26 August,2014 07:27 AM IST | | Kartiki Nitin Lawate
For the first time, Pune will have its own Queer Film Festival called Adavait that will have a wide spectrum of films addressing the many facets of the LGBTQI issue
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Samapathik Trust is a sexual health organisation working on the rights and health issues for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) community. Taking their efforts a step further, they are now organising Advait, the first queer film festival to be held in Pune. Bindumadhav Khire, coordinator of the Samapathik Trust, shares, "For the past three years Samapathik Trust has been organising a Gay, Transgender, Intersex Pride Walk in Pune. From this year, we are planning to expand this event and have an annual Pune Queer Festival too."
He was supported by Tinesh Chopade who is part of Samapathik Trust and the festival as Chopade relayed that the festival is another of their initiatives to create awareness amongst people about the queer community. As this is the first year of the festival, we have chosen only Indian movies and plays, amongst which the Marathi play Ek Madhav Baug - a story of a mother who accepted a gay child is a must-watch.
Posters of the film, Jaijaikar
Nitin Karani, who is a part of the screening committee of the film festival, shares his excitement and explains that Ashok Row Kavi - India's first gay activist will be given the lifetime achievement award for his endeavours. The award will be given by Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, Clinic Director, National AIDS Research Institute (NARI). Lastly, Khire concludes, "In the festival, seven short films and two feature films will be shown." Registrations for the event have already started.
At: Jyotsna Bhole Hall, Shukrawar Peth.
