JOTE, 26 Aug: A gender sensitisation session was organised by the Gender Awareness Committee of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Itanagar as part of the Orientation Week for its second batch.

The session featured Sawang Wangchha, LGBTQIA+ activist and founder of AP QueerStation, along with Liyom of AP QueerStation.

The interactive discussion focused on gender, sexuality, identity, lived experiences and their representation in cinema.

The speakers discussed how LGBTQIA+ identities are portrayed on screen and examined stereotypes that have often reduced queer characters to comic relief, ridicule, tragedy or narrative devices, particularly in mainstream Hindi cinema. Students were encouraged to critically assess such representations and understand the responsibility filmmakers have in creating authentic and diverse stories.

Wangchha also contextualised the discussion within Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the diversity of its tribal communities and the different cultural understandings of gender and identity. He encouraged students to travel, interact with communities and understand their lived realities rather than treating people merely as subjects for representation.

Liyom shared her experiences as a trans woman, providing students with a personal perspective on transgender identities and the challenges faced in everyday life. The session was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session.

The discussion also stressed the need for filmmakers to represent indigenous communities and other underrepresented groups with sensitivity, research and authenticity. Students were urged to avoid generalisations and engage meaningfully with people and communities before telling their stories.

The session concluded with an emphasis on learning, questioning and unlearning, with speakers stressing that responsible representation begins with listening and asking better questions.