The eighth edition of Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, to be held from May 24-28, will see 147 films from 45 countries competing for top awards.

Films will be on show at Liberty Cinema and Alliance de Francaise in Mumbai.

“This year’s programming is unique and diverse, encompassing LGBTQ diversity from across the world as well as racial and ethnic diversity in the films that are being screened,” said Sridhar Rangayan, festival director.

“Several new countries debut this year, including films from Armenia, Nigeria, Kosovo, Rwanda, UAE, Trinidad, Tobago and Aruba. Being South Asia’s biggest LGBT Film Festival, we have made a concerted effort to programme films from Asia, South Asia and Asia-Pacific,” Rangayan added.

One of the centrepiece films is Harikatha Prasanga (Chronicles of Hari) which narrates the story of a Yakshagana artist Hari who has gained extreme popularity portraying female roles.

Up for the Best Documentary Short Award are, among others, Single Men by Alexia Wong in China and Across Gender by Anouk Houtman in Indonesia.