The Iris Prize Festival (running in Cardiff 08-12 October) features the world’s largest LGBT short film prize, which will this year be contested by thirty films from 16 different countries, including India, Cambodia, Canada, Norway, Chile and Ireland. The shortlist was announced this week.
The Iris Prize is an award of £25,000 to the winning short, which will be announced in an awards ceremony on 12 October, hosted by writer, broadcaster, human rights activist and potential future MP Amy Lamé. The prize is to be commended for encouraging LBGTQ filmmakers in this way; allowing the full breadth of creativity and subjects to be addressed. This year a growing theme of getting older has been identified, which had also found a growing voice in the BFI LGBTQ festival, BFI Flare, earlier this year. The BFI is also a big sponsor of the Iris Prize Festival, along with supporter of the Best British film short award, Pinewood Studios Group, and equalities and art charitable organisation The Michael Bishop Foundation.
Andrew Pierce, Festival chair, said: “Iris is recognised for supporting talented film makers from all over the world. Five shorts, made with the prize, have been produced since we launched in 2007 and a sixth is just about to start filming. Iris is more than just a trophy that gathers dust or a certificate that yellows on the wall. Iris is what film makers need – funding, support and guidance,”
“It’s great to see films from all over the world represented in the shortlist with entries for the first time from Cambodia and Chile joining work from Canada, Germany, Brazil, Israel, Norway, Ireland, India, Sweden, Australia, US, Belgium, Portugal, and the UK all making it through to the final. The US has once again secures the largest number of films in competition with an impressive 7 out of the final 30,” said Andrew.
The Festival Programme will be announced in due course but here is the website if you want to familiarise yourself with past features of the festival.
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