Héléna Klotz’s “Spirit of Ecstasy” will open the 2024KashishLGBTQ+ film festival in Mumbai, while Vuk Lungulov-Klotz’s “Mutt” will close it.
“Spirit of Ecstasy,” which debuted at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, follows a gender-questioning stock-market trader who is determined to make it in the world of finance; not for the glory or
wealth, but because it’s leading them on the path to freedom. Lead Pomme was nominated in the most promising actress category at France’s Lumiere awards.
“Mutt” follows a trans man who goes through an emotional roller-coaster over a 24-hour period in New York City, bumping into their ex-boyfriend, sister and father for the first time after having lost touch with them since his gender transitioning. It debuted at Sundance 2023, where it won the U.S. dramatic special jury award for actor Lio Mehiel. It went on to play at Berlin, where it earned a jury special mention at the festival’s Generation 14plus strand.
The festival’s Indian narrative centerpiece is Jeo Baby’s “Kaathal the Core”; international narrative centerpiece Goran Stolevski’s “Housekeeping for Beginners”; Indian documentary centerpiece Vinayakram C’s “Hues & Blues”; and international documentary centerpiece Vuslat Karan and Burcu Melekoglu’s “Blue ID.” The documentary special presentation is Deepa Mehta and Sirat Taneja’s “I am Sirat,” while the narrative special presentation is “Dreams Such As Ours” by Sridhar Rangayan, who is the festival’s founder and director.
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In all, the 15th edition of Kashish, which plays May 15-19, will screen 133 films from 46 countries.
Rangayan said: “The opening and closing films this year speak of the rapid evolvement of our consciousness around identities, to be mindful of diversity, and to recognize the intersectionalities of gender and sexuality. These films also aptly resonate with this year’s theme ‘Unfurl Your Pride,’ an invitation for everyone to come to Kashish with their true and complete self, holding their head high with pride.”
