To showcase the works of queer artists in India, the third edition of the Queer and Allies Art Festival (QAAF) will be held in the city on December 17 at Farmaaish, Viman Nagar. It is being organised by MIST, an online collective of the LGBTQ community situated in Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
“This is a yearly festival and it happens regularly in Pune. The main aim is to bring queer artists and allies together on one platform. It will also give the chance to allies to understand the queer community better. There will be film screenings, art exhibition and performances,” explains Shyam Konnur, founder of MIST, who has also been working for the LGBTQ community in India.
Some of the films that are going to be screened at the festival include Ladies and Gentlewomen, a documentary by Malini Jeevarathnam, about lesbian relationships in Tamil Nadu. Another film, Knock Knock is a comedy made by Moses Tulasi from Hyderabad will also be shown at the festival.
There will also be poetry performances by ‘Why Loiter?’, a group that promotes inclusivity and safety for all in public spaces. “A dance performance along with an art exhibition and stand up comedy acts will also take place,” adds Konnur.
On the challenge of getting venues to host such events, they add, “Yes, it is challenging to get venues for our events. But since the past three years, things have been getting better as hosting such events helps the business of those spaces as well.”
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