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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}

{{Short description|LGBTQ film festival in India}}

The '''Delhi International Queer Theater and Film Festival''' (DIQTFF), is a queer cultural festival curating films, plays, talks and performances (dance & drag). It is organised by a queer collective in Delhi called [[Harmless Hugs]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/movies-drama-and-lots-of-naach-gaana-at-this-queer-pride-festival/story-9c1DrHPlKrLyIMaz0EK6hI.html|title=Movies, drama and lots of naach-gaana at this queer pride festival|date=2016-12-08|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The film festival is intended to connect with larger diaspora of the Indian [[LGBT|LGBTQ]] struggle for equal human rights and to reach out to masses via omnipotence of Media, Theatre and Cinema. Movie screenings and plays are well complemented by a round of panel discussions and debates, including some of the biggest names from the Indian LGBTQ Movement. Discussions around tumultuous territories of politics, gender disparity, coming out and involvement of families and more will also be a part of this two-day event, that is happening every December since its initiation in 2015.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.mediainfoline.com/artnculture/delhi-international-queer-theatre-film-festival-2016|title=Delhi International Queer Theatre & Film Festival 2016 - Media Infoline|date=2016-12-12|work=Media Infoline|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
The Festival was created by Vinay Kumar (Founder Harmless Hugs). Harsh Agarwal (President 2015–16) served as the convener for first two editions.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />

The first edition of this queer festival was organised in 2015. It received support from [[High Commission of Canada]] in Delhi, along with Youth LEAD and GLIFAA.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/KyGdeStPK5fi9L014hLq4I/The-Mint-Planner-11-December-2015.html|title=The Mint Planner, 11 December 2015|last=Livemint|date=2015-12-10|work=Mint|access-date=2018-06-13}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=http://howlround.com/sexuality-in-india-s-proscenium-theatre|title=Sexuality in India's Proscenium Theatre|work=HowlRound Theatre Commons|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en}}</ref>

The second edition of the festival in 2016 received support from [[Love Matters (program)|Love Matters]], [[High Commission of Canada]], Impulse ([[AIDS Healthcare Foundation]]), [[Scruff (app)|SCRUFF]] and other organisations.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.catchnews.com/gender-and-sex/diqtff-a-queer-film-theatre-festival-comes-to-delhi-this-weekend-1481207796.html|title=DIQTFF: A Queer film & theatre festival comes to Delhi this weekend|work=CatchNews.com|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/2016-Delhi-International-Theatre-Film-Festival-Kicks-Off-This-Weekend-20161205|title=2016 Delhi International Theatre & Film Festival Kicks Off This Weekend|author=BWW News Desk|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The event received support Bollywood actors like [[Kalki Koechlin|Kalki]], [[Kunal Kapoor (actor, born 1977)|Kunal Kapoor]] while [[Piyush Mishra]] performed at the event.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=http://www.india.com/lifestyle/two-day-film-festival-on-lgbt-community-begins-1701218/|title=Two-day film festival on LGBT community begins|last=Service|first=Indo-Asian News|date=2016-12-11|work=India.com|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/piyush-mishra-lights-up-diqtff-2016-on-day-1-1481398175.html|title=Piyush Mishra lights up DIQTFF 2016 on Day 1 - The Statesman|date=2016-12-10|work=The Statesman|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gaylaxymag.com/latest-news/diqtff-2016/#gs.ev0ImUA|title=2nd Edition of Delhi International Queer Theatre & Film Festival To Be Held on 10th and 11th Dec - Gaylaxy Magazine|website=gaylaxymag.com|date=7 December 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.womansera.com/delhi-international-queer-theatre-film-festival-2016/|title=Delhi International Queer Theatre and Film Festival 2016 - Womansera|date=2017-04-29|work=Womansera|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en-US|archive-date=14 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614021201/https://www.womansera.com/delhi-international-queer-theatre-film-festival-2016/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

