This year’s festival celebrated a range of LGBTQI stories in film, with wins from Senan Kara and Rebel Dykes
BY ELEANOR NOYCE, IMAGE BY IRIS PRIZE
Great news, DIVAs! The fifteen LGBTQI films shortlisted for the 2021 Iris Prize Best British Short, supported by Film4, will be available on Channel 4 and All 4 from Monday 29 November. Yay!
The title sponsor of the Cardiff-based LGBTQ+ film festival, this is the second year of a three-year sponsorship agreement with Film4. In 2020, film fanatics were able to stream the fifteen shortlisted films for the first time, achieving half a million views on All 4 alongside half a million on Channel 4. This year’s selection features a wide range of stories, including Baba, Cwch Deilen and Pop.
Tim Highsted, Senior Editor, Acquired Feature Films for Film4, states: “Our partnership with the Iris Festival continues to showcase the sheer diversity of talent we have in UK short filmmaking and its success on All 4 proves there is an audience wanting to watch unique stories from new talent. We are delighted to continue presenting these short films on All 4 to as wide an audience as possible”.
Festival Director Berwyn Rowlands furthers: “We knew that working with Channel 4 and All 4 would be amazing, and we were looking at a game changer in how we could reach a new audience for the Iris Prize short films. Never in a million years did I ever think we would reach so many people, introducing an audience to new and exciting LGBT+ stories. I’m grateful to the talented people at Channel 4 who took a chance with Iris”.
Interested in streaming some of this year’s talent? Visit the Iris Prize website, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Next year’s festival marks the sixteenth edition and will be taking place from 11-16 October. Go go go!
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