Mumbai's Liberty Cinema was abuzz with colour, celebration, and conversation on Tuesday evening as the 17th edition of the KASHISH Pride Film Festival kicked off. The LGBTQ+ film festival, a key platform for queer storytelling, welcomed a host of prominent names from the film industry, including Konkona Sensharma, Parvathy Thiruvothu, and Rajshri Deshpande.
The opening ceremony saw a handful of performances and special tributes, with the Aravani Art Project being presented with the Rainbow Champion Award for their striking murals and public art interventions promoting inclusion and visibility across Indian cities.
Konkona Sensharma was honoured with the Rainbow Voices Award for her nuanced portrayals of queer characters in films and streaming projects. She reflected on the lasting impact certain roles leave on actors and expressed gratitude for being acknowledged by the LGBTQ+ community.
The festival also announced the winner of the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant 2026, with Simrat Harvind Kaur's project Vasso'n Bahr (Out of My Hands) receiving the grant of ₹4 lakh. The festival will unfold across Liberty Cinema, Alliance Française de Bombay, and the National Gallery of Modern Art until June 7, featuring 153 films from 43 countries, alongside panel discussions, workshops, and masterclasses.
