The upcoming 17th edition of the KASHISH Pride Film Festival, set to take place in Mumbai from June 3 to June 7, will shine a spotlight on Spain as its ‘Country in Focus’. The festival will showcase a curated line-up of Spanish LGBTQ+ cinema, celebrating stories of identity, inclusion and diversity through a rich selection of short films.In a conversation with us, Festival Director Sridhar Rangayan says the collaboration is especially meaningful given Spain’s longstanding reputation as one of the most progressive countries for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity. “Spain is a country that has been a leading light with LGBTQ+ rights, not only as a country that has offered the best LGBTQ+ rights to their citizens, but also a country that has made it safe for LGBTQ+ tourists to visit the country. I personally have participated in WorldPride in Madrid and can vouch for this! It is indeed a proud moment for me and our festival to bring an amazing array of LGBTQ+ films from this beautiful country to screen in Mumbai at our festival. We are thrilled to present Spain as the Country in Focus at KASHISH 2026,” he says.Celebrating culture, cinema and inclusionThe announcement also coincides with India and Spain commemorating 70 years of diplomatic relations, observed as a dual year celebrating culture, tourism and artificial intelligence. Rangayan believes the partnership extends beyond cinema and reflects a wider cultural exchange between the two countries.“With India and Spain celebrating the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, observed as a dual year of culture, tourism, and artificial intelligence; we are thrilled to announce Spain as the Country in Focus at KASHISH 2026. Bringing an array of films from Spain to Mumbai, not only showcasing the diversity of LGBTQ+ experiences in their country, which is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in the world; but also the beauty of the country, which is one of the most sought after tourist destinations for the LGBTQ+ community,” he adds.Spain backs the festival collaborationThe collaboration has also been welcomed by the Spanish tourism authorities, who see the partnership as an opportunity to strengthen cultural ties with India while celebrating diversity through cinema.Elena Orland, Tourism Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain in India and Director of the Tourism Office of Spain in India, says, “Spain is proud to partner with KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2026 as Angel Partner and Country in Focus. Spain has long been recognised internationally for its commitment to diversity, inclusion and LGBTQ+ rights, values that form an important part of contemporary Spanish society. Through cinema, culture and dialogue, KASHISH offers a meaningful platform to celebrate authentic stories and human connection. Under the theme ‘Spain, where diversity lives’, this collaboration also reflects Spain’s image as an open, welcoming and LGBTQ+ friendly destination, rich in culture, creativity, gastronomy, heritage and unique travel experiences. We hope this initiative further strengthens the cultural and tourism ties between Spain and India.”Spotlight on Spanish storytellingAs part of the showcase, KASHISH 2026 will screen 13 acclaimed Spanish short films exploring a range of LGBTQ+ experiences and narratives. The line-up includes Fair Dance (Baile de feria) by Bernabé Bulnes, Francisco by Sergio Avellaneda Belmonte, Killjote by Ángel Villahermosa, Maybe Yes or Maybe Not (Potser sí o potser no) by Agustí Estadella, My Personal U by Rafael Giner Sánchez and Alex Cuellar, They, With An Axe by Cande Lázaro, April by Carmen Meitín Moreno and Corona Alonso Rebaque, The Devil’s Garden (El jardí del diable) by Pol Rebaque, Holding Your Breath (El bañador) by Cristian Valenciano, i Dream by Lula Dahringer, Not Crazy (No estamos locos) by Lucía Criado Rosas, Stallion And A Crystal Ball (Stallion y la Bola de Cristal) by Christian Avilés, and Stigma (Estigma) by Pilar García Elegido.The festival is expected to bring together filmmakers, artists and audiences from across the world, continuing KASHISH’s legacy as one of South Asia’s most prominent LGBTQ+ film festivals.
