The world’s largest short film prize has opened submissions for its 2025 festival
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGE BY IRIS PRIZE
The submissions for the 19th edition of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival are open. The festival, which will take place from 13 October to 19 October, celebrates global LGBTQIA stories and offers the largest short film prize in the world.
The Iris Prize Film Festival is looking for short and feature films and has 14 awards up for grabs, including the internationally coveted Iris Prize, which awards £40,000 to the winner. Festival Director Berwyn Rowlands said: “This time of year is magical. As we open for submissions, we are reminded that the Iris Prize continues to be the world’s largest short film prize, and this year it becomes £40,000 (almost US$50,000) thanks to the generous support of the Michael Bishop Foundation.”
“Everybody is a potential winner as we start the process of receiving films, viewing and selecting. And I honestly believe that every filmmaker who produces a film is already a true winner, taking an idea and sharing that story as a film takes some serious commitment and talent.”
Last year’s Iris Prize winner, Dima Hamdan, won for her incredible film Blood Like Water. The Palestinian filmmaker’s winning short tells the story of Shadi, a man whose sexuality leads his family into a trap where they are faced with two choices: collaborate with the Israeli occupation or be shamed by their own people.
There are many other exciting prizes, such as the Iris Prize Best British Short, which will receive an exclusive screening of their film at Pinewood Studios. All films selected for the Best British shortlist will be broadcast on Film4 and streamed on Channel 4 for a year, with a licence fee paid to the filmmakers. Last year’s winner was Louisa Connolly-Burnham’s Sister Wives, which has now been longlisted for a BAFTA.Â
The Iris Prize LGBTQIA Film Festival is a week-long celebration of queer film and takes place annually in Cardiff. For more information on the prizes available and how to submit your film, visit their website.
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