Post

Films on Elderly Queers at 15th KASHISH Pride Film Festival As a tribute to the generation that was there before us, this year KASHISH shines a light on the elderly queer people, by programming some very powerful and moving narrative and documentary films. There are films about the discrimination that elderly people suffer through in the care homes. One is a real life account, and the other is a narrative short film but both these films soulfully encapsulate the reality of old age. Then there are two films, one feature length and one short film about elderly couples who after being together for many years, are preparing themselves to say goodbyes! Saagar Gupta, director of programming, said, “Throughout our lives we keep facing one or the other challenges, and the list of such challenges keeps growing with one's age. In fact these become more pronounced as old age makes one more vulnerable to different conditions, situations and relationships. Come and see these films to understand and feel what lderly queer people go through at the fag-end of their lives. This year in our programming we are focusing on elderly queers as a gesture to tell them 'Thank You' and to never forget on whose shoulders we stand!” "We know what it feels like personally too, with Saagar and I in our 50s and 60s, having been together for 29 years now, and having gone through our lives ups and downs together", said Sridhar Rangayan, festval director. For more information about the films and how to attend, please visit http://mumbaiqueerfest.com TURTLES (Les Tortues) Director: David Lambert 83 min w 2023 w Belgium, Canada w English, French w Narrative Feature w Asian Premiere Since Thom and Henri met 35 years ago, their love for each other has never faltered. The seemingly perfect life they had built in Brussels started to go awry when Henri retired from being a police officer. Now, Henri’s days seem to stretch endlessly, each one as bland as the next while his feelings for Thom are fading fast. They drift away from each other a little more each day, to the point that their house has become a battleground. Thom’s love for Henri remains strong though and he is not ready to give up. He will do anything to save his relationship and rekindle their love, even if that means asking Henri for a divorce. Screening on Fri, May 17 at 5.00 PM at Cinepolis Andheri TICKER Director: Thom Petty 9 min w 2023 w United Kingdom w English w Narrative Short w Asian Premiere Howard drives his partner Joseph to hospital to undergo a high-risk operation and the intimacy of the car, alongside a long forgotten mix tape, sees the masculinity of their forty year relationship start to yield. Screening on Fri, May 17 at 5.00 PM at Cinepolis Andheri TOMAS Director: Ferran Navarro-Beltrán 18 min w 2024w Spain w Catalan, Spanish w Asian Premiere Thomas moves to a nursing home after becoming a widower. He wants to integrate well into the group and the assistant Alba helps him to introduce himself just the way he is. Screening on Sat, May 18 at 12.45 PM at Alliance Française de Bombay in Short Films package - International Narrative Shorts Competition 2 TED AND NOEL Director: Julia Alcamo 25 min w 2023 w UK w English w Documentary Short w Indian Premiere Ted & Noel, a documentary shining a light on the abuse of queer people in care homes. The documentary follows the work of activist Ted Brown to raise awareness of the abuse faced by his late husband Noel Glynn, who was burned by a cigarette and left bruised by staff in a Croydon care home, where he lived because of his struggle with dementia. Screening on Sat, May 18 at 9.30 PM at Cinépolis Andheri under Short Films Package – Best of IRIS THAT'S FAMILY Director: Puppett 13 min w 2022 w USA w English w International Premiere Lynne and Gloria’s "special date night" is thrown for a loop when dad drops in unexpectedly with some surprising news. Screening on Thu, May 16 at 2.45 PM at Liberty Cinema under Short Films Package – Family Matters!