Global LGBTQiA+ film event will highlight cinema by the community in Mumbai this week

This Friday all roads will lead to Versova for suburban cinephiles where Five Films For Freedom mdash the worldrsquos first and largest online LGBTQiA film event mdash is hosting the Mumbai leg of its 10city screening schedule Now in its 10th year the initiative aims to showcase diverse stories from the community and will feature five short films from The Philippines India Spain the UK and the USACursive UKAmplifying the queer gazeThe films chosen as a part of this initiative explains Rashi Jain directorWest India British Council which has partnered with The Queer Muslim Project for this event highlight underrepresented conflicts social issues and unique perspectives on human rights ldquoIn addition to demonstrating cinematic artistry intellectual rigour and a commitment to the ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the films should also invite audiences to address difficult questions and create opportunities for empathetic outreach and communitybuilding Our goal is to provide a platform for filmmakers whose work might otherwise go undiscovered and to shed light on the realities faced by queer individuals especially in regions where LGBTQiA rights are restrictedrdquo she addsThe First Kiss SpainMusings by the shoreThe Mumbai event will showcase Halfway a film by Kumar Chedda a National Awardwinning screenwriter and filmmaker The film which traces the lives of a young queer couple in India explores the themes of adulthood and love against the backdrop of the frantic pace of life in Mumbai ldquoThe film is in many ways inspired by my struggles and my attempt to regard my own relationships in a more mature wayrdquo Chedda says clarifying that since the film is based on such a universal feeling it helps normalise queerness to such an extent that audiences can easily envision themselves living the charactersrsquo realities We learn that the film also has another more intrinsic connection to the city and the audiences in Mumbai mdash it has been shot on Juhu beach an iconic landmark in the city ldquoWe hope that the audience can relate to the familiar sights and sounds of their cityrdquo says JainA still from Little One The Philippines features framed photographs of the protagonistrsquos queer parents Comptonrsquos 22 USAInclusive and accessibleBesides physical screenings the organisers have also made the films available to OTT audiences for free till March 24 to combine physical screenings with online showcases to offer a comprehensive viewing experience that caters to diverse audience preferences and circumstances ldquoWhile physical screenings allow for an immersive experience where attendees can enjoy the films in a communal setting interact with other viewers and participate in postscreening discussions or QampA sessions online showcases enable a broader audience reach making the films accessible to viewers worldwiderdquo Jain elaboratesAs a filmmaker Chedda is appreciative of the reach the initiative affords ldquoSuch platforms let your film travel across the globe something that is really difficult to do with a short film in India This programme is especially important for Indian filmmakers because it helps put India on the map and because it supports queer people telling queer storiesrdquo he concludesKumar ChhedaAt Harkat Studios Bungalow No 17 Versova Andheri WestOn March 22 730 pmLog on to harkatstudios RSVP mandatory JioTVcom to stream