MUmbai’s Liberty movie theatre was covered with colour, jubilation and conversation on tues eve as the 17th edition of the KASHISH plume Film Festival got underway. The LGBTQ+ film festival opened with a gathering of actors, filmmakers and artists, reaffirming its role as a key platform for queer storytelling in the region.The opening ceremony was attended by a host of prominent names from the film industry, including Konkona Sensharma, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Rajshri Deshpande, Lilette Dubey, Nikkhil Advani, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Ishita Moitra and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur. The evening saw a handful of performances and special tributes A major highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Rainbow Champion Award to the Aravani Art Project, the transgender-led collective who's striking murals and public art interventions have become symbols of inclusion and visibility across Indian cities. Presenting the honour, Parvathy Thiruvothu praised the collective’s ability to transform public spaces through art while bringing transgender voices into the mainstream.Actor Konkona Sensharma was honoured with the Rainbow Voices Award for her nuanced portrayals of queer characters in films and streaming projects such as Monsoon Date (2018), Geeli Puchi (2021), and Accused (2026). Accepting the recognition, she reflected on the lasting impact certain roles leave on actors and expressed gratitude for being acknowledged by the LGBTQ+ community. “The path to pride is not always easy. Sometimes it’s routed through shame, guilt, identity and all kinds of things. But receiving this honour makes me feel very proud,” said Konkona Sensharma, adding: “We as actors portray several parts throughout our career, but some characters are so beautiful and poignant that they stay with you.” The festival also announced the winner of the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant 2026, an initiative aimed at supporting emerging LGBTQ+ filmmakers. Simrat Harvind Kaur’s project Vasso’n Bahr (Out of My Hands) received the grant of ₹4 lakh, while development grants of ₹50,000 each were awarded to Negha Shahin for Anyway, We Loved and Guntaj Deep Singh for Daag.Adding to the festive atmosphere were performances by Kathak artist Avenev and team, followed by a Lavani presentation by actor-dancer Aditi Bhagwat and her troupe. Running until June 7, KASHISH 2026 will unfold across Liberty Cinema, Alliance Française de Bombay and the National Gallery of Modern Art. The festival’s programme features 153 films from 43 countries, alongside panel discussions, workshops and masterclasses that bring together filmmakers, activists and audiences to engage with stories from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum.Here are a few films being screened at Kashish Film Festival 2026:Cactus Pears (2025), Dreamers (2022), Bindusagar (2026), Offline (2026), Vasso’n Bahr (2026), Anyway, We Loved (2026), A Monsoon Date (2019), Queer Parivaar (2022), We Are Faheem & Karun (2024), Trans Kashmir (2022), My Name is Sultan (2016) and Between the Lines (2026).
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