|
| RAJSHRI DESHPANDE Actress Rajshri left a career as media planner to straddle the world of her dreams – acting, An ardent traveller, she is trained in Kathakali, sword fighting and Kalari payattu. She has a vast repertoire of work in theatre, and her film credits include For Hire (short – 2012), Talaash (2012) and Kick (2015). TV work includes Kuchh to Log Kahenge and Anil Kapoor’s hit TV show 24:India (2014) where she played the character of Agent Veena. Rajshri has recently been seen in the Malayalam film, Haram (2015) and has a number of exciting films slated to release early 2016, She is also highly inclined towards community services. She has been associated with organisations such as: Dharavi Dairy, Boodhnoor Vaidyashala, SOS papa, Beach O Beach, Plastics, and Rescue Foundation, an NGO that not only rescues but rehabilitates and repatriate girls from human trafficking to name a few. She has also adopted a draught village in Marathwada. She majorly worked on Rain water harvesting project and sanitation. "Being part of Side By Side film festival, representing Angry Indian Goddesses is a feeling of extreme excitement coupled with happiness and joy. The festival has been doing a great job of exploring the issues of homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender through art cinema. I hope to meet our audience, the movies and other creative souls like mine."
|
|
| GAURAV DHINGRA Producer Gaurav Dhingra is one of the few creative producers who has been part of the new wave of independent Indian films over the past decade. His experience includes financing and producing a variety of the largest-scale films and international TV shows, and collaborating with other producers across international markets. Gaurav gained his early experience in executing large-format TV shows like The Amazing Race and Ice Road Truckers, the biggest international TV shows shot in India. After being part of the production of some of the major large-scale Bollywood productions like Rang de Basanti, Mangal Pandey, Maqbool & Delhi-6, Gaurav collaborated with acclaimed producer Guneet Monga to co-produce festival darlings like Peddlers (Cannes) and Haraamkhor (IFFLA), among many others. Gaurav independently produced the feature documentary Faith Connections, set in the Kumbh festival that is the largest human gathering on earth. It was sold to over 28 countries, released theatrically across Europe and USA, and won the Audience choice award at Toronto International Film Festival and IFFLA Los Angeles. Gaurav independently produced and distributed what is called India’s first female buddy film Angry Indian Goddesses which won the Grolsch People’s Choice Award (Runner Up) at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was invited for special screenings at Rome and Zurich. It was picked up by Mongrel and has sold theatrically to over 67 countries globally, and bought by Netflix worldwide. "It gives me immense pleasure to be part of this path breaking Festival for the second time. Side by Side LGBT film festival is creating a space for the films about LGBT rights and self expression., where a creative melting pot of talent, voices the concerns of the community. I am honored and humbled to have our film Angry Indian Goddesses as the opening film of the festival. Also, I am excited to see some inspiring movies, meet interesting people and of course, spread the love of Goddesses." |
|
| ANNA RIVINA Project Manager at No to Violence Anna Rivina is a project manager at No To Violence and an executive director at AIDS.CENTRE - a service centre for people living with HIV. Anna has a PhD in law and also deals with legal matters concerning mass media. "Talking about violence is extremely important because we live in the society where violence is often the norm. It is vital that people give this some thought and see things that they have already stopped noticing. The issue has to be discussed, we should make films and explain to people that violence is never the answer."
|
| PRESENTER | EKATERINA BAKHRENKOVA Ñrisis Centre Staff Member | Feminist Ekaterina Bakhrenkova works at Sisters – a Moscow help center for survivors of sexual violence. As a crisis centre worker and feminist, she organizes and participates in conferences, discussions and educational events on the issues of violence against women that are held for both professional and general public. "Violence against women is global. Comparing the situation in different countries helps understand that this is a systemic phenomenon that influences various aspects of life and does not only have impact on women. Come and watch Angry Indian Goddesses and discuss with the creators of the movie not only 'how it is in our country', but also what we can do so that every one has a real opportunity to make free choices and live without violence." |
.png)
