Blue Flower

Director: Sunil Babu Pant, Pradhumna Mishra
Script: Sunil Babu Pant, Durga Bahadur Karki (Sayad)
Producer: Sunil Babu Pant
With: Sagar Ghimire, Urmila Karkai, Ghanshyam Joshi
Nepal, 2023, 40 min, Nepali with English subtitles

Debut film by Sunil Babu Pant, who was the first openly gay parliament member in Nepal (2008-2012) and is the founder of “Blue Diamond Society”, an organization that fights for LGBTQ rights in Nepal. He spent two years as a certified Buddhist monk (2020-2022) and is also a coach for tantra meditation.

22 years old Tilak is a gentle and closed off guy. His big brother is married and has a child. Tilak’s mother forces him to marry Urmila, a school teacher. Despite their challenging situation, the two become friends. One day, by chance, Urmila meets some social workers from Kathmandu who tell her about their work and the support they give the LGBTQ community there. Tilak moves to the capital and meets Ghanshyam, a police officer who understands the difficult situation Tilak is in. What will become of Urmila?

Director: Akshat Ashutosh Gangrade
Script: Akshat Ashutosh Gangrade
Producer: Mangesh Karad
With: Mekha Rajan, Satakshi Nandi, Vijay Singh
India, 2023, 29 min, Hindi with English subtitles

The plot of this film is set in ancient times. “Dwija” is the tragic story of two lovers who were violently separated from each other. After they’ve been brought back to life by the magical power of Brahma the two women try to recreate their long lost love. A peek at the existential journey, layered with ideas of dualism, immortality and adwaita.
“Dwija” is a spiritual allegory of the exploitation of Mother Earth by man, who takes what he wants and leaves, only to come back and take more.

Director: Myat Noe
Script: Myat Noe
Producer: Myat Noe
With: Aung Myint Myat, Russell
Myanmar, 2023, 21 min, Burmese with English subtitles

Festivals:
Fringe! London Queer Film and Arts Festival 2023
Stuff – México city independent Film Festival 2023
Ischia, Italy Film Festival 2023

Two gay lovers, now living as political refugees from Myanmar (Burma) in a Thai border town, reunite. But the scars and traumas of their experiences under military coup in their native country, as well as changing sentiments, challenge their relationship.