For its sixth year running, the Kolkata LGBT Film & Video Festival will kick off this year on shoppers’ favorite day, Black Friday. DIALOGUES aims to connect people and overcome the boundaries that often separate us. The festival, which lasts two days, will feature both experimental and critically acclaimed films that shed light on the lives of LGBT people.
DIALOGUES is one of many LGBT film festivals, but it’s the longest running festival for India. Its broad variety of films offers something for everyone. And this year the number of films is bigger than ever with 42 films total. Nil, close associate of the festival and designer, says, “The number of films screened this year is almost the double of last year’s. For the first time we are having parallel screenings.”
The festival is put on by Sappho for Equality (SFE), Praytay Gender Trust (PGT), and Goethe-Institute/Max Mueller Bhavan. Of the 42 films from around the world, 10 are full length films from India, Germany, France, Morocco, Peru, Israel, and many others.
In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Anindya Hajra from PGT said, “The festival primarily celebrates writers, directors, actors and their work dealing with LGBT and queer themes and issues. But over the years both LGBT and non-LGBT audiences have shown interest.”
Malobika from SFE is particularly enthusiastic about some of the documentaries that will be screened at this year’s festival. “Thanks to our official partner this year, Public Service Broadcasting Trust or PBST India, we will screen award-winning documentaries like ‘Mera Apna Sheher,’ ‘We Are Foot Soldiers’ and ‘Making the Face.’ These are specially curated from the Dresden Film Festival and Berlinale.”