About Out & Loud – PIQFF

The Out & Loud Pune International Queer Film Festival, powered by MIST, is an annual event showcasing handpicked queer films from all over the world. It is a festival for the people and by the people, where award selection for films is not made by a special jury but through voting by members of the community.

What’s more!? The festival promises an amazing line-up of performances by members of the community and thought-provoking panel discussions. Besides coming together for the love of art and cinema, the festival is also an open platform for the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Allies, plus all other sexualities and genders not included in these few letters) to voice their concerns in a safe, friendly environment. The first Out & Loud – PIQFF was held in Pune in April, 2017, to an overwhelming response.

Out & Loud - PIQFF Journey:

Out & Loud – PIQFF, 2017, was a three-day event (7th-9th April, 2017), where 47 movies were screened at Wherelse Café and Bar, Viman Nagar and Dreamcatcher Art School, Koregaon Park, Pune. There was a special screening of JLT’s The Other Love Story, directed by Roopa Rao, followed by a Q&A session with her. A panel discussion was held, involving film makers and theatre artists. Community members came together for graceful dance performances and captivating monologues.

Out & Loud – PIQFF, 2018, too was a three-day event (6th-8th April, 2018), where 128 movies were screened at Farmaaish Restro-Lounge-Bar, Viman Nagar and Monalisa Kalagram, Koregaon Park, Pune. There was a special screening of Transvision, followed by an interaction with the cast. The panel discussion brought together the thoughts of a diverse group of individuals, involving a parent of a queer person, a transgender person, HIV & mental health professionals, and filmmakers. There were singing and dance performances by community members on the opening and closing nights, filling the evenings with love and laughter.

Out & Loud – PIQFF, 2019, was a four-day event (18th-21st April, 2019), showcasing 51 hand selected movies by members of the queer community. The opening night was held at PVR Cinemas, Phoenix Market City, Viman Nagar, where Evening Shadows (Sridhar Rangayan) was screened. The rest of the movies were showed at Farmaaish Resto-Lounge-Bar, Viman Nagar and Annabhau Sathe Rang Mandir, Yerwada. This year, the Best of Out & Loud award, which included a cash prize of 5,000 INR, along with a trophy and a certificate was presented to “A Safe Person To Talk To” (Navdeep Sharma). The chief guest was Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, an equal rights activist. Panel discussions were held on themes such as intersectionality, experiences of trans lives, and diversity and inclusion in work spaces, which saw active engagement with the audience. Like previous years, there were music and dance performances by community members on the opening and closing nights, marking yet another year of togetherness and celebration.

Out & Loud – PIQFF, 2020, was a month long online film festival (5th-27th Sep, 2020), showcasing 59 films over 24 days. The opening night was hosted by Aditya Bhagat and had performances by Tejaswini Phadke, Sandeepta Das, and the soothing vocals by Soham Sengupta and the opening movie as Miss Man. Viewers also witnessed some thought-provoking panel discussions launched on the platform. These interactions shed light upon issues such as the Before and After of striking out Section 377, the effect of Pandemic on Film & Arts, Safe Campus Spaces, ERG & BRG during a Pandemic; moderated by Andy Barve, Manveen Kaur and Shyam Konnur, respectively. The event concluded on September 28th, hosted by Mr Gay India 2020 & Festival Director-Shyam Konnur. The night dazzled with some captivating performances by Chayan Singh Rathore, Mallika, followed by a theatrical act put together by Revathi called Vellai Mozhi.

This year, we will present to you, another edition of Out & Loud – PIQFF. Our aim is to have a bigger and better event for you, with an all new selection of movies, performances, and panel discussions. Please contribute at our crowdfunding campaign to help us make the festival bigger and better. Click here to contribute now. (Link will be updated once the crowdfunding starts)

MIST is an LGBTQIA+ collective, started in Bengaluru in 2010, it now has members in Pune and Hyderabad as well. MIST organizes events in various cities in collaboration with local groups. It also has a vibrant online presence supporting its events on the ground.

MIST aims to build stronger bonds within the queer community and with our allies. We do our best to create a space where you can showcase your talent, learn from other members of the community, and be a part of the larger family.

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