Spotlight on gender justice at Kolkata’s 2-day LGBTQ+ film & video festival
Times of India | 2 December 2024
Kolkata: As many as 13 films portraying unique perspectives on LGBTQIA+ experiences and issues were screened at one of India's oldest queer film festivals, ‘Dialogues: Calcutta International LGBTQIA+ Film & Video Festival 2024,' in the city over the weekend. The 18th edition of the two-day festival, based on the theme of gender justice, was held at Basusree Cinema, drawing significant crowds on both days, indicative of the growing acceptance and interest towards LGBTQIA+ cinema, said the organizers.
The festival featured films from multiple countries including India, Germany, Turkey, and Vietnam that resonated with the diverse audience. Koyel Ghosh, managing trustee of Sappho for Equality, one of the festival's organizing bodies, raised important questions about societal responses to harassment faced by queer community members, making references to the outrage against the recent RG Kar rape-murder incident. "Would an incident involving a member of the LGBTQIA+ community generate the same level of public outrage? Such an incident can happen to anyone," she questioned.
The festival was jointly organized by Pratyay Gender Collective and Goethe-Institute/Max Mueller Bhavan. As a non-commercial event, the festival's primary goal was to raise awareness about queer and trans-lived experiences. Despite facing financial challenges, the organizers had successfully maintained the festival's legacy and its position as a pioneering platform for LGBTQIA+ cinema in India.
The festival serves as more than just a film screening event; it's a crucial platform for dialogue, understanding, and representation of the LGBTQIA+ community,the organizers said.