Filmmakers include Amy Derrick and Vicky Morton
BY CALYPSO LLOYD-DAVIES , IMAGE PROVIDED
Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival has announced the three filmmakers shortlisted for their Documentary Film Finance Fund, supporting underrepresented queer stories in the UK.
The fund, sponsored by OUTflix and the University of South Wales, is offering up to £20,000 as economic support for the winner, as well as help from the Iris Prize team in creating the final film. The documentary film awarded by the fund will also premiere on the opening night of the 2026 festival next October.
Organiser of the shortlisting process at Iris Prize, Angela Clarke, spoke on the submissions: “As ever, it’s been great to see so many good documentary ideas being submitted for consideration to this year’s competition. I look forward to hearing more from our selected shortlist about their films.”
Philip Webb, COO at OUTtv, added: “The UK is packed with burgeoning storytellers, drawing on history, culture, religion, visibility and more – and this year’s shortlist is a reflection of the incredible talent bringing queer narratives to screen.”
So, here are the three incredibly talented filmmakers, and their shortlisted films.
Hidden in Conflict – Damian Kerlin
An uncovering of Ireland’s hidden LGBTQIA+ stories and communities during the Troubles. The documentary explores the community’s struggle under political and societal oppression and reveals the resilience and determination to find love, safety, and visibility.
Pan Trans True Romance – Amy Derrick
A story of whether true love can survive the difficulties of cultural and religious differences. We watch Tami and Ash navigate love and marriage, and the complexities that come to the surface, especially alongside the decline of transgender rights.
Wear I Am – Vicky Morton
A story of unheard solidarity and visibility, amongst the transgender community, inspired by the work of TIN Wardrobe, a trans-led mutual aid organisation. We follow a care package on its journey from the sender, founder of TIN, Leith, to the recipient, a young, isolated TIN person. Wear I Am explores the assembling ritual and personal stories behind the gender-affirming package, and how life-changing it is to be seen.
Damian, Amy and Vicky are currently attending an online workshop with the team at Iris Prize, before the winner of the fund is announced this September.
In previous years, the fund has supported projects giving a voice to underrepresented communities. Winners include Mena Fombo, in 2022, with Some Girls Hate Dresses, exploring the filmmaker’s own experiences as a Nigerian tomboy growing up in the UK. In 2023, Ira Putliova won with Bender Defenders, celebrating the queer Muay Thai club in East London. Finally, premiering at this year’s Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival is 2024 fund winner Emily Sargent, with Jackie, a story of the lesbian magazine Sappho’s founder, Jackie Forster.
To see Emily’s film, and much more, get your hands on passes to this year’s Iris Prize festival in Cardiff, running from 13 October to 19 October. Passes can be found here: https://irisprize2025.eventive.org/welcome
More information about Iris Prize Documentary Film Finance Fund can be found here: https://irisprize.org/documentary-film-financing-fund/
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