The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has always had different and unique themes every year. After a much successful theme of women empowerment in 2016, this year the theme is Diversity and there are many as 60 plus films that will be screened at the festival to resonate the theme. These films are from different regions of the Indian subcontinent and in across 20 languages. The festival is all set to run from the 10th to 22nd August and there will be various events which will take place during these days.
As this festival celebrates Diversity, amongst these 60 plus films there are few films which are now included to celebrate diversity of the LGBTQ community. An array of films celebrating sexuality, showing the gruesome realities and also displaying love without genders have been curated and selected for screenings this year at the festival. Amongst those are, My son is Gay – A Tamil movie directed by Lokesh Kumar which showcases the dark reality of acceptance prevailing in our society, this film will have its world premiere at this festival. Chronicles of Hari, is a Kannada film directed by Ananya Kasarvalli and it is traditional male theater group story which Hari is typecast in the female role and begins to question his identity, this film is screened at various film festivals and now will be seen at IFFM this year. Sisak is a silent film by Faraz Ansari, this film is about 2 gay men in Mumbai who meet and fall in love on a train journey and has been appreciated at many film festivals and this year will be showcased at IFFM 2017.
Speaking about the same the director of Sisak Faraz Ansari said, “Thrilled to have Sisak selected at IFFM! Sisak is India’s First Silent LGBTQ Love Story and the recognition, awards and accolades it has been winning across the world is extremely overwhelming. I wish I could’ve attended IFFM but I’ll be in Sweden where Sisak is closing the Pride Week and opening one of Sweden’s most prestigious film festival, Live at Heart. This is the first time and Indian film has got such an honor. I am sure that the audiences in Melbourne will be moved by Sisak and the story it portrays. Fingers crossed.”
We all look forward to this amazing films at the festival.
