Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival in the New York Times

The New York Times has the buzz on the opening night of the 5th Annual Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, the largest gay and lesbian film festival in India. The festival’s slogan this year is “Dare to Dream” in the face of recent events in the country: reinstating of the ban on gay sex and the BJP election victory. Even with the ban, Kashish organizers were able to get a permit from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to show on-screen relationships that “involve illegal acts”. And, the NYT notes that sponsors include IBM, Godrej, and mainstream publications such as The Hindustan Times, The Mumbai Mirror and The Hindu.

Films include “Purple Skies,” a documentary about the challenges of being lesbian, bisexual and transgender in India, K.R. Devmani’s “Meghdhanushya,” about a boy growing up gay in a conservative Gujarati family, with a commentary by Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil. You can read more about the festival here.