Dima Hamdan, a Palestinian filmmaker and journalist, has won the prestigious Iris Prize, supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation, for her short film Blood Like Water.
Based in Berlin, Dima’s film Blood Like Water tells the story of Shadi, who embarks on a secret adventure and accidentally drags his family into a trap where they only have two choices: either collaborate with the Israeli occupation or be shamed and humiliated by their own people.
Dima said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Iris Prize – not only because it is the Oscar of the LGBTQ+ film world but also because it comes from a community that has increasingly voiced its support for Palestine in recent years.
“There is no pride on the streets of Tel Aviv when vulnerable gay men are blackmailed, violated and coerced into betraying their communities and even killed.
“Today there is no pride when an Israeli soldier clad in full military gear waves the rainbow flag over the ruins of our people’s homes in Gaza.”
Louisa Connolly-Burnham won the Best British Short Film prize, sponsored by film4 for Sister Wives.
Louisa, who founded Thimble Films in 2019, wrote, directed, produced and starred in Sister Wives alongside BAFTA-winner Mia McKenna-Bruce. It’s a multi-layered love story that tells the tale of two young women living in a strict, fundamentalist, polyamorous society in 2013 Utah, USA.
Hove-based Channel 4 executive Tim Highsted, chair of the jury for this short film prize, said: “It’s a beautifully nuanced and performed drama about two women rebelling against their community’s social and religious constraints and finding love for each other.”
Channel 4 will be streaming all 15 shortlisted Best British short films in a series of groups – check out the channel. Look out for reviews of the films coming soon to Scene magazine.
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