The 17th edition of the KASHISH Pride Film Festival, South Asia’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival, will be held from June 3 to 7, 2026, across prominent South Mumbai venues including Liberty Cinema, Alliance Française de Bombay, and the National Gallery of Modern Art.
Ahead of the festival, a press conference was held on May 28, bringing together filmmakers, actors, jury members, and cultural personalities who highlighted the importance of inclusive storytelling, representation, and greater visibility for LGBTQ+ communities.
Festival directors Sridhar Rangayan and Saagar Gupta welcomed the gathering, while filmmakers including Sai Deodar, Rohan Kanawade, and Ashish Sawhny shared insights into their films that explore themes of love, identity, relationships, and social acceptance.
Prominent personalities such as Arunaraje Patil, Dolly Thakore, Meghna Ghai Puri, Viveck Vaswani, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Nikkhil Advani, Jaydeep Sarkar, Rajshri Deshpande, Maanvi Gagroo, and Rahul Puri emphasized the need for greater inclusivity in cinema and stronger institutional support for queer voices.
The discussions underscored the role of KASHISH as more than a film festival—serving as a platform for dialogue, visibility, empowerment, and social change. As it enters its 17th year, KASHISH continues to champion diverse narratives and create meaningful spaces for LGBTQ+ communities through the power of cinema.Suggested Heading:
KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2026 Opens with a Strong Call for Inclusion and Representation.
By…. Guru Vijayshanker