DIVA is delighted to sponsor Best Performance in a Female Role
BY ELEANOR NOYCE, IMAGES VIA IRIS PRIZE
Calling all LGBTQIA film fans! Cardiff-based LGBTQ+ Film Festival Iris Prize has selected 12 new feature films from 10 countries for screening during its six-day event. Further confirming a student jury comprised of University of South Wales Film and TV students for the Best Feature Award, Iris is set to welcome both international and domestic filmmakers for its first face-to-face festival since 2019. Want to buy a festival pass? The event takes place from 6-11 October in the heart of the Welsh capital.
Notably, the Feature Film Jury will be awarding in three categories: Iris Prize Best Feature Award sponsored by Bad Wolf, Iris Prize Best Performance in a Male Role sponsored by Attitude Magazine, and Iris Prize Best Performance in a Female Role sponsored by DIVA Magazine. This year, explored themes include coming of age and coming out, family obligations, small-town scandals and sex, lies and cold-blooded murder, with titles including Barrio Boy, Before I Change My Mind and Who We Love.
Berwyn Rowlands, Iris Prize Film Festival Director, remarks: “The feature films we are presenting to you as part of our Iris Prize Festival this year promise to entertain, to engage, and to give the audience plenty of food for thought. We are particularly pleased to be screening – and hosting one world premiere – feature films made by Iris Prize alumni. Two of the films are based on previously shortlisted Iris Prize film. We hope you will be as proud of the Iris legacy as we are.”
The six-strong student jury will get the chance to learn from filmmakers across the world, with the screen features derived from the US, Canada, Poland, Norway, Australia, Italy, Lebanon, Ireland, the Philippines and Thailand. Tom Ware of the University of South Wales states: “I am very proud of the Film and TV School Wales students who have volunteered to sit on this year’s jury for the Iris Prize Best Feature Award. This is another excellent opportunity provided for them to spend time with accomplished and award-winning filmmakers as they move from university life to working in the film industry. It also builds on USW’s successful partnership with Iris that has already created many other opportunities for our students over the last few years.
“Being on the jury of a world-class film festival is definitely one for the CV and will undoubtedly give them a great start in their chosen screen career, whether it’s directing, editing, or scriptwriting.”
Want to read more about the Iris Prize or buy a festival pass? Visit their website at irisprize.org, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
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