Organisers Empathise with Covid-hit, Push Online LGBTQIA Film Fest Kashish to August
by EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | May 11, 2021 | News
Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival
The 12th edition of South Asia’s LGBTQIA+ film festival Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, which was to be hosted online in May 2021, has been rescheduled for 19 August to 5 September 2021 owing to the current Covid19 wave.
In a statement, organisers of the festival said, “Considering the situation of the raging pandemic in the country and across the world, and the anguish it is causing to everyone around, the festival’s executive committee and the advisory board has empathetically felt that we should reschedule KASHISH 2021 to a later date”.
Sridhar Rangayan, Director, Kashish Film Festival, said, “As a film festival that is by the people and for the people, we felt that we cannot continue with the festival as planned due to the challenging situation all around us. We felt it was important for the situation to improve and people to heal before we celebrate the film festival in its true spirit. Also, like last year, as part of our ‘KASHISH We Care’ initiative, we plan to donate 60 percent of the registration collections to NGOs working to offer relief to the Transgender community during the pandemic.”
The festival had already announced its line up of over 200 LGBTQIA films from over 50 countries on its website and started registrations for audiences to attend.
Saagar Gupta, Director of Programming, said, “We are thankful to our 200+ shortlisted filmmakers, distributors who have sent in their amazing films to screen with us. We are safely holding on to their films and will screen on the new dates of the festival.”
Click here for more details about the festival https://mumbaiqueerfest.com/
Line-up of over 200 films from 50 countries had been announced and audience registrations had begun; will host when situation improves and people have had time to heal, say organisers.