The punk rock of Indian film festivals returns to London in July, with a powerful Transgender central gala supported by MAC cosmetics.
The Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival will return to cinemas across London from July 14 – 21. The full line-up will be revealed soon, and promises some of the most prestigious and audacious new independent films from South Asia.
Indian sexual diversity is highlighted in the empowering transgender movie I Am Not He… She. It tells the at times harrowing, real-life story of rural teenage boy Madesha, who after being thrown out of his village for being effeminate seeks solace and hope in the big Indian city of Bangalore.
Here he meets gay people living secretive lives, but soon forms a bond with the head mother of the local Hijra community (the transgender and eunuch people of India), who take him to their heart.
Learning the tricks of the traditional Hijra trade, Madesha is soon on the streets begging, but his desire to feel complete by becoming a woman becomes increasingly strong.
He follows other Hijra friends towards the most dangerous journey of his life – to a back-street sex change clinic where he hopes his transformation to womanhood will be fulfilled.
The European Premiere of I’m Not He…She will take place at the cathedral of world cinema – BFI Southbank, at NFT1 on Saturday, July 16 at 8.30pm.
It will be followed by a Q&A with director BS Lingadevaru, with other special guests expected.
This is followed by Queer Rules! Party for LGBTQ+ Friends at BFI’s Benugos Bar, with Bollywood & World music sounds, supported by DJ’s from Club Kali, Urban Desi and Urban World. The best dressed person on the night, receives a fabulous VIP Goody-Bag of MAC cosmetics.
Commenting on the BFI Southbank sessions, Director of the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival Cary Rajinder Sawhney said: “We continue to pursue an agenda of seeing India in all its miraculous diversity, and that includes powerful and positive representations of LGBTQ+ people, as depicted in a new generation of cinema.”
Title Sponsor Alka Bagri of the Bagri Foundation says: “The selection for this year’s festival celebrates the challenging and refreshing visions, coming from the Indian film industry.”
To find out more about the London Indian Film Festival, click here:
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