIEND FRIEND FRIEND FRIEND FRIEND FRIEND ALLY ALLY ALLY ALLY ALLY ALLY ALLY ALLY ALLY ALLY ALLY BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER BELIEVER

We are still in need for finances to manage this year’s festival. If you can donate, please visit https://pages.razorpay.com/pl_QNEiWXTOwfssUx

158

KASHISH 2025

FILM INDEX

NARRATIVE FEATURES A Life Inside Me - 103 A Street Play - 75 Aum Penjor - 115 Baby - 77 Call me Agnes - 122, 136 Close to You - 85, 127 Eat the Night - 55 Four Mothers - 109 High Tide - 126, 134 Mandi - 65 Odd Fish - 114 Out - 51, 149 Outerlands - 117 Queer - 54 Reset - 110 Sebastian - 124 Some Nights I Feel Like Walking - 123, 154 The Best Friend - 84 Three Kilometers to the End of the World - 72 We are Faheem & Karun - 76 What We Wrote Together - 96, 147 DOCUMENTARY FEATURES #TwoMoms - 118, 131 Bulletproof: A Lesbian’s Guide to Surviving the Plot - 95 Fatherhood - 125, 135 God’s Other Plan - 57 I am Revathi - 92, 140 If I Die, It’ll be of Joy - 112 Pride & Prayer - 56, 141 Queens in Finistère - 98, 148 Queer, Broke & Amazing! - 139 Sally! - 63, 146 Warm Film - 97 DOCUMENTARY SHORTS A Place to Belong - 150 Amma’s Pride - 90

160

Artists at the Edge - 48 B and S - 48 Beauty is Revenge - 150 Because of You: A History of Kilawin Kolektibo - 130 Exile - 130 Go On, Rituparna - 90 Handwoven - 113 Is Gay Marriage Next? - 58 Melvilasam - 101 Old Lesbians - 99 Project Priyo - 71 Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr - 48 Sweet Beginning - 91 Trans and Pregnant - 89 Two Sides - 89 Two Travelling Aunties - 101 Unheard Stories- Kaunish - 89 Unheard Stories- Vijaya - 91 We’ll Go Down in History - 151 ANIMATION SHORTS I Am Tejimola - 52, 137 Dragfox - 78, 87 Every Romance Ends Like This - 50 Two Black Boys in Paradise - 68 INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORTS 11:01 - 47 ¡Salsa! - 80 À la Carte - 104, A Little Bit of Glitter - 108 Abraham - 61 After All - 107, All the Men I Met But Never Dated - 62 And The White Wall - 107 Auganic - 50 Awaiting Alba - 66 Bara - 151 Blood Like Water - 121, 129 Call me Ro - 49 KASHISH 2025

Car Wash - 73, 132 Clementine - 111 Courting the Night - 99 Crossing The Desert - 93, 152 Dancing Dhamaal! - 44 Dead Girl - 67 Demons - 66 Dragon’s Breath - 79, 88 DTF? - 50 Elijah - 93, 152 End of 14 Days - 81 Everything is So Boring - 49 Far Between Us - 102 Farewell, Saranghae, Farewell - 111 Finding the Rainbow - 73, 132 Gillyfish - 105, 142 Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites 94, 153 Here, in the Bathtub - 50 High Tension - 69 Holy Curse - 60, 145 I Am - 102 Ice Cream, Ice Queen - 70 It Burns - 99 IUS of Time - 47 J is for Just An Afternoon Thunderstorm - 120 Jia - 121, 129 JuJu Vs. The Possibilities of Love, Life and Death - 120 Kokuhaku - 106, 143 Koupepia - 45 Lady is With Me - 106, 143 Leo - 45

Lovin’ Her - 106, 143 Loving Silence - 70 MAN>CODE - 119 My Senses Are All I Have to Offer - 111 Non Slut - 68 Open to It - Episode 1 - 68 Persian Blue - 106, 143 Puffs - 93, 152 Rat! - 67 Revived - 119 Ruth - 61 Saigon Kiss - 119 Seen - 81 Silvia’s House - 73, 132 KASHISH 2025

