DELHI TO HOST FIRST RHYTHM INTERNATIONAL QUEER & GENDER FILM FESTIVAL  

Delhi’s Niv Art Centre will host the inaugural Rhythm International Queer & Gender Film Festival from 6–8 March 2026. Featuring 30 films, curated packages, seminars, and music, the three-day celebration of queerness and gender equality concludes on International Women’s Day with screenings by women filmmakers, marking a vibrant cultural milestone.  

Delhi’s cultural calendar is set to welcome a landmark event this March with the debut of Rhythm: The International Queer & Gender Film Festival. Scheduled from 6 to 8 March 2026 at the Niv Art Centre in Neb Sarai, the festival promises to be a dynamic celebration of cinema, identity, and dialogue. It is the first of its kind in the capital, designed to create a space where art and activism converge, offering audiences a chance to engage with stories that challenge, inspire, and affirm diverse experiences of gender and sexuality.  

Curated by Art Book Cinema with the support of Clone Cinema Alternative, and in collaboration with Niv Art Centre, Rhythm will showcase around 30 films across genres and formats. The selection spans fiction and non-fiction, features and shorts, ensuring a rich and varied programme. Among the highlights are curated packages by Gaysifamily, a collective known for its pioneering work in queer storytelling, and New Wave Film School, which has consistently championed fresh cinematic voices. Together, these contributions promise to bring a wide spectrum of narratives to the screen, from intimate personal stories to bold explorations of social change.  

The festival opens on 6 March with a special screening and inaugural film, beginning at 4 PM. Over the following days, screenings will run from 10 AM to 8:30 PM, offering audiences a full immersion into the world of queer and gender cinema. Beyond the films themselves, Rhythm is designed as a space for conversation and reflection. A seminar titled Reclaiming the Gaze: Body Politics and Representation in Indian Cinema will bring together eminent panelists to discuss how cinema has historically portrayed gender and how contemporary filmmakers are reshaping those narratives. This seminar is expected to be one of the festival’s intellectual cornerstones, inviting critical engagement with questions of representation, visibility, and agency.  

Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, Rhythm will also feature a music night, underscoring the festival’s commitment to blending art forms and creating a holistic cultural experience. Special screenings curated around themes of identity and resistance will further enrich the programme, ensuring that audiences encounter not only entertainment but also thought-provoking content that resonates with contemporary debates on equality and inclusion.  

The closing day, 8 March, coincides with International Women’s Day and will be marked by a package of films by women filmmakers. This deliberate scheduling underscores the festival’s commitment to amplifying diverse voices and celebrating the contributions of women in cinema. By ending on this note, Rhythm situates itself firmly within broader conversations about gender justice, ensuring that the festival is not only about representation but also about empowerment.  

For Delhi, Rhythm represents more than just another addition to its cultural calendar. It is a statement about the city’s evolving artistic landscape and its willingness to embrace conversations that are both urgent and transformative. In a country where discussions around gender and sexuality often face resistance, the festival offers a rare and vital platform for visibility. It invites audiences to step into stories that may be unfamiliar, challenging them to expand their understanding of identity and community.  

The choice of Niv Art Centre as the venue is significant. Known for its support of experimental and alternative art practices, the centre provides an intimate yet dynamic space for screenings and discussions. Its location in Neb Sarai, away from the bustle of central Delhi, offers a setting conducive to reflection and engagement, allowing audiences to immerse themselves fully in the festival’s offerings.  

Rhythm’s arrival also signals a growing recognition of the role of cinema in shaping cultural narratives. Film festivals have long been spaces where ideas are tested, communities are formed, and movements find expression. By focusing on queer and gender cinema, Rhythm places itself at the intersection of art and activism, reminding audiences that cinema is not only entertainment but also a powerful tool for social change.  

As Delhi prepares to host this inaugural edition, anticipation is high among filmmakers, activists, and audiences alike. With its blend of screenings, seminars, and cultural events, Rhythm promises to be more than a festival—it is poised to become a movement, one that celebrates diversity while challenging conventions. For those attending, it offers not just films but an experience: a chance to witness stories that matter, to engage in conversations that resonate, and to be part of a cultural milestone that will shape the city’s artistic legacy for years to come.  

In its first edition, Rhythm sets out with ambition and clarity of purpose. By celebrating queerness, gender equality, and artistic innovation, it marks a bold step forward for Delhi’s cultural scene. As the final credits roll on 8 March, audiences will leave not only with memories of powerful films but also with a renewed sense of the possibilities that cinema can create.