We present the list of winners of the 8th KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival that took place from May 24th – 28th, in Mumbai, India.

Best Narrative Feature

Gloria and Grace by Flávio R. Tambellini – Brazil | 2016 – 94 min.

Graça is diagnosed with a brain aneurism that may rupture at any moment. Desperate about who will take care of her two children in the event of her death, she decides to go after her brother, Luiz Carlos, whom she hasn’t seen in over 15 years due to a quarrel. When they meet, however, Luiz Carlos has become Gloria, a beautiful and successful transvestite, who now owns a restaurant and brags about being independent. At first, Gloria is unwilling to reconnect with her family; but as she becomes more guilt-stricken, she accepts Graça’s invitation to meet her nephews and eventually realizes that maybe, to be complete, she needs to become a mother.

Trailer:

Best Performance in a Lead Role

Petrice Jones for the film Play the Devil
Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas, USA | 2016 – 92 min.

Gregory, a gifted working-class teenager from Paramin, stars in a theater play that brings him to the attention of James, an affluent businessman. The two men strike an uncanny friendship as James takes Greg under his wing, pushing him to discover himself professionally, creatively, and intimately. Confused, Greg must at once deal with the return of his drug addicted father, and navigate through the early days of adulthood. As Carnival Monday approaches and the locals prepare for the annual male initiation parade, Greg must confront James – an act which will culminate in life changing events for him.

Trailer:

Best Indian Short Narrative Film

Maacher Jhol by Abhishek Verma – India | 2017 – 12 min.

A young man, Lalit, 28, decides to come out to his parents about his own sexuality and his love engagement with his boyfriend cum flatmate, Ashutosh. He plans to cook exotic Bengal style fish curry, maacher jhol. The dish is his father’s favourite. To maintain precision about the process and ingredients, he refers to the radio cook show.

QDrishti Film Grant

Debadrita Bose for the film Shehenaiiya – India | 2017 – 23 min.

A young man from the suburbs comes to the city for some shopping. He misses the last train to home and roams about. Suddenly he meets another man, who offers refuge for the night.

Trailer:

K.F Patil Unity In Diversity Award for Best Documentary Feature

No Dress Code Required (Etiqueta No Rigurosa) by Cristina Herrera Bórquez
Mexico | 2016 – 92 min.

A documentary about Victor and Fernando two stylists from Mexicali. They are the go-to professionals for the city’s socialites. To their customers, they were a lovely couple until they decided to legally marry. Losing the support of people and friends and confronting a backlash of criticism, through their fight they woke up members of Mexicali’s society to fight homophobia and inequality.

Trailer:

K.F Patil Unity In Diversity Award for Best Documentary Short

Naked Wheels by Rajesh James – India | 2016 – 30 min.

The film is about the journey undertaken by a diverse group of people comprising males, females and transgenders across South India in a truck. The film seeks to explore many compelling thoughts on life, love, and gender. The film hopes for a society where none have to crush their desires because the majority does not understand it…

Trailer:

Best International Narrative Short Film

Stay (Bleib Bei Mir) by Milka Mircic Martinovic – Germany | 2016 – 29:48 min.

The timid painter Ruth mourns the death of her life-long neighbour und secret lover Marianne. At her grave she stumbles upon Marianne’s youthful likeness. It’s Marianne’s granddaughter Vera, who is on the search for a grandmother she had never met. Vera visits Ruth, wanting to find out more about her grandmother, and offers to pose for a portrait for the sensitive painter like her grandmother used to pose for her. Little does she know that her likeness to Marianne slowly evokes a hidden post in Ruth – a love story molded by romantic ideals and a blunt reality.

Riyad Wadia Award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker

Rajesh James for Naked Wheels – India | 2016 – 30 min.

Selfhood (Wajood) by Vishal Srivastava – India | 2017 – 13:15 min.

Wajood (Selfhood) revolves around a young hijra’s(trans-woman) life, who seems to fancy herself with an auto-rickshaw driver. When confronted by the elders of her community about her unrealistic expectations goes on a subconscious quest to know if somebody will ever fall in love with her or is this thought as naive as told by everyone around her?

Best Student Short Film

Still Devout by Melissa Perez – USA | 2016 – 21 min.

A young woman struggles to choose between romantic love and helping her family in need. Vacillating Ceci reluctantly embarks on a journey to grant her mother’s wish— to find healing for Ceci’s brother suffering from severe mental illness. A trip driven by faith, love, and desperation complicates, as the family’s values and identities clash.

To know more about this festival please go to the Festival Profile or to the Official Website.