Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley and noted film maker Shyam Benegal announced Kashish 2011 - the second edition of India's biggest queer film festival that focuses on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender films.

Celina is Kashish 's Festival Ambassador and Shyam Benegal, the Festival Patron.

Sai Paranjpye, actors Shernaz Patel and Samir Soni, filmmaker and critic Khalid Mohamed were also present at the press conference held here on Wednesday.

The film festival will be held at two venues – Cinemax Versova, Andheri West and Alliance Francaise, Marine Lines in Mumbai - between May 25 to May 29, and will feature 124 films from 23 countries.

The jury comprises of filmmaker Sai Paranjpye, actors Shernaz Patel and Samir Soni, filmmaker and critic Khalid Mohamed and for the first time an international festival director John Badalu from Indonesia.

Speaking on the occasion, Celina said: "I am very happy to be associated with Kashish for the second year as its Ambassador. It is a great platform to uphold human rights and dignity for all, which is what I strongly believe in too. It is a celebration of the equality of all human emotions irrespective of sex, creed, race and culture.

"Kashish also gives an opportunity to young budding filmmakers to showcase their talents especially in India where there is a lack of a platform for showcasing independent films, " she said.

Shyam Benegal said: "All minorities in this country need representation and sexual minorities is one of them. KASHISH is a move in the right direction to create awareness through the medium of films. It is a step forward in the gay movement."

When someone asked that by having such a festival, aren't we bringing down the Indian culture, Sai Paranjpye quipped in Marathi: "Aji Baat nahi (Not at all!) Such people who feel this way are hypocrites and I hope that initiatives like KASHISH will stop people from asking such questions."

Samir Soni, who is a jury member at Kashish, said: "I am surprised and appalled that even in 2011 people have such negative attitudes to alternate sexuality. I was very happy to see some good films at the jury screening, which are not just issue-focused, but good cinema."

Khalid Mohamed said: "I am here at Kashish, because I just want to watch good films, their theme is incidental. I would view the films like I would as a jury member at any festival."

Kashish 2010 was the first mainstream queer film festival held in India. It brought together 110 Indian and international queer films on one platform.