Simon at the Nightshop - 71 Sister Wives - 121, 129 Sole - 62 Sondesh - 100 Strawberry Cream - 69 Sunflowers at Night - 74, 133 The Blurring of Trees - 47 The D@te - 70 The Old Stories Under the City Wall 116 The Space You Need - 61 Three - 44 Threshold - 74 Violets - 80 Water Hazard - 78, 87 Wolf - 78, 87 You Were Not Here - 105, 142 Zari - 81 INDIAN NARRATIVE SHORTS A Night on the Footpath - 150 Because - 83 Could It Be? - 53, 138 Envy - 53, 138 F for Freedom - 59, 144 Jalsa- The Name Day - 94, 153 Jasmine That Blooms in Autumn - 82 Land/Water - 102 Makeup My Shield - 52, 137 My Comrade - 82 Places I’ve Called My Own - 59, 144 Rafu - 108 Surajmukhi - 100 The Story of Yuvraj and Shahajahan 60, 145 The Witch of Vihar Lake - 53, 138 Tutti Frutti Cake - 53, 138 Velipādu: The Revelation - 82 What’s in a Name? - 52, 137

161

THU June 5

FRI June 6

SAT June 7

DRAGFOX, WATER HAZARD, DRAGON'S BREATH, WOLF

OF UNICORNS & QUIET ROARS 57 MIN (4 Films)

HIGH TENSION, NON SLUT, OPEN TO IT, TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE, STRAWBERRY CREAM

BOYS SHORTS * 75 MIN (5 Films)

PRIDE & PRAYER 62 MIN

11:01, IUS OF TIME, THE BLURRING OF TREES

DOCU SHORTS COMP- 1 * 83 MIN (3 films)

INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORTS COMP- 1 66 MIN (3 films)

VIOLETS, ¡SALSA!, END OF 14 DAYS, SEEN, ZARI

INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORTS COMP- 4 * 75 MIN (5 films)

preceded by PROJECT PRIYO * 30 MIN

ICE CREAM, ICE QUEEN, LOVING SILENCE, THE D@TE, SIMON AT THE NIGHTSHOP

MATTERS OF HEART 57 MIN (4 Films)

GOD'S OTHER PLAN 80 MIN preceded by IS GAY MARRIAGE NEXT? 15 MIN

SEAT 31: ZOOEY ZEPHYR, B AND S, ARTISTS AT THE EDGE

11.00 AM

9.30 AM

152 Films from 48 Countries

* Q&A with Cast & Crew

SUN June 8

MY COMRADE, JASMINE THAT BLOOMS IN AUTUMN, VELIPADU, BECAUSE

INDIAN NARRATIVE SHORTS COMP * 84 MIN (4 films)

International Narrative Centrepiece THREE KILOMETERS TO THE END OF THE WORLD 105 MIN

PLACES I'VE CALLED MY OWN, F FOR FREEDOM, THE STORY OF YUVRAJ AND SHAHAJAHAN, HOLY CURSE

INDIAN MASALA MIX- 2 * 99 MIN (4 Films)

EVERYTHING IS SO BORING, CALL ME RO, EVERY ROMANCE ENDS LIKE THIS, DTF?,AUGANIC, HERE, IN THE BATHTUB

QUEERIOSITIES * 92 MIN (6 Films)

12.45 PM

THE BEST FRIEND 90 MIN

CAR WASH, FINDING THE RAINBOW, SILVIA’S HOUSE, SUNFLOWERS AT NIGHT, THRESHOLD

TWO OF US 94 MIN (5 Films)

ABRAHAM, THE SPACE YOU NEED, RUTH, SOLE, ALL THE MEN I MET BUT NEVER DATED

INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORTS COMP- 2 * 83 MIN (5 Films)

Special Presentation OUT 94 MIN

2.45 PM

Panel Discussion KASHISH 2025 Emerging Filmmakers Interface

Panel Discussion Portrayals with Pride: LGBTQ+ depictions in mainstream popculture

Panel Discussion Equal Love, Equal Rights: Marriage Equality in India

Panel Discussion Indian Trans Actors to the Front, Please

4.30 PM

9.30 AM – 11.55 PM

DANCING DHAMAAL! THREE, KOUPEPIA, LEO

LOVE = PEACE 45 MIN (4 films)

8.00 PM

CINEPOLIS ANDHERI SCREEN 3

OPENING CEREMONY

6.00 PM

6.00 PM – 9.30 PM

ST. ANDREWS AUDITORIUM

NUKKAD NATAK * 107 MIN

SALLY! 96 MIN

MAKEUP MY SHIELD, WHAT'S IN A NAME?, I AM TEJIMOLA, COULD IT BE?, ENVY, TUTTI FRUTTI CAKE, THE WITCH OF VIHAR LAKE

INDIAN MASALA MIX- 1 * 76 MIN (7 Films)

5.45 PM

KASHISH 2025 SCREENING SCHEDULE

WED June 4

7.30 - 9.30pm AWARD CEREMONY

Starts at 8.00 PM Indian Narrative Centrepiece WE ARE FAHEEM & KARUN * 75 MIN

7.45 - 10.45 PM Tribute to Shyam Benegal MANDI * 167 MIN

Opening Feature QUEER 137 MIN

7.45 PM

Closing Film CLOSE TO YOU 100 MIN

Starts at 10.00 PM BABY 107 MIN

AWAITING ALBA, DEMONS, DEAD GIRL, RAT!

