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The festival that began on November 26 and ends on December 5 in New Delhi,kicked off with an art exhibition,followed by film screenings.

The visual arts section is a treat,with established and new professionals joining in. “We have quite a range of images from known names like Anita Dube,to young enthusiastic laypersons who have used photography,drawing and painting to form an interesting montage,” says photographer Sunil Gupta,curator of the visual arts component. While some artworks capture the pressure to get married,others feature obsessions with the self,including issues like body-weight.

“The works do not necessarily deal with the legal aspect of freedom since there are other kind of overt oppressions,” he observes.

Gupta will also host a photography workshop,from November 29 to December 1. While the workshop requires registration,the presentation on December 2 is open to all. “Participants will give photographic responses to ideas about freedom and being queer,” he says.

The film package has a fair share of documentary and feature,both Indian and international,that reflect notions of freedom— the overarching theme of the festival this year. “If one had to choose I would opt for the Indian package of short films,since there is also a panel discussion on sexuality,morality and censorship in the country.

Also,The Big Gay Musical is a must see,” says Mario D’penah,who has curated the film package.

Yoda Press will also launch the Hindi version of transgender person Revathi’s book,Humaari Kahaniyan,Humari Baatein (Our Stories Our Lives),on December 2. The book was first published in 2005 in Tamil.

For details log on to http://www.thequeerfest.