Daniel Craig's Queer and Elliot Page's Close To You to Bookend KASHISH 2025
Mumbai's iconic KASHISH Pride Film Festival returns for its 16th edition this June, once again asserting its place as South Asia's biggest LGBTQ+ film festival. The 2025 edition will run from June 4 to June 8, kicking off with an opening ceremony at St.
Andrews Auditorium, Bandra, followed by screenings at Cinepolis, Andheri West and Alliance Française, Marine Lines.
Global Highlights, Local Voices
A total of 152 films from 48 countries will be screened, with entries from as far afield as Iceland, Peru, Serbia, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, and Palestine. The strong South Asian presence continues with films from India, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
India leads the tally with 37 films, followed by the USA (34) and the UK (19).
This year's selection includes a dynamic mix of documentaries, short films, and narratives that reflect a broad and evolving LGBTQ+ experience.
'Queer' to open, 'Close To You' to close
The festival opens with Queer, a film by Luca Guadagnino, featuring Daniel Craig, and concludes with Close To You, directed by Dominic Savage and starring Elliot Page, who also serves as producer.
Other notable international titles include the Dutch documentary Out by Dennis Alink, and Odd Fish by Snævar Sölvason, set in an Icelandic coastal town.
A Movement, Not Just a Festival
'KASHISH has always taken on challenges in its stride and emerged stronger,' said Sridhar Rangayan, Founder and Festival Director. 'With our move back to the suburbs and a line-up that appeals to younger audiences, the festival hopes to infuse new energy. Sixteen years ago, we laid the first bricks of
Indian queer cinema
. Today, we're witnessing an entire movement rising — brave, brilliant, and uncompromising.'
This year's theme, 'Love = Peace,' carries added resonance. 'Peace isn't just the absence of conflict — it's the presence of love,' said Saagar Gupta, Artistic Director. 'Love for who we are, for each other, and for every identity that makes us whole.'
Indian Cinema in Focus
The Indian Narrative Centrepiece is Onir's award-winning We Are Faheem & Karun, while the International Narrative Centrepiece is Three Kilometers To The End Of The World by Romanian director Emanuel Pârvu.
KASHISH will also pay tribute to its patron Shyam Benegal with a screening of his landmark 1983 film Mandi, featuring a star-studded cast including Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Neena Gupta, Naseeruddin Shah, and Pankaj Kapur.
Open to All
The festival promises a celebration of diverse LGBTQ+ stories and offers discounted registrations for students, senior citizens, and transgender persons. With a compelling mix of cinema, conversation, and community, KASHISH 2025 aims to be more than a festival—it's a space for visibility, pride, and cultural dialogue.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Phone jammers, masked guards': Zohran Mamdani's lavish wedding in spotlight; three-day bash held under tight security
Image courtesy: AFP Zohran Mamdani , an Indian-origin mayoral candidate in New York, recently celebrated his wedding to artist and animator Rama Duwaji with a lavish three-day event at his family's expansive estate in Uganda. The festivities, held in the upscale Buziga Hill neighborhood near Kampala, were shrouded in secrecy and featured fortress-like security measures, including multiple security gates, armed guards in masks, and a phone-jamming device, as reported by the New York Post. Mamdani, 33, who was born in Uganda, eloped with 27-year-old Duwaji in February. He moved to New York at the age of seven and became a US citizen in 2018. The couple, who met on the dating app Hinge, now reside in a rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria. Zohran's father, Mahmood Mamdani, owns the property in one of Uganda's wealthiest areas, home to prominent figures like billionaire businessman Godfrey Kirumira. Inside the lavish wedding party The Mamdani estate was transformed into a vibrant party venue for the occasion, with music and Christmas lights adorning the garden's tree canopy. According to the report, upscale buses and luxury vehicles, including a Mercedes and a Range Rover, were seen arriving at the compound. The estate, situated on two acres of lush grounds with a sweeping view of Lake Victoria, is in a neighborhood where homes can easily sell for over $1 million. Zohran's affluent parents, Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, also divide their time between this Ugandan property, New York, and New Delhi. Beefed-up security in place "Outside the Mamdani house were more than 20 special forces command unit guards, some in masks, and there was a phone-jamming system set up—all for the strictly invite-only Mamdani event... One gate had around nine guards stationed at it,' the report quoted a source as saying. The party reportedly concluded around midnight, with Mamdani addressing his guests later in the evening. After the festivities ended on Friday, military-style tents were dismantled, and security officers, believed to be Mamdani's personal guards, took over at the gates.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Edelweiss CEO and Shark Tank India judge Radhika Gupta calls out Dior for no credit to India for Mukaish Overcoat: Says, time to ...
