Sun Dec 01 06:46:28 UTC 2024: ## Kolkata Hosts India’s Oldest Queer Film Festival
**KOLKATA, INDIA (December 1, 2024)** – The Calcutta International LGBTQIA+ Film and Video Festival, also known as “Dialogues,” opened in Kolkata on Saturday, November 30th, marking its 17th year as India’s oldest queer film festival. The two-day event showcased over 14 films from diverse countries including Turkey, Pakistan, and Germany, alongside works by Indian filmmakers.
The festival featured a range of films exploring personal experiences and the challenges faced by the queer community. Filmmaker Onir’s semi-autobiographical film, *Pine Cone*, received significant attention, narrating a filmmaker’s journey through changing landscapes of queer rights in India.
Other notable films included Shiva Krish’s documentary, *Amma’s Pride*, which spotlights the first trans woman to register her marriage in Tamil Nadu and the unwavering support of her mother. Krish highlighted the importance of showcasing positive parenting within queer communities. Jijo Jessy Kuriakose’s short film, *Velapadu- The Revelation*, explored the intersection of faith and gender, drawing inspiration from the filmmaker’s personal life and experiences in Kerala. *B25*, a short film by Manvendra Singh Thakur and Sk Raqeeb Raza, offered a glimpse into the importance of chosen families and shared queer spaces.
The festival, organized by Sappho for Equality, Pratyay Gender Collective, and the Goethe Institute, concluded with calls for freedom and queer rights, echoing through the Basusree Cinema Hall.
First Piper 