The Documentary Film Finance Fund is back for its second iteration
BY HEBE HANCOCK, IMAGE BY IRIS PRIZE
A new wave of queer storytelling is on the horizon as the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival today (14 April) opens applications for its Documentary Film Finance Fund. Now in its second iteration, the initiative is specifically aimed at nurturing emerging LGBTQIA talent based in Wales – offering up to £20,000 to support the creation of a short documentary film, set to premiere at the 20th edition of the festival in October 2026.
Backed by LGBTQIA streaming service OUTflix and the University of South Wales, the fund champions authentic, underrepresented voices in UK documentary film. Berwyn Rowlands, Festival Director, emphasised the importance of spotlighting “the beautiful ordinary” and stories often overlooked by the mainstream: “If you have a story, however ordinary or spectacular, we want to hear from you.”
The fund’s first round delivered three powerful 20-minute films, including Some Girls Hate Dresses by Mena Fombo, which explored gender expression and Black British identity; Bender Defenders, a vibrant look inside a queer Muay Thai gym in East London by non-binary filmmaker Ira Putliova; and Untitled, an upcoming project by Emily Sargent telling the story of lesbian trailblazer Jackie Forster and the magazine she founded, Sappho.
The selected project this year will follow in those footsteps – selling a uniquely British LGBTQIA story with global resonance. Priority will be given to filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in UK media, and the chosen film will receive hands-on production support from the Iris Prize team.
Philip Webb, COO of OUTtv, spoke of the fund’s global reach: “We provide the visibility for these films to be enjoyed by audiences worldwide. OUTflix and OUTtv have always stood for stories about our community, for our community – and most importantly, created by our community.”
Submissions close on 1 June 2025, with the selected commission to be announced in July. Interested filmmakers can find more info and apply via the Iris Prize website.
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