LGBT film fest to focus on sexuality in South Asia

Kolkata, Nov 16 (IANS) The eighth edition of "Dialogues: Calcutta International Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Film and Video Festival" that begins here Nov 19 will shed light on sexual rights across borders, as activists and artistes from the South Asian region focus on the emerging dialogue on sexualities.

Centred on the theme of "Democracy and Sexuality: Troubled Frontiers", the fest this year will showcase a bouquet of 39 films from 22 countries and conclude Nov 23.

Films from Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the US as well as India will be screened, said a statement from the Sappho for Equality, an organisation working for the rights of marginalised women.

The other countries represented at the five-day festival are Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan.

There will be specially curated packages from the Dresden Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival.

This is India's oldest and continuously running LGBT Film and Video Festival, said the release.

Discussions have been scheduled on exploring possibilities and the challenges that surround queer arts programming and also queer filmmaking, funding, distribution, censorship and dangers within each countries among other issues.

Partcipants from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will enlighten the audience on various related issues.

The event has been organised by Sappho for Equality, Pratyay Gender Trust in collaboration with The Goethe Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan Kolkata (screening venue).