Thirty-five international filmmakers are set to compete for £30,000 prize money as organisers of the Iris International LGBT+ Short Film Prize, supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation, have announced this year’s shortlisted films. To see the full list of films, CLICK HERE
Iris Prize, organised by the Cardiff-based Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival, which this year takes place online from October 6 – 11, has 25 international partner festivals who nominate films each year for the Iris Prize shortlist, with the rest being chosen by a pre-selection jury from a record number of films entered through open submissions.
UK audiences can join in the experience for the first time in the festival’s history by watching all the nominated shorts for free online, ensuring it reaches a wider audience than ever.
Directors from India, China, Brazil and Macedonia compete with counterparts from the UK and around the world, offering dramatically diverse representations within the global LGBTQ+ community. The one uniting factor in all 35 films is an exhilarating celebration of lives of LGBTQ+ people across the world.
To see the full list of films, CLICK HERE
Andrew Pierce, Iris Prize chair, said: “Back in April we watched everything around us change as life here in the UK and the rest of the world became a frightening journey into the unknown. Almost everything that we knew for certain was taken away from us. During the height of the pandemic the entertainment sector became a lifeline, sharing stories to entertain millions during the lockdown. It also became a victim as the need to protect people from Covid-19 meant we had to stop filming.
“The Iris Prize could quite easily have become a victim to this unprecedented pandemic. Luckily our dear friend Lord Glendonbrook was determined to offer some hope to the LGBT+ film sector and early on committed the Michael Bishop Foundation to present the 2020 Iris Prize whatever happened. Together with the support of our sponsors and funders team Iris have been working on our most ambitious festival ever, but more about this later.
“This is why I’m delighted to share with you the Class of 2020. The 35 short films in competition are the best of the best. They represent excellence in storytelling, taking us the viewer to places that only film can. Pointing a bright spotlight on the lives of LGBTQ+ people making sure that we are seen in all our colourful diversity”.
The Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival takes place online from October 6 – 11, making it available to everybody in the UK, all screenings are free.
To see the full list of films, CLICK HERE