The Third Edition was organised in 2017 with the support of Impulse (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) and several other organisations.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news|url=http://edtimes.in/2017/12/delhi-international-queer-theatre-film-festival-2017-to-give-a-new-glimpse-of-the-lgbtq-community/|title=Delhi International Queer Theatre & Film Festival 2017 To Give A New Glimpse Of The LGBTQ Community|date=2017-12-04|work=ED Times {{!}} The Youth Blog|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://lbb.in/delhi/Delhi-International-Queer-Theatre-bdef8a/|title=Delhi International Queer Theatre & Film Festival 2017 {{!}} LBB|website=lbb.in|access-date=2018-06-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.artculturefestival.in/delhi-international-queer-theatre-film-festival-2017/|title=Delhi International Queer Theatre Film Festival 2017 - Art Culture Festival|date=2017-11-21|work=Art Culture Festival|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en-US|archive-date=19 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219015617/http://www.artculturefestival.in/delhi-international-queer-theatre-film-festival-2017/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/delhi/events/delhi-international-queer-theatre-film-festival-2017|title=Delhi International Queer Theatre & Film Festival 2017|website=timeout.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-13}}</ref>

The fourth edition was organised as TARANG- DIQTFF in 2018 with support of High Commission of Canada, [[India HIV/AIDS Alliance]], Samarth and several other organisations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmfreeway.com/Tarang|title=Tarang - Delhi International Queer Theatre and Film Festival 2018|website=FilmFreeway|language=en|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://lbb.in/delhi/delhi-international-queer-theatre-590cae/|title=Enjoy The Best Of LGBTQ Films, Plays & Talks At This Queer Theatre Festival {{!}} LBB|website=LBB, Delhi|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref>

== The Festival ==

=== TARANG- Delhi International Queer Theater & Film Festival (2018) ===
The 4th edition of festival took place on 1 and 2 December 2018 at Pyarey Lal Bhavan, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, [[New Delhi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/tarang|title=Tarang- DIQTFF 2018|last=Ketto.org|website=Ketto.org|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2018/nov/27/queer-arts-festival-to-offer-a-diverse-stage-1903737.html|title=DIQTFF: Queer arts festival to offer a diverse stage|website=The New Indian Express|date=27 November 2018 |access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref> The event was primarily organised by Harmless Hugs with support from various organisations like Canada High Commission, Samarth, [[India HIV/AIDS Alliance]], Ketto, The Humsafar Trust, Miss Woomaniya, LGBT Events India, and others. This festival saw street theatre performances on HIV, various plays related to LGBTQ+ like ''Lihaaf/Ehsaas'', ''Mard'', ''Anhad e Kathak'' (a dance drama on HIV/AIDS) and films like ''How Was Your Day'', ''Zara Nazar Utha Ke, Misswomania'' and more. As for the talks and discussions, Simran Shaikh, [[Arvind Gaur]] and Sonal Mehta were some of the speakers at the festival. There were a bunch of other musical and theatrical performances too.<ref name=":12" /> The festival sought to bring a local flavour to the queer movement and was inspired by Mumbai's Queer Film Fest [[KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival|Kashish]] organised by [[Sridhar Rangayan]]. Tarang's aim was to showcase queer arts through several mediums and it staged queer-themed plays such as ''Pehchaan'', ''Dastak'', ''Mard'', ''Lihaaf'', ''Ehsaas'', ''The Legend of Ila'', ''Anhad e Kathak''.<ref name=":13" />

==== Movies Screened ====

# A safe space to talk to
# Reset
# How was your day
# Vaddis
# Ankahee
# Please Mind the Gap
# The Father's Project
# Before Today
# I am not there
# Zara Nazar Utha ke
# The Notion
# Turn it Around
# Heather has four Moms
# Two Words
# Khwaaish
# Miss Womaniya
# Bag
# Orizaba's Peak
<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://www.picbob.com/tag/diqtff|title=Images and Stories tagged with #diqtff on instagram|website=www.picbob.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-15}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==== Plays and performances ====

# Mard
# Zahiri Haqeeqat
# Pehchaan
<ref name=":14" />

=== DIQTFF TAKE 3 (2017) ===
The 3rd edition of the festival took place on 9 and 10 December 2017 at Shah Auditorium, Civil Lines, New Delhi.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=http://dubeat.com/event/this-december-visit-the-delhi-international-queer-theatre-film-festival-2017/|title=This December, Visit the Delhi International Queer Theatre & Film Festival 2017|website=DU Beat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-15|archive-date=12 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612192808/http://dubeat.com/event/this-december-visit-the-delhi-international-queer-theatre-film-festival-2017/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":10" /> The event was primarily organised by [[Harmless Hugs]] and Impulse New Delhi by [[AIDS Healthcare Foundation]]<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":10" /> with support from various organisations like Canada High Commission,<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":10" /> Asmita Theater Group,<ref name=":15" /> Ketto,<ref name=":15" /> Adhikaar Trust, [[Grindr]],<ref name=":15" /> Doggy Style, DU Beat, Miss Woomaniya, Art Culture Festival and ED Times<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":10" />

