After a five-year break, the Iris Prize Industry Day is back and you don’t want to miss it
BY CALYPSO LLOYD-DAVIES, IMAGES PROVIDED
This year, Industry Day will take place on 15 October, during the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Cardiff, supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation. The festival, running from 13 October to 19 October, aims to celebrate untold queer stories and Cardiff charm, supporting all that is not covered in mainstream media.
Iris Industry Day offers the chance for budding filmmakers to learn with a day full of everything you should know about working in the film sector. Director of the festival, Berwyn Rowlands, reveals: “We wanted the Iris Industry Day to be a key event for media professionals focused on content creation. The quality of the guest speakers who will be joining us in Cardiff is truly impressive… We wanted to create a platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and professional development, and help support a community of likeminded individuals passionate about the future of media.” Â
On what to expect, Berwyn says: “We have sessions exploring how to maximise your film’s impact – from budgeting and sustainability to story, festival strategy, distribution, and awards eligibility… There is also a chance to hear from filmmakers and industry experts who’ve made the jump from shorts to features to get practical advice on turning short-form success into long-form opportunity.”Â
From morning to afternoon, Industry Day 2025 is packed with workshops, panels and networking sessions, including a speech and Q&A from the incredible industry expert Dawn Airey as keynote speaker to start the day. Dawn states: “The Iris Prize is such an important landmark on the festival landscape and has always enjoyed a special relationship with Channel 4, so I am excited to be able to take part in the Iris 2025 celebration of LGBTQIA media.”
Iris Industry Day is open to everyone interested in film, both inside and outside the queer community, particularly urging students to attend. Iris prize is offering affordable passes as well as a host to show students around, to provide as much help as they can to the next generation of filmmakers.
Read the full programme here: risprize.org/iris-industry-day.
Find tickets to the Industry Day and festival here: irisprize2025.eventive.org/welcome Find more information about Iris Prize here: irisprize.org.
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