“Love is not a sin.” These are words that Sitara, Swara Bhasker’s character in Sheer Qorma, yearned to hear from her late mother after coming out. But she never did. This deeply affecting moment, along with many other poignant aspects of the queer experience, formed the foundation of the 8th edition of the Out and Loud Pune Queer International Film Festival. From May 24 to 26, the festival presented more than 40 films and hosted three panel discussions.
In a tent festooned with vibrant Pride flags on the campus of Max Mueller Bhavan/Goethe Institut, Pune, audiences congregated to watch films that explored painful or heartwarming realities, and documentaries capturing the powerful moments of the queer community. Just ahead of Pride Month in June, the festival offered diverse perspectives on queer lives through feature films, shorts, documentaries, and experimental narratives from India and around the world. The festival was organized by MIST LGBTQ foundation, with IBM as the title sponsor.
The festival’s closing film, and one of its major highlights, was Sheer Qorma, directed by Faraz Asif Ansari. Tender and richly detailed, the film narrates the story of Saira, a non-binary individual portrayed by Divya Dutta, and their tumultuous relationship with their mother (Shabana Azmi). The strain is exacerbated by Saira’s wife, Sitara (Swara Bhasker). The film touches on the universal longing for acceptance, moving beyond mere tolerance to profound understanding and love. Ansari’s film received critical acclaim upon its release in 2021, even qualifying for the BAFTA Awards, but this was its first screening in Pune. Ansari expressed the challenges of independent filmmaking in the queer narrative space, noting the difficulty in finding financial backing and collaborators.
The festival also showcased numerous other thought-provoking films. Valentine @3, directed by Mani Shankar Iyer, delves into three distinct stories about gay identity set in Chennai. A mother consoles her gay son, a gay couple debates the future of their relationship on a beach, and a taxi driver consoles a gay man facing a breakup, all against the backdrop of Chennai. The film garnered awards for Best Indian Narrative Feature Film and Best of Out and Loud PIQFF 2024.
An international feature, Muriel and Joyce Get A Boat, narrates a tale of friendship intertwined with memories of a past queer love.
. This and other short films offered the audience an array of fresh stories. Love+, directed by Tushar Tyagi, tells the story of a gay couple navigating the difficulties of being a sero-discordant couple, where one partner is HIV-positive. This poignant short won the Best Indian Short Film (Narrative) award.
They/Them, by Phelian, explores the journey of a lonely teacher grappling with gender dysphoria in their 50s. As Shakuntala transitions to their new identity, Sky, the narrative weaves through flashbacks of their earlier life, culminating in the acceptance of their true self.
Documentaries played a significant role in the festival, bringing real-life narratives to the forefront. Beyond Norms: Exploring Identity – Masc vs Masc, directed by Kelly Balch, examines the boundaries of same-sex attraction through the lens of ‘mascness,’ or masculinity. The film follows eight individuals, including those who identify as lesbian, non-binary, and trans, as they explore their attraction to masc-presenting partners. This documentary, both bold and tender, won the Best International Documentary award.
Maghreb’s Hope, by Bassen Ben Ibrahim, shares the raw, emotional stories of four queer individuals from North Africa. From dealing with bullying in Algeria to seeking asylum in Brazil, these narratives reflect the harsh realities faced by LGBTQ individuals in Muslim-majority nations. In another powerful documentary, I am a whisper, my dear, Romanian director Mariangela Mihai sheds light on the lives of queer Mizo people in India. The film, enriched with poetry, music, and metaphor-laden videography, explores the conflict of faith, cultural identity, and sexuality.
Confluence: A Meditation in Documentary Form, showcases young Asian American musicians grappling with their multifaceted identities through the lens of music. The film, blending trance-like music and vivid imagery, addresses themes of belonging and identity among second-generation immigrants.
Hate, an experimental Italian short, explores the emotional fragility of a transwoman seeking acceptance from her mother. Artistic shots of flowers elevate the sense of delicate emotions throughout the film.
The Out and Loud Pune International Queer Film Festival offered a rich tapestry of films and documentaries, each contributing unique facets to the understanding of queer lives. Through these stories of love, identity, and resilience, the festival provided a platform for the diverse experiences within the queer community.