==== Movies Screened ====

# ''The Condom Man (English)''
# A thousand years of Love (English)
<ref name=":10" />

==== Plays and performances ====

# Mard (Hindi Play)
# Astitva (Hindi Play)
<ref name=":10" />

=== DIQTFF 2 (2016) ===
The second edition of the festival took place on 10 and 11 December 2016 at NCUI Auditorium and Convention Centre, New Delhi<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> The event was organised by [[Harmless Hugs]] & Love Matters<ref name=":9" /> with support from various organisations like SCRUFF, [[AIDS Healthcare Foundation]], High Commission of Canada, [[India HIV/AIDS Alliance]], Ketto, DU Beat, [[Humsafar Trust]], The Education Tree, Respect Women, Youth [[Lead India]], UNDERGROUND Eagles.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":1" /> The Chief guest for the event was famous Bollywood actor and singer [[Piyush Mishra]],<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":0" /> who gave a performance too. In an interview with convener Harsh Aggarwal, he said, ''“I see no difference in the homosexual and heterosexual community. They have given me same respect, same love and affection that I get anywhere else I go. If there is something unnatural, the nature won't let it exist. It's the conflict of the nature and society which we now observe where society is calling nature unnatural which is ironic.”''

The event was inaugurated by many notable personalities like Prince Manvendra, Jess Dutton (Deputy High Commissioner from Canada to India), Vithika Yadav (Country Head, Love Matters India) and Vinay Kumar (founder of Harmless Hugs).<ref name=":3" /> This festival was also supported by Bollywood actors like [[Kunal Kapoor (actor, born 1977)|Kunal Kapoor]] and [[Kalki Koechlin]] through video message.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Citation|last=Harmless Hugs|title=Actor Kunal Kapoor extends support to LGBTQ Community|date=2016-10-17|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaIuNmtpY2M|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Harmless Hugs|title=Kalki Koechlin for DIQTFF By Harmless Hugs & Love Matters India|date=2016-11-05|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2aVxojzqIU|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":0" /> The event also saw a photo exhibition by Katharina Domscheit D’souza.<ref name=":8" /> Besides, a free HIV testing and health awareness camp was organised by Impulse India, Project Samarth and Hamsafar Trust.<ref name=":8" /> Bismaya Kumar Raulo from Impulse New Delhi said "''Stigma attached to sexual orientation and sexual preferences have been a major challenge in the society. Platforms like Delhi International Queer Theatre and Film Festival is a unique way to reach out to the society and advocate for equal rights for everyone regardless of sex, gender, and sexuality. It also gives an opportunity to the people who are in the closet and still fighting with their identity. Let's work together for a better and brighter future of the LGBTQIA community in India”''<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":10" />

==== Movies Screened ====

# ''Underneath the Makeup, there's me (English)''
# ''Lihaaf (Hindi/Urdu)''
# That's my boy (Malayalam)
# AMORfo (Spanish)
# In the mood of Love ''(English)''
# An open Wind ''(English)''
# That's my boy ''(English)''
# My Child is Gay ''(English)''
# Boy Meets Boy ''(English)''
<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":7" />

==== Plays and performances ====

# Meeta ki Kahani (Hindi Play)
# Libaas (Hindi Play)
# Pehchaan (Hindi Play)
# I step on air (English Performance)
<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":7" />

=== DIQTFF (2015) ===
The first edition of the festival took place on 12 and 13 December 2015 at Lok Kala Manch, Lodi Institutional Area, New Delhi.<ref name=":2" /> The event was primarily organised by [[Harmless Hugs]] with support from organisations like [[AIDS Healthcare Foundation]], High Commission of Canada, GLIFFAA<ref name=":5" /> and others.There were seven plays and fourteen films, including Under The Shade (2013), directed by J.M. Hall, as well as talks by activists.<ref name=":2" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Delhi]]
[[Category:LGBTQ film festivals in India]]
[[Category:Festivals established in 2015]]
[[Category:2015 establishments in Delhi]]

Delhi International Queer Theater and Film Festival - Revision history

BanglaBlog at 17:44, 17 October 2025