The 2025 edition of the Chennai Rainbow Film Festival 2025, organized by the LGBTQIA+ community, will take place under the leadership of transgender activist Sasha, daughter of actress Shakeela. This will be the festival’s 4th edition, and it marks the 7th year of the event’s history. Actress Shakeela shared that the festival has received over 2,000 submissions from around the world, including films, short films, and documentaries that showcase the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
From these, 55 films have been selected and will be showcased during the festival on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of February 2025. The films will be divided into four categories, with the top three being chosen for special recognition. Shakeela emphasized that the films will address important societal issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, reflecting the struggles and challenges they’ve faced, especially highlighting the significance of the Supreme Court’s decriminalization of Section 377, which once made LGBTQIA+ individuals subject to punishment.
The festival will also feature discussions on the work done to fight for this legal change and the transformation in the community since the repeal of the law. Among the special guests at the event are actress Vanitha Vijayakumar, writer Manusha Puthiran, actress and social activist Rekha Nair, model and activist Thirunambi Karan Raman, and transgender activist Sasha. The event will be moderated by transgender actress Neha. Additionally, other notable figures, including Jaya, Sreejith, Supreme Court lawyer Prabhakaran, journalist Priya Menon, and Kerala-based activist Sanathiya, will join the discussions moderated by Saran Jayaraman.
There will also be artistic performances, dance routines, and two emotional stage plays aimed at engaging the public. One of the key highlights of the event will be the presentation of the Rainbow Ambassador Award, which honors individuals who have supported the LGBTQIA+ community through various platforms. This year, the award will be presented to kiruthiga udhayanidhi, journalist Asifa Fatima, director Nandini for movie Inspector Rishi, actress Shakeela, TM Krishnan and among others. The awards are presented by Narthaki Nataraj, an Indian trans woman Bharatanatyam dancer and 2019 Padma Shree awardee, S Ve Shekher, Seetha Lakshmi IAS and Playback Singer Mano.
Krithika Udhayanidhi, the wife of the Deputy Chief Minister, has been recognised for her filmmaking, particularly for her movie Kadhalika Neramillai, which explores the story of two men in a romantic relationship.