Showcase with pride

Yash Sharma

The founder of Instagram page Official Humans of Queer, Yash Sharma, has been a fan of cinema for as long as he can remember. "I've always loved movies. I've learnt a lot from them. Actors and performers have a certain kind of influence and so, representation in these spheres is important. It's been three years since Section 377 was repealed; the next step is to represent queer voices," he says.

From September 25 to 26, Sharma's Instagram initiative is set to host their first-ever film festival, titled Queerflix 2021. To get things rolling, the festival has put out a call for film submissions - short films, documentaries and feature films - made especially by queer creators and dealing with queer narratives. "This is not really geared to cater to famous talents that are already out there; it's more an initiative to get young people who might not have a platform to present their work," adds Sharma. The event will also hold a workshop on how to make a film, especially a queer-sensitive one which will be followed up by a competition with cash prizes.

Apply by: September 19
Log on to @eventsohoq on Instagram