Kashish: Mumbai International Queer Film Festival

The 14th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival will be held as an in-person festival from June 7 to June 11 2023, followed by an online festival (dates to be announced).

Before submitting you will have an option to select only online, only physical or both, and also if you wish to have your film geo-blocked only to India when playing online.

This year a new award category has been instituted - Ismat Chughtai Award for Best Indian Woman Filmmaker - given to a filmmaker who identifies as a woman, of either a narrative or documentary film playing at the festival, adjudged by an esteemed jury panel. This award is instituted in memory of the intrepid novelist, liberal humanist and filmmaker Ismat Chughtai, by her grandson Ashish Sawhney, and carries a cash award of Rs.25,000 and a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy.

Please read the submission guidelines carefully and submit ONLY if your film is eligible.

𝐊𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 - 𝐁𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐢𝐝, 𝐁𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮!

The theme of KASHISH 2023 is 'BE FLUID, BE YOU!', giving wings to the aspirations of the contemporary generation that is fluid in their thoughts, actions and sexualities; which is expressed through films, art and poetry that is universal in its appeal.

Note: This is only the overall festival theme and all films need not coincide with the theme. The festival programs a broad range of films with diverse LGBTQIA+ themes.

𝘼𝘽𝙊𝙐𝙏 𝙆𝘼𝙎𝙃𝙄𝙎𝙃 𝙈𝙄𝙌𝙁𝙁
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KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is the first LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, Intersex, Asexual) film festival in India to be held in a mainstream theater, and the first LGBTQIA+ film festival in India to receive clearance from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

KASHISH MIQFF, now considered South Asia’s biggest LGBTQIA+ film festival and one of world’s top 5 coolest LGBTQIA+ film festival, has over the past 12 editions become one of the biggest pride events in India.

Founded in 2010, the festival has grown from strength to strength, attracting close to 9000 footfalls over the 4 1/2 days of the festival at two/three venues. The festival, every year, has screened 110 - 180 films that include shorts, documentaries, features - all centered around LGBTQIA+ themes. The festival also attracts topline Bollywood celebrities, prominent filmmakers and media personalities, and receives every year over 150 write-ups in mainstream press in India and globally.