Dealing with Homophobia—Frame by Frame: Artist Talk & Film Screening with Jijo Kuriakose

In honor of Berlin Pride Month, the Berlin Art Institute presents: “Navigating Homophobia — One Frame at a Time” — an artist talk & film screening with Jijo Kuriakose, a public event featuring the writer, artist, photographer, filmmaker, and current fellow of the ifa CrossCulture Program, Jijo Kuriakose.

The event will take place on August 7, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will feature a talk by Jijo, a brief Q&A session, and the screening of two Malayalam short films: “Velipādu – The Revelation” and “AS WE SEE US” (film premiere).

Jijo Kuriakose is an author, artist, photographer, filmmaker, and current fellow of the CrossCulture Program (CCP) at the ifa – Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations. His work focuses on male bodies, same-sex intimacy, queer self-representation, and the cultural politics of visibility in India.

In his lecture, Jijo will discuss queer self-representation, male homosexual expression in contemporary India, democratic values, human rights, freedom of expression, state censorship, and the use of art as a means of activism. The talk will also explore the history of gay art in India from the 1980s to the present, reflecting on Jijo’s own experiences as an artist and filmmaker working in the fields of visual arts, photography, documentary film, and feature film. The event connects the BAI’s international residency and fellowship programs with the broader context of Berlin Pride Month. Berlin Pride Month begins in June and offers a four-week program featuring panel discussions, meetups, parties, workshops, and community events.

The BAI’s event enriches this citywide moment of queer visibility with an international artistic perspective by presenting queer cinematic narratives from Kerala and contemporary India.

Film Screening

Velipādu – The Revelation (2024)

Genre: Short feature film

Runtime: 25 min. 28 sec.

Original language: Malayalam (with English subtitles)

Set against the sensual backdrop of Kottayam, “Velipādu – The Revelation” follows Johnny, a seminarian navigating a life of contradictions as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The film explores Malayalam gay and queer longings through Christian music, intimate gestures, physical contact, faith, and same-sex affection.

AS WE SEE US (2026) – Film Premiere

Genre: Short Feature Film

Runtime: 24 min. 46 sec.

Original Language: Malayalam (with English subtitles)

Trailer: https://youtu.be/RMBqU81EXz8?feature=shared

AS WE SEE US follows David, a retired teacher living in a small town in Kerala, who receives a visit from Christy, a young caregiver, during a period of loneliness. The film reflects on the lives of older queer people, shared memories, care, companionship, and those intimate moments that are often missing from the dominant narratives about queer life.

Ralf Schmitt & Stephanie Jünemann, Directors of the Berlin Art Institute:

“The Berlin Art Institute has always viewed artistic creation as a space for exchange, dialogue, and free expression. Presenting Jijo Kuriakose’s work following Berlin Pride Month allows us to spark a discussion about queer visibility, censorship, and the power of art and cinema, and to create spaces of resistance and recognition across various cultural contexts.”

Jennifer Rücker, Director of the CrossCulture Program, ifa:

“The CrossCulture Program promotes exchange among civil society actors across borders, disciplines, and contexts. Jijo Kuriakose’s fellowship at the Berlin Art Institute reflects the importance of artistic and cultural work in addressing human rights, visibility, and social dialogue.”

Jijo Kuriakose (Artist / Director / Producer / Writer):

“For me, art and film have always been ways to survive, to remember, and to speak out when society silences queer people. With this talk and film screening, I want to convey how images, bodies, spaces, and stories can become forms of resistance, intimacy, and self-expression.”

About Jijo Kuriakose

Jijo Kuriakose is a writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker from India whose work focuses on queer visibility, male bodies, same-sex intimacy, and relationships between men, particularly in the South Indian context. In 2015 and 2018, he curated the queer art exhibition series “Homomorphism” in Cochin, Kerala, and continues to develop his photo series “Androphilia,” which explores the diversity of the male body. His work has been featured in exhibitions including “Living Disobediently” at the Queer Asia Conference at SOAS in London, “Between the Lines – a tribute to Manoj N” at Gallery 7 in Mattancherry, Kerala, and “Vichithra (Queer) Nation” by Engendered in New Delhi. His documentary “Njān Sānjo / I’m Sānjo” was selected by several film festivals, including the competition section of the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, while his short film “Velipādu – The Revelation” was selected by more than forty international festivals, including the KASHISH Pride Film

Festival in Mumbai and the Perth Queer Film Festival, and has won several awards.

About the ifa CrossCulture Program

As part of his current fellowship at the Berlin Art Institute, Jijo Kuriakose is participating in the CrossCulture Program (CCP) of the ifa – Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations. Each year, the CrossCulture Program supports 50 to 60 professionals and volunteers from over 40 countries. The fellows work for two to three months with host organizations in Germany or in CCP partner countries to expand their expertise, build networks, and further develop their transcultural competencies.

About the Berlin Art Institute

Founded in 2015, the Berlin Art Institute (BAI) is a unique, independent institution operating at the intersection of contemporary art production, interdisciplinary education, and international exchange. It offers a dynamic professional studio environment as well as a wide range of programs for artists, scholars, cultural practitioners, and institutions from around the world. Over the past ten years, the BAI has welcomed fellows from around the world, fostering a vibrant community based on a spirit of experimentation, critical dialogue, and international collaboration. Throughout the year, the BAI also organizes an extensive program of master classes, online courses, and workshops led by renowned artists, curators, critics, and cultural producers, covering a wide range of topics in contemporary art. Through its diverse formats, public presentations, and exhibition spaces, the BAI continues to foster meaningful connections between emerging and established voices, thereby linking Berlin’s art ecosystem with the global art community.

Event Details

Dealing with Homophobia – Frame by Frame: Artist Talk & Film Screening with Jijo Kuriakose

Speaker: Jijo Kuriakose

Film Screening: “Velipādu – The Revelation” and “AS WE SEE US”

• Date: August 7, 2026
• Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
• Location: Berlin Art Institute, An der Industriebahn 12–16, Building 404 (top floor), 13088 Berlin
• Free admission.
• Registration required LINK

Registration link: HERE

Schedule

7:00–8:00 p.m.

Presentation by the artist/director: Dealing with Homophobia – Frame by Frame

8:00 – 8:10 p.m.

Q&A session with Jijo Kuriakose

8:10 – 8:35 p.m.

Film Screening: Velipādu – The Revelation

8:35 – 9:00 p.m.

Film screening: AS WE SEE US