LONDON — This March 2017, BFI Flare, London, one of the world’s oldest LGBTQ film festivals will have a special focus on South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ film festival KASHISH.

Festival Director Sridhar Rangayan will be at BFI Flare to talk about contemporary Indian LGBTQ films.
“It is an absolute honour that BFI Flare, one of the oldest and best LGBTQ film festivals in the world is doing a focus on our Indian LGBTQ film festival KASHISH. It is recognition of the festival’s continued growth and success amidst a challenging environment in India where LGBTQ rights are far from being granted. It is also a testament to the festival’s outreach worldwide, and its rigor in promoting Indian LGBTQ films,” said Sridhar Rangayan.

Apart from the talk, Rangayan will also be participating in a programmers’ meet that brings together curators from around the world. This would be a great opportunity for the festival director to source films for the upcoming 8th edition of KASHISH to be held May 24-28th in Mumbai. He will specially be looking for British films for KASHISH’s country in focus this year: United Kingdom.
This event is part of the year-long celebration of cultural exchange, India/UK 2017. Sridhar Rangayan’s visit to the UK is being facilitated by British Council, which had last year facilitated the visit of acclaimed Hollywood actor Sir Ian Mckellen’s visit to KASHISH 2016.

Monday, March 20, 2017, BFI Head Curator Robin Baker and Sridhar Rangayan will explore the climate for making, showcasing and accessing LGBTQ film in India, and the effect that these films are having on the national debate around 377.
Rangayan’s National Award winning documentary BREAKING FREE will be screening at the BFI Flare’s Digital Viewing Library. The other film with Indian LGBTQ content to screen at BFI Flare this year is ‘Dead Dad’.
“KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival since 2010 has worked to bring together LGBT communities and build understanding and empathy in the wider culture. Indian filmmakers have also been committed to telling LGBT stories with recent examples, ‘Aligargh’, ‘Margarita with a Straw’, ‘Loev’ screening in BFI’s Festivals and around the world, and the excellent ‘Dear Dad’ featuring in this year’s BFI Flare. We are honoured to welcome Sridhar Rangayan, the director of KASHISH to BFI Flare,” BFI Flare said on its Web site.

  Gay, Kashish, LGBT, Rainbow