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A crowdfunded short film from India is aspiring for a coveted premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

Sisak, which claims to be the country's "first silent LGBTQ film," is a wordless love story that unfolds between two strangers aboard local trains in Mumbai.

The film's trailer was unveiled by Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor, a Cannes regular herself, on social media.

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Sisak's writer-director Faraz Arif Ansari, who studied cinema in America, says he's exhausted all his savings to make the film that was turned down by many Indian studios for dealing with a "taboo subject."

Indian law continues to criminalize gay sex. And local society, in turn, is infested with prejudices and biases against the queer community.

Fortunately for Ansari, his crowdfunding call on Wishberry, the Indian equivalent of Kickstarter, met with an overwhelming response, garnering over $6,000 from 109 backers. The film was completed in nine month, at which point he could pay off his cast and crew.

And now, festival plans are being firmed up.

"Fingers crossed...After [Cannes], it travels to festivals across the world and India," Ansari tells Mashable India. A special 15-minute cut of the 20-minute film is being readied for the event. Paid previews in Indian theaters will be held after the festival rounds.

Sisakwas never going to be a smooth ride and Ansari knew that too well. Not only were actors unwilling to play gay, but shooting locations also posed a problem.

Says Ansari, "I think while I was writing Sisak, I was aware what a massive challenge it was going to be at each and every level."

The film was shot guerrilla-style in Mumbai sans permissions from civic authorities. And a tiny crew ensured that any unpleasant incidences were avoided.

Sisakis probably India's first dedicated short feature on gay love. Most Indian films have thus far loosely touched upon the subject of homosexuality. It is rare when a gay man has been a protagonist, with the notable exception of 2016's Aligarh.

idw

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