Starts at 11.00 PM QUEER AFTER DARK 56 MIN (4 Films)

EAT THE NIGHT 107 MIN

10.15 PM

DRAGFOX, WATER HAZARD, DRAGON'S BREATH, WOLF

OF UNICORNS & QUIET ROARS 57 MIN (4 Films)

SAPPHIC SNAPSHOTS * 78 MIN (5 Films)

* Q&A with Cast & Crew

BLOOD LIKE WATER, JIA, SISTER WIVES

BEST OF IRIS 57 MIN (3 Films)

MY SENSES ARE ALL I HAVE TO OFFER, FAREWELL, SARANGHAE, FAREWELL, CLEMENTINE

INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORTS COMP- 3 61 MIN (3 films)

CALL ME AGNES 94 MIN

Narrative Features

SEBASTIAN 111 MIN

AUM PENJOR 139 MIN

Short Films Package

SOME NIGHTS I FEEL LIKE WALKING 103 MIN

ODD FISH 104 MIN

TWO TRAVELLING AUNTIES, MELVILASAM, FAR BETWEEN US, LAND/WATER, I AM

A LIFE INSIDE ME * 102 MIN preceded by À LA CARTE 8 MIN

FATHERHOOD 77 MIN

Starts at 5.15 PM THE OLD STORIES UNDER THE CITY WALL * 39 MIN

HIGH TIDE 101 MIN

OUTERLANDS 100 MIN

AND THE WHITE WALL, AFTER ALL, RAFU, A LITTLE BIT OF GLITTER

STUDENT COMP- 2 * 94 MIN (4 Films)

BULLETPROOF: A LESBIAN'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE PLOT 105 MIN

6.30 PM

Allied Events

GILLYFISH, YOU WERE NOT HERE, PERSIAN BLUE, LOVIN' HER, KOKUHAKU, LADY IS WITH ME

FACE2FACE 86 MIN (6 Films)

CROSSING THE DESERT, PUFFS, ELIJAH, JALSA, GRANDMA NAI WHO PLAYED FAVORITES

FAMILY MATTERS! * 88 MIN (5 Films)

4.45 PM

Documentaries

Indian Documentary Centrepiece I AM REVATHI * 115 MIN

2.30 PM

NOTE: Schedule subject to change without prior notice, at the discretion of the festival.

Seating strictly on a first come first seated basis.

International Docu Centrepiece IF I DIE, IT'LL BE OF JOY 80 MIN preceded by HANDWOVEN 9 MIN

OLD LESBIANS, IT BURNS, COURTING THE NIGHT, SURAJMUKHI, SONDESH

STUDENT COMP- 1 * 93 MIN (5 Films)

TWO SIDES, UNHEARD STORIES- KAUNISH, TRANS AND PREGNANT

DRAGFOX, WATER HAZARD, DRAGON'S BREATH, WOLF

QUEENS IN FINISTÈRE 63 MIN

AMMA'S PRIDE, GO ON, RITUPARNA, SWEET BEGINNING, UNHEARD STORIES- VIJAYA

PARENTING WITH PRIDE * 87 MIN (3 Films)

TRANS TRIUMPHS- 1 * 81 MIN (4 Films)

OF UNICORNS & QUIET ROARS 57 MIN (4 Films)

12.30 PM

Panel Discussion KASHISH 2025 Emerging Filmmakers Interface

9.30 AM – 11.55 PM

THE BEST FRIEND 90 MIN

CINEPOLIS ANDHERI SCREEN 4

MY COMRADE, JASMINE THAT BLOOMS IN AUTUMN, VELIPADU, BECAUSE

INDIAN NARRATIVE SHORTS COMP * 84 MIN (4 films)

10.45 AM

VIOLETS, ¡SALSA!, END OF 14 DAYS, SEEN, ZARI

INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORTS COMP- 4 * 75 MIN (5 films)

9.30 AM

* Q&A with Cast & Crew

SUN June 8

THU June 5

FRI June 6

SAT June 7

SUN June 8

TBC

#TWOMOMS 89 MIN

FOUR MOTHERS 89 MIN

WHAT WE WROTE TOGETHER 92 MIN

8.30 PM

7.30 - 9.30pm AWARD CEREMONY

Closing Film CLOSE TO YOU 100 MIN

SAIGON KISS, REVIVED, MAN>CODE, JUJU VS. THE POSSIBILITIES OF LOVE, LIFE AND DEATH, J IS FOR JUST AN AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM

