London’s annual LGBTQI cross-art and cultural event GFEST – Gaywise FESTival opened on November 7 followed on November 8 with a visual arts exhibition ‘arty-party’ at Menier Gallery near London Bridge.
A number of eminent people from London’s arts and culture world attended and enjoyed the exhibition, which remains open to public until today, November 12.
The exhibition has already been seen by hundreds of people with the works of well-known LGBTQI artists and fresh new talent being showcased.
Headlining the free entry visual arts events are Ajamu X and Khalil West, Jason Carr, Jose Gomez, Niranjan Kamatkar, Sarah Jane Moon, Simon Croft and Veronica Slater.
GFEST 2016 artistic director Niranjan Kamatkar spoke at the exhibition, outlining the long-term relationship that the festival, now in its 9th year, enjoys with artistic and LGBTQ communities.
GFEST is organised by arts charity Wise Thoughts. Trustee, Dr Rainer Schulze spoke passionately about the GFEST 2016 films line-up that begin screening on Saturday, November 12.
The film programme opens with feature drama Jonathan at Rich Mix in Shoreditch.
The festival will showcase recently completed LGBT feature films with some UK and London premieres such as Brothers of the Night at Arthouse Crouch End on Monday, November 14, Gender Troubles on November 14 and The Pearl on November 15 at Rich Mix.
The short films night at Arthouse on Thursday, November 17 will include some of the best UK LGBTQI short films produced in 2016: Denise, Open Plan, Dawn and Away with Me.
A special African LGBT cinema evening with 2 screenings will be at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham on, November 13 complete with a community group Q&A session.
GFEST 2016 performances evening details were outlined by Subodh Rathod, who has been one of the organisers from the beginning of the festival in 2007.
Marginal Play – a double-bill evening full of LGBTQI music and dance will be on at RADA Studio in Chenies Street on Saturday, November 19.
The evening will start with composer Benjamin Tassie performing his music set for acoustic instruments and electronics. He has also developed a new music piece for an original dance work Marg – a pathway which will conclude the double bill. Specially commissioned for GFEST 2016, this dance work offers two narratives from the Indian epic Mahabharata, exploring the ageless nature of gender fluidity and sexual diversity. The dance work, choreographed by Subodh Rathod, is presented in collaboration with the University of Roehampton dance department.
For full details of films, performances and visual arts events during GFEST 2016, click here:
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