30 May,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal Ashar
Gulnaz Ghanchi, who has developed the KASHISH app, with festival director Sridhar Rangayan, and artistic director Saagar Gupta at the Press Club. Pics/Ashish Raje
It will be 17 years of the KASHISH Pride Film Festival, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer+ (LGBTQ+) film festival from June 3 to June 7, at three SoBo venues. At a press conference on Thursday afternoon at the Press Club near Azad Maidan, panellists spoke with poignancy and perspective about KASHISH.
The personal and honest resonated deeply at the meet, giving meaning to this edition's theme: Reflect, Resonate, Rejoice. Reflect on the speakers' viewpoints; their speeches had the personal touch that resonated, and they gave reason to rejoice for avenues like KASHISH.
17
No. of years festival has been running
Sai Deodar, filmmaker - âNa Aavadti Goshta'
âIn my family, progressive like most Maharashtrians, we never had conversations about LGBTQ+ identities. That silence needs to be broken.'
Rohan Kanawade, filmmaker - Sabar Bonda
âExcited to screen the film before a packed, 1000+ theatre audience.'
Ashish Sawhny, filmmaker - âThe Sailor and the Chef'
âI was drawn to stories of older LGBTQ+ individuals whose courage often goes unrecognised. They are the marginalised set in a marginalised community.'
Sawhny spoke about his maternal grandmother, trailblazing, fearless Urdu writer Ismat Chughtai, who "inspired me to live a life true to myself".
Festival director Sridhar Rangayan said, "Each of the 153 films from 43 countries is a winner, for the fact that filmmakers have made these films against many odds and constraints. Each queer story told offers hope to thousands more."
Event: KASHISH film festival
Dates: June 3 to June 7
Venues: Liberty Cinema; Alliance Française de Bombay, Churchgate; National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Colaba
No. of films: 153 films from 43 countries
Country in focus: Spain
For registration/information: https://mumbaiqueerfest.com/
