Kashish 2017 to crowdfund South Asia's biggest LGBTQI film fest

For the fifth year in a row, Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (MIQFF) will be raising funds to hold the eighth edition of South Asia's biggest LGBTQI film festival through crowdfunding. The global campaign to raise funds was launched on the crowdfunding portal Wishberry. India’s only mainstream LGBTQ film festival will be held in Mumbai from May 24-May 28, 2017. The festival venues are the city’s iconic art deco theatre Liberty Cinema and Alliance Francaise in South Mumbai.

Kashish was the first LGBTQI event to successfully raise money through crowdfunding in 2012. "Kashish has relied on crowdfunding to not only raise funds to organise the festival but also create awareness about the need to support such initiatives," said festival director Sridhar Rangayan. "Though the crowdfunding is a gap funding, it is an integral part of what Kashish is, as it offers a bridge for everyone, who love and believe what the festival does, to be a part of it and support it. Crowdfunding connects the festival and its well wishers in India and globally. We need the financial support, but most importantly we need the love," said Rangayan. "The success of Kashish's crowdfunding campaign over the last five years is also a reflection of the faith in this world-class festival Mumbai and India can be proud of," added Rangayan.

The target for this year is to raise Rs 3 lakhs, to partly fund the festival expenses including theatre and equipment rentals. To further deepen its engagement and provide a platform for Indian filmmakers who make films on LGBTQI themes, the Kashish 2017 crowdfunding campaign will also use part of the funds raised for a scholarship for selected filmmakers from outside Mumbai to come to the film festival and interact with audiences, filmmakers and showcase their films. For those who contribute, there are incentives like T-shirts, passes for the exclusive opening night Red Carpet party and Dress Circle seats.

For Kashish, the crowd funding campaign is crucial. "There are no public grants for film festivals in India, and top brands have yet to come forward to support an LGBTQI initiative. We are fortunate to have some corporate and consular support, but the festival every year is barely able to sustain," admitted Rangayan. 

The theme of the festival this year is ‘Diverse, One’. It explores the diversity of the LGBTQI community. The diverse shades of the rainbow remind us that as people we are all different and we are all unique. 

Since the campaign began last week, it has received enthusiastic support. “My experience at the event had been incredibly valuable. So I felt the least I could do was support them. I also had no doubts that the funds would be utilised well. I doubt they break even," said Mumbai-based Jerry Johnson a regular supporter of the festival.

“I support this festival in India supporting LGBTQI themed movies and causes as a community member, since I don't see adequate/healthy representation of our lives in mainstream films and society which is actually a shame considering Indian culture is seen as inclusive and tolerant. Events like Kashish, where LGBTOI lives are shown with pride and a safe space is created for community-  I am all for it. Real change in opening people's minds will start through dialogue and I believe the festival is playing that critical role," said US-based Sameer Samudra.

Founded in 2010, the festival is held over 5 days at two venues. This year it will be held at Liberty Cinema and Alliance Francaise, South Mumbai. This first Indian LGBTOI festival held with approval by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India has been voted as Top 5 LGBTQI film festivals in the world.