Kolkata hosts India’s oldest gay film festival “Dialogues”. , Photo Courtesy: Debashish Bhaduri
India’s oldest queer film festival, the Calcutta International LGBTQIA+ Film and Video Festival – also known as “Dialogues” – kicked off in Kolkata on Saturday (November 30, 2024). Many famous films from Türkiye, Pakistan, Germany and many other countries are being shown in the festival. Many filmmakers from across India are also participating in the festival with their artworks.
Many filmmakers presented their films, documentaries and spoke openly about their personal experiences and the experiences of the gay community through their work. The festival was inaugurated amid emotional slogans.freedom [freedom]To demand queer rights and freedoms for all members of the community. Basushree Cinema Hall in South Kolkata echoed with slogans as the hall filled up.
More than 14 films were screened at the event, including a film by renowned filmmaker Onir. pine cone Which was the main attraction of the two-day festival. It is a semi-autobiographical work that tells the story of Sid Mehra, a proud filmmaker who falls in love over the course of his life as the landscape of queer rights changes in India over the years.
Spoke to Chennai-based filmmaker Shiva Krish, whose film was screened on the first day of the festival The Hindu about his film Amma’s prideIt is a documentary about Sreeja, the first trans woman to register her marriage in Tamil Nadu, and her mother’s role in her journey. Mr. Krish said, “I came in contact with Sreeja and her family and that’s when I realized that Sreeja’s mother Valli was her biggest cheerleader who helped her through the journey. The media didn’t report on this, so my film focused on this. “Because it is so important to share positive parenting stories in gay communities because it is rare.”
Another personal story featured at the festival was Velpadu- RevelationA short film about the intersection of faith and gender. Kerala filmmaker Jijo JC Kuriakose said that parts of the story are inspired by his own life. Mr. Jijo also said, “There are many churches in Kerala and the film tries to explore how difficult it can be for gay people to live a normal life around these religious places.”
B25, another 33-minute short film to be screened on the second day of the festival, talks about “the strange spaces shared by chosen families and community members”. Director Manvendra Singh Thakur, who is co-directing the film with SK Raqib Raza, said that the film is about his own house, the place where he lives with his family members. “My own journey was the inspiration,” he said. The process of making the film was very personal as I put myself forward through this story.
The festival is organized by Sappho for Equality, Pratyaya Gender Collective and Goethe Institute and has been running successfully since 2007.
published – December 01, 2024 12:16 PM IST
