Writer/Director Bonita Rajpurohit | Length 18 min | Language English, Hindi, Gujrati (with English Subtitles)
We follow Kusum, a trans girl on a series of dates with boys; All her dates seem to have a different approach to the elephant in the room; her Gender Identity. Some dates see her as a source for their own gender expressions or personal gain, and some see her as an object of curiosity for their fantasies or fetishes. Kusum finds some solace only in the company of her best friend SARAS. Finally, Kusum finds the one who perceives the way she perceives herself, ultimately motivating her to take her own agency.
Writer/Director Abu Sohel Khondekar | Length: 10 min | Language: Silent
In the wake of her father’s death, Mehroon is confronted with a will that holds her in a suffocating grip. Determined to break free from this oppressive force, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and liberation while navigating the expectations of society and family.
Writer/Director – Arvind Caulagi | Length: 15 min | Language: Hindi (English Subtitles)
A simple misunderstanding puts Akshay and Rohan’s domestic idyll on shaky grounds. Set over the course of an evening, TAPS offers an intimate look at how the couple navigates their way back to each other.
Writers/Directors Preeti Kanungo and Sourav Yadav | Length: 20 min | Language: Hindi (English Subtitles)
Coming of age story of two sisters Malwa and Khushan exploring and experiencing sexuality and attraction in their adolescent years. Living with their grandmother, Khushan always looks up to Malwa for her outspoken nature and courage. Soon a new girl arrives in Khushan’s class and she starts developing feelings for her.
Director Arun Fulara | Marathi with English Subtitles | 15 min
Renuka and Sadiya, two working-class women in love with each other, enjoy their day out celebrating Renuka’s birthday. After a fun-filled day, they head home to spend the night together. Unknown to them, Renuka’s son Mangesh is around.
Selected Festivals and Awards
World Premiere: Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, India, 2021
International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFFK), India, 2021, Winner Best Short Fiction Film
Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, US, 2021, Winner Audience Choice Award.
Concorto Film Festival, Italy, 2021
Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, India, 2021
GAZE International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Ireland, 2021
Show Me Shorts Film Festival, New Zealand, 2021
Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival (US), US, 2021
Reel Affirmations: Washington DC’s International LGBTQ Film Festival, US, 2021
LesGaiCineMad, Madrid International LGBTI Film Festival, Spain, 2021
Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival, US, 2021
Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest, UK, 2021
Image + Nation LGBTQueer Montreal Film Festival, Canada, 2021
Shorts That Are Not Pants, Canada, 2021
100% Manusia Film Festival, Indonesia, 2021
DIALOGUES: Calcutta International LGBT Film & Video Festival, India, 2021
Reel Desires: Chennai International Queer Film Festival 2021, India, 2021
Bogotá Short Film Festival, Colombia, 2021
SamaBhav Travelling Film Festival, India, 2021
Aks International Minorities Festival, Film – Art – Dialogue, Pakistan, 2021
29th Mardi Gras Film Festival, Australia, 2022
TAG Queer Shorts, USA, 2022
SPE Media Festival, USA, 2022
Roze Filmdagen; Amsterdam LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Netherlands, 2022
Osaka Asian Film Festival, Japan, 2022
Positively Different Short Film Festival, Greece, 2022
Muskoka Queer Film Festival (MQFF), Canada, 2022
La Fête du Slip – Gender and Sexualities Festival, Switzerland, 2022
Dir: Debadriata Bose | Bangali with English Subtitles | 29 min.
Produced by QDrishti Film Grant 2017 awarded by Lotus Visual Productions through Kashish Arts Foundations.
Shankar’s family does not know why he has lost his job. Shankar is caught up between looking for a new job and his own contemplation. His daily life is dotted with the financial crisis and the awkwardness of being unemployed. Amidst all these things strange illusions come to him. He doesn’t know how to deal with these situations. He cannot share his helplessness with anybody, not even Mohan, with whom he is a bit close. One day he realizes that he cannot anymore communicate with the world around him.
Produced by QDrishti Film Grant 2016 awarded by Lotus Visual Productions through Kashish Arts Foundations.
Krithika and Shireen are friends who strive for societal recognition of their preferred and lived gender. Shireen drives a taxi to support herself and nurses a dream to be a popular theater actress while Krithika is focused on her ambition to become a police officer. Soon both of them realize that the society and people around them can’t think beyond the physicality of being male and female.
