Venue: Goethe-Institut Chennai | Max Mueller Bhavan, 4 Rutland Gate 5th Street,  Nungambakkam, Chennai

Dates:
July 29: Friday 6 pm – 9 pm (3 hours)
July 30: Saturday 3 pm – 9 pm (6 hours)
July 31: Sunday 3 pm – 9 pm (6 hours)

Information: 98415-57983, chennaiintlqueerfilmfest@gmail.com and website ciqff.org

A collection of Chennai-based collectives and NGOs working on gender and sexuality, in partnership with Goethe-Institut Chennai | Max Mueller Bhavan brings you Reel Desires: Chennai International Queer Film Festival, July 29-31, 2016. Reel Desires is a three-day series of feature films, shorts, and documentaries showcasing sexuality and gender diversity issues.  The 26 films selected for this year span eight countries, and include shorts, documentaries and feature length films. They collectively chronicle the global struggle for rights of lesbian, gay, bi and transgender people, explore individual and collective journeys that cross physical and metaphorical borders, and reflect the universality and specificity of LGBT lives across space and time.

The principal organisers are Orinam, a local collective that has been working since 2003 to end discrimination and provide social and support spaces for the LGBTQI communities in Chennai, Goethe-Institut and several community groups and NGOs including Nirangal, RIOV, SAATHII, and East-West Center for Counseling.

Highlights include Hansal Mehta’s acclaimed feature Aligarh, a depiction of the life of Prof Siras, who succumbed to homophobia at the university where he was teaching. Shorts from Germany’s Berlinale andDresden film festivals will also be screened at Reel Desires.

This year, Reel Desires, is pleased to partner with British Council in presenting a selection of shorts from fiveFilms4freedom, the world’s first global, digital LGBT film festival. fiveFilms4freedom is selection of  audience favourites from BFI Flare, London’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Film Festival, and are being screened in select cities, including Chennai.

Besides films, Reel Desires will also feature dance performances by members of the community Ponni, Anjali and Taejha Singh, and a panel discussion on Ending Gender-and Sexuality-based Violence.

Reel Desires is a reminder of our common humanity that transcends boundaries of sexuality, gender identity and culture.

Media are invited to kindly preview and/or review the event. For more information, including content for curtain-raisers, hi-res images, and interviews with filmmakers, contact chennaiintlqueerfilmfest@gmail.com, text 98415-57983 and visit website ciqff.org