Radhika Gupta (ANI) Edelweiss CEO and Shark Tank India judge Radhika Gupta has once again called a luxury brand. After Prada, Gupta has now critised luxury fashion brand Dior for allegedly failing to give credit to India for its traditional 'Mukaish' embroidery. In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) Gupta has publicly criticised Dior for selling Rs 1.7 crore ($200,000) overcoat with Lucknowi Mukaish embroidery without acknowledging the Indian artisans . Gupta's public statement on social media highlights a growing demand for global brands to acknowledge the origins and artisans behind traditional crafts. Read Radhika Gupta's social media post here In the post Gupta expressed her frustration over what she called 'blatant cultural appropriation ,' revealing that the intricate embroidery was crafted by 12 Indian artisans over 34 days, yet the brand gave no credit, no context, and no mention of India 'One more handloom, one more headline. Dior sells a $200K coat using Lucknowi mukaish embroidery. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa Prices in Dubai Might Be Lower Than You Think! Villa for sale in Dubai | Search Ads Learn More Undo 12 Indian artisans. 34 days of work. No credit. No context. No mention of India. The world loves Indian craftsmanship — But rarely credits the craftspeople. And almost never shares the value. Because the branding, storytelling, and pricing power stay elsewhere. The hand that creates remains invisible. Culture is soft power. Japan did it with design. Korea did it with pop culture. India must do it with craft. From sourcing destination to storytelling nation. A home of global brands. The lion has to come out. And roar,' wrote Gupta. Edelweiss Mutual Fund CEO Radhika Gupta on Prada Kolahpuris controversy This is not the first time that Radhika Gupta has called out a luxury fashion brand. Recently, the Edelweiss CEO criticised Prada for showcasing scandals that resemble closely to India's traditional Kolhapuri chappals. Gupta has criticised Prada for not giving the due credit to the original artisans. Her remarks soon went viral on social media calling for the recognition and preservation of India's textile heritage . Gupta shared a post on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) in which she criticised Prada. '500 rupee chappal sold for 1 lakh, without any credit! This is why I am obsessed with wearing and talking about handlooms. Every child knows who Prada and Gucci are, but very few in a room know a Himroo, Sambalpuri or Narayanpet. Our textile heritage and craftsmanship is for us to preserve, brand and benefit from. As for Prada... Remember that till the lion learns to write, all stories will always glorify the hunter.' wrote Gupta. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
'If he was at my home...', Jaya Bachchan once wanted to slap Shah Rukh Khan because of Aishwarya Rai, the reason was...
'If he was at my home...', Jaya Bachchan once wanted to slap Shah Rukh Khan because of Aishwarya Rai, the reason was... Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai are the two most iconic stars in Indian cinema, known for their impeccable talent and fascinating collaboration. The two shard unforgettable on-screen chemistry in films like Josh (2000) and Devdas (2002). However, after that, they eventually had a dramatic fallout that became a topic of intrigue among fans and media. In early 2000s, their relationship took a surprising turn and even led Jaya Bachchan to intervene and express her anger publicly. In early 2000s, Despite Aishwarya Rai collaborating with Shah Rukh Khan in two films, she was removed from several projects with him, including Chalte Chalte and Veer Zaara. Addressing the fallout, Aishwarya expressed that it impacted her career, though Shah Rukh later offered an apology, and things eventually sorted out. However, the matter didn't just stay between Shah Rukh and Aishwarya- it also caused ripples within the Bachchan family. In a 2008 interview with People Magazine, Jaya Bachchan expressed her disappointment for remarks SRK made on Aishwarya. Expressing her feelings, the veteran actor said, 'Of course, I do. I haven't had the opportunity to discuss it with him and I am going to speak to him about it. If he was at my home, I would have slapped him, just as I would my own son. But I have connected with him in my soul, and that's it.' Despite being angry, she admitted, 'I have a weakness for Shah Rukh.' Shah Rukh Khan's absence at Aishwarya and Abhishek's wedding in 2007 also caused rumours of lingering tensions. Reports claim, that there weren't on talking terms after their infamous fallout on the sets of Chalte Chalte. Jaya Bachchan candidly responded to this, 'Is Aishwarya going to invite him for the wedding? Let me tell you, very honestly, if we could have invited him, we would have changed the date of the wedding. I would like to give my family the freedom and the space.'