CHANCE ENCOUNTERS 91 MIN (5 Films)

RESET 95 MIN

WARM FILM 92 MIN

10.15 PM

Closing Film CLOSE TO YOU 100 MIN

SUN June 8

TRANS

HOLY CURSE

12.00 NOON

10.30 AM

PLACE TO BELONG, A NIGHT ON THE 1.45 PM BARA, WE'LL FOOTPATH, GO DOWN IN HISTORY

10.30BEAUTY AM –IS7.30 PM REVENGE, A

FAMILY MATTERS! *

CALL ME AGNES 94 MIN

FATHERHOOD 77 MIN

PRIDE & PRAYER 62 MIN

QUEENS IN FINISTÈRE 63 MIN

CAR WASH, FINDING THE Allied Events RAINBOW, SILVIA’S HOUSE, SUNFLOWERS AT NIGHT, THRESHOLD

TWO OF US 94 MIN (5 Films)

CROSSING THE DESERT, PUFFS, ELIJAH, JALSA, GRANDMA NAI WHO 3.45 PM PLAYED FAVORITES

HIGH TIDE 101 MIN

5.30 PM

SOME NIGHTS I FEEL LIKE WALKING 103 MIN

Short Films Package

Documentaries

Allied Events

CROSSING THE DESERT, PUFFS, ELIJAH, JALSA, GRANDMA NAI WHO PLAYED FAVORITES

FAMILY MATTERS! * 88 MIN (5 Films)

SALLY! 96 MIN

QUEER, BROKE & AMAZING! 89 MIN

SOME NIGHTS I FEEL LIKE WALKING 103 MIN

WHAT WE WROTE TOGETHER 92 MIN

Indian Documentary Centrepiece I AM REVATHI * 115 MIN

KASHISH 2025

For more details check Festival Website: http://mumbaiqueerfest.com

NOTE: Schedule subject to change without prior notice, at the discretion of the festival.

Seating strictly on a first come first seated basis.

Narrative Features

BEAUTY IS REVENGE, A PLACE TO BELONG, A NIGHT ON THE FOOTPATH, BARA, WE'LL GO DOWN IN HISTORY

TRANS TRIUMPHS-2 * 103 MIN (5 Films)

PLACES I'VE CALLED MY OWN, F FOR FREEDOM, THE STORY OF YUVRAJ AND SHAHAJAHAN, HOLY CURSE

INDIAN MASALA MIX- 2 * 99 MIN (4 Films)

* Q&A with Cast & Crew

Special Presentation OUT 94 MIN

GILLYFISH, YOU WERE NOT HERE, PERSIAN BLUE, LOVIN' HER, KOKUHAKU, LADY IS WITH ME

FACE2FACE 86 MIN (6 Films)

MAKEUP MY SHIELD, WHAT'S IN A NAME?, I AM TEJIMOLA, COULD IT BE?, ENVY, TUTTI FRUTTI CAKE, THE WITCH OF VIHAR LAKE

MIX- 1 * 76 MIN (7 Films)

NOTE: Schedule subject to change without prior notice, at the discretion of the festival.

INDIAN MASALA Seating strictly on a first come first seated basis.

SISTER WIVES

DOCU SHORTS * Q&A with Cast & Crew BEST OF IRIS COMP-2 57 MIN (3 Films) #TWOMOMS 86 MIN (2 films) Narrative Short Films Package 89 MINDocumentaries BLOOD LIKE WATER, Features JIA,

OUT 94 MIN

QUEENS IN FINISTÈRE 63 MIN

TRIUMPHS-2 * Alliance Française 88 MIN (5 Films) 103 MIN (5 de Films)Bombay Special Presentation

BECAUSE OF YOU: A HISTORY OF KILAWIN KOLEKTIBO , EXILE

THU June 5

FRI June 6

SAT June 7

SUN June 8

164

Your Brand Needs a Digital Director Not just a social media intern.

At Digital Fix, we don’t just post — we produce.

Content that speaks your brand language. Campaigns with a narrative arc.

Performance that’s worthy of a standing ovation.

From film festivals and award shows to brands across hospitality, healthcare, and finance — we’ve built stories that resonate and campaigns that deliver.

Now in our 6th year as digital partners for the KASHISH Pride Film Festival, we’re proud to have amplified its voice, grown its audience, and driven meaningful engagement year after year — bringing the same passion and performance to every brand we work with.

Social Media Marketing

Brand Identity & Design

Website Design

DIGITAL FIX

Video Production

+91-77770-14059 contact@digitalfix.in

www.digitalfix.in