bangalore the fifth edition of the threeday bangalore queer film festival kicked off on friday showcasing 55 films from 20 countries the festival articulated the lgbt communitys space in the cultural landscape of the city queer cinema is often considered different which it is like us but the substance in these films deserves attention as they tell our story said ajay a member of the community at the alliance francaise de bangalore venue of the festival its like a celebration watching these movies on the big screen some of these films have even won major awards and have been showcased across film festivals around the world ajay said the current edition is featuring 55 films from 20 countries the 55 films include 7 fulllength feature films 18 short fiction films 6 short films 6 experimental films and 18 documentaries the festival will serve as a space for lgbt concerns to be voiced through the medium of moving images more than just a film festival we are a hub of queer arts and culture with an art exhibition two nights of performances and a book launch said a release from the organizers despite a prominent parallel society running alongside it the mainstream society which comprises educated people still looks down upon it as deviant behaviour said rakeshsabharwal producer of short film tamasomaajyotirgamaya which will be screened for the first time at the festival it features aditya raj kapoor son of late actor shammikapoor in a prominent role and other actors like gaurishankar sharmilagoenka asif ali and mahi sheikh everybody wants bhagat singh to be born again but nobody wants him to be born in their home but in their neighbours said rakesh sabharwal referring to the woes of the lgbt community in the country the film is about a woman a lesbian by choice who is killed by her harvardreturned brother to keep family honour intact the film festival drew a lot of attention from youngsters not necessarily those belonging to lgbt community aspiring film makers and film lovers alike the festival has a really good collection of films which cant be found online these have been showcased at prominent international film festivals said parul sharma a student from christ universitywhats on show some of the films at the festival are oscarnominated david frances film on aids how to survive a plague us survive a plague dealing with heroic struggle of two groups act up and tag whose activism and innovation in 1980s and 90s usa turned aids from a death sentence into a manageable condition susan chens documentary on labour unrest in taiwan lesbian factory katherine fairfax wright and malika zouhaliworralls call me kuchu on david kato ugandas first openly gay activist before he was brutally murdered for the same reason among the others