Corporates support KASHISH 2022 to kick start June Pride Month

South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival will also be supported by consulates, NGOs and media organizations.

by Suman Gupta

The 13^th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival will kick start June Pride Month with its hybrid festival this year.

KASHISH 2022 will be held from June 1-5th at Liberty Cinema and Alliance Française de Bombay; and also online from June 3-12th at http://online.mumbaiqueerfest.comIn all the festival will screen 184+ films from 53 countries in this hybrid edition of the festival.

Corporate houses, consulates, NGOs and media organizations have come out in support once again to help the festival organize the physical festival, after two years of online-only festival.

“We cannot even contain our excitement in bringing a physical edition after two years of online screenings. There is palpable euphoria in the air, and we sincerely hope that not just the LGBTQ+ community, but all film-loving audiences come to KASHISH to watch on the big screen some of the finest films from across the world. We are happy to have the continued support of many of our regular partners, but also some new companies have backed this year’s festival. Without them and the crowdfunding donors, this festival cannot happen at the scale we envision”, said KASHISH festival director Sridhar Rangayan.

Information about all programs is available athttp://mumbaiqueerfest.com and registration for the physical festival can be done at https://www.instamojo.com/KASHISH_MIQFF

Morgan Stanley are the Angel Partners for KASHISH 2022. “We are proud to sponsor the KASHISH Film Festival for the fourth consecutive year, in support of LGBTQ+ inclusion in South Asia and India,” said Rajat Mathur, Head of Human Resources, Morgan Stanley. “A lot of progress has been made but there is still so much to do. Morgan Stanley is committed to creating a corporate culture that is inclusive and where employees can bring their full selves to work.”

Axis Bank, General Mills and Consulate General of Sweden are proud venture partners for KASHISH 2022. “At Axis we believe in mainstreaming the idea that the power of our individual identities fosters an environment for self-growth and company productivity. KASHISH, on similar lines, breaks heuristic patterns and upholds the idea that when we speak about LGBTQIA+ lives it is about people with interests, desires and ambition and not just a cause”, said Rajkamal Vempati, President and Head – Human Resources, Axis Bank.

“General Mills is proud to be associated with KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival again this year. This event is a unique medium in creating awareness, acceptance and promoting allyship for the LGBTQ+ community across the society and amongst our employees. It puts the spotlight on the life and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community and inspires us to embrace diversity & create a more equitable and inclusive place for all. It’s a pleasure to see the event hosting physical as well as online screenings this year”, said Atulaya Goswami, Director HR, GIC & India Site Operations, General Mills.

“Once again we are proud to be the partners and look forward to this years’ edition of the KASHISH International Queer Film Festival. We pay tribute to human diversity and the right of every person to be proud of who they are, to define their own identity and to love the person of their choice. To stand up for human rights of LGBTIQ people is key in our drive for democracy”, said Anna Lekvall, Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai.

IBM is supporting KASHISH for the 9^th year in succession. “The very first step towards inclusion is to include everything inside oneself, good or bad, ugly or beautiful, small or big. Only then, instead of suppressing, can we start to find constructive ways of expressing ourselves. This requires continual self-awareness.  To be inclusive of the other comes as a natural next step after we are inclusive of ourselves. At IBM, we are proud to have come a long way in this journey and shall continue to foster an environment where every IBMer is valued, has a voice & is able to thrive because of their differences, not despite them”, said Prachi Rastogi, Diversity & Inclusion Leader, IBM Asia Pacific.

The supporting partners include Consulate General of Canada, The Humsafar Trust, KelpHR, Whistling Woods International, CPP Investments, Government of Quebec in Mumbai and Impulse Mumbai.

“Canada is proud to support the KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival for the ninth consecutive year. KASHISH is an important forum to build awareness and promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. This year we are excited to have 22 Canadian films from Nova Scotia, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal showcasing the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community across Canada. Along with a special interaction & discussion with Rainbow parents group on 4th June, Saturday. We hope to see everyone enjoy these stories of diversity & inclusion from Canada, I am looking forward to discovering award winning films likes Sheer Qorma and Wildhood at South Asia’s biggest queer film festival. Come join us as we celebrate cinema, stories of freedom and inclusion from across the globe.” Diedrah Kelly, Consul General of Canada in Mumbai.

“It is very heartening to see several Indian films lined up this year at the Kashish film festival. The turning of the tide, using cinema as a medium to tell more LGBTQ+ stories just brings hope to many untold conversations that need a strong alternate voice and existence. As co-founders and friends of the festival, we are happy to be back as a Supporting Partner this year”, said Suhail Abbasi, Co-Founder & Chairperson, The Humsafar Trust.

“We are grateful for the efforts of queer stalwarts such as Marsha P Johnson & Sylvia Rivera & many others who brought us where we are at today, so that we at KelpHR get to talk about radical acceptance of queer people at workplaces. As we are a part of making this transition smooth, we extend our support to festivals like KASHISH who bring the vibrance of our queer community to the cinematic universe and create awareness through artistic mediums. We stand in solidarity with KASHISH to embrace the goal of loving, living and accepting”, said Smita Shetty Kapoor, CEO & Co-founder, KelpHR.