Reel Desires: Chennai International Queer Film Festival 2024

Join us for an unforgettable experience that celebrates diversity, fosters understanding, and inspires change through the power of cinema!!

In Cooperation with Orinam, Nirangal, and SAATHII

A Festival of Shorts, Feature Films, and Documentaries on Sexuality and Gender Diversity

Reel Desires: Chennai International Queer Film Festival 2024
The twelfth edition of Reel Desires: Chennai International Queer Film Festival will be held from August 16th to 18th, 2024, at the Goethe-Institut Auditorium, Chennai. This annual event showcases a diverse selection of films, shorts, and documentaries that address issues of sexuality and gender diversity.

SCHEDULE
Friday, August 16, 2024: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, August 17, 2024: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sunday, August 18, 2024: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

This year’s festival features 20 films from nine countries, carefully selected through a community-led review process. In addition to the screenings, we will host a panel discussion on surviving queerphobia, with insights from Chennai’s LGBTQIA+ communities and allies. On Saturday night, join us for a limited-entry hip-hop party on the roof of the Goethe-Institut from 7:30 till 9:00 PM which requires on-spot registration.

Saturday, August 17, 2024 (Starting at 5:30 PM)
Panel Discussion: "Surviving Queerphobia: Online and Offline"
Panelists will explore the rising challenges of homophobia and transphobia, in recent months leading up to Pride month, influenced by the “gender critical” movements and bathroom panic of the global north.

Sunday, August 18, 2024 (Starting at 3:00 PM)
Theatrical Performance: "Naan oru Pen (I am a Woman)"
Directed by A. Mangai and performed by Sowmiya, this solo performance, inspired by Maya Angelou's poetry, delves into the lived experiences and resilience of queer identities in India.

German Film @ Reel Desires

Anima - My Father's Dresses
Anima: Die Kleider meines Vaters
Director:  Uli Decker
Duration: 99 min, 2022, Germany

Little Uli dreams of being a pirate or the Pope, but she refuses to conform to the traditional roles of her Bavarian hometown. After her father's passing, she inherits a "secret" box from her mother, which unexpectedly transforms her understanding of her father, herself, and the society she was raised in. This true story, blending animated and documentary elements, offers a compelling exploration of family secrets, gender identity, and the complexities of love.

All film screenings and the panel discussion are free and open to individuals 18 years and older were no prior registration is required, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Reel Desires: CIQFF 2024 is brought to you by Orinam in partnership with Goethe-Institut, Nirangal, and SAATHII.