Kolkata hosts India’s oldest queer film festival; films from across the country and world feature at two-day fest

Kolkata hosts “Dialogues”, India’s oldest queer film festival.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI

India’s oldest queer film festival, the Calcutta International LGBTQIA+ Film and Video Festival — also known as “Dialogues” — commenced in Kolkata on Saturday (November 30, 2024). Several celebrated films from countries like Turkey, Pakistan, Germany and many more are being screened at the festival. Many filmmakers from across India are also participating in the festival with their art pieces. 

Multiple filmmakers, presenting their films, documentaries, opened up about their personal experiences and the queer community’s experiences through their work. The festival was inaugurated amidst emotional slogans of “Azaadi [freedom]” asking for queer rights and freedom for all members of the community. The Basusree Cinema Hall in south Kolkata echoed through the chorus of the slogans as the hall filled up. 

Over 14 films featured at the event among which were celebrated filmmaker Onir’s film, Pine Cone which was one of the major highlights of the two-day festival. It is a semi-autobiographical piece that narrates the story of a proud filmmaker Sid Mehra falling in love through his life as the landscape of queer rights change in India through the years. 

Filmmaker Shiva Krish from Chennai whose film was screened on the first day of the festival, spoke to The Hindu about his film Amma’s Pride. It is a documentary about Srija, the first trans woman to register her marriage in Tamil Nadu and her mother’s role in their journey. Mr Krish said, “I got in touch with Srija and her family and that is when I realised that Srija’s mother Valli is her biggest cheerleader who helped her through the journey. The media did not report on this, so that is what my film focused on. Because it is so important to share stories of positive parenting in queer communities as that is rare.” 

Another personal story that featured at this festival was Velapadu- The Revelation, a short film about the intersectionality of faith and gender. Filmmaker Jijo Jessy Kuriakose from Kerela said that the coming-of-age portions in the story are inspired by his own life. Mr Jijo also said, “There are many churches in Kerela and the movie tries to explore how difficult it can be for queer people to live life normally around these religious places.” 

B25, another 33-minute short to be screened on the second day of the festival talks about “chosen families, and queer spaces shared by people of the community.” Director Manvendra Singh Thakur who is the co-director of the movie along with Sk Raqeeb Raza said that the movie was all about his own home, the space where he lives with his housemates. He said, “My own journey was the inspiration. The filmmaking process was very personal because I put myself out there through this story.” 

The festival has been organised by Sappho for Equality, Pratyay Gender Collective, and Goethe Institute and has been running successfully since 2007.