There are lots of lesbian-focused films for audiences to look forward to
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE IS A STILL FROM TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA
If you’re into queer cinema, you probably can’t wait for October to roll around. The prestigious Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival is returning to Cardiff (12-18 October) for its 20th anniversary. But don’t worry, there’s lots to look forward to in the meantime. Iris is hitting the road again with Iris on the Move, bringing Cardiff charm and global talent to 25+ venues across Wales and the UK.
This year’s tour is in partnership with DIVA Film Festival. The When Love Broke The Law programme is perfect viewing for sapphic and gender diverse cinephiles.
First up, a screening of the short film, Two People Exchanging Saliva by Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh. In a world where kissing is punishable by death, and people pay for things by receiving slaps to the face, two women manage to become close. It’s a fascinating film that got the seal of approval from queer icon Charli xcx on Letterboxd.
With Iris on the Move taking place during LGBT+ History Month, it’s fitting that Emily Sargent’s short documentary Jackie is showing. In the doc, the filmmaker and journalist spotlights the groundbreaking Jackie Forster. Whether or not you’ve heard of the trailblazing campaigner, this is essential viewing. Jackie’s underground donor sperm operation helped the first queer women to have children. This short is also the third film to be made with the Iris Prize Documentary Finance Fund.
“The original mission for the film was to highlight Jackie’s impact on LGBTQIA+ rights, which can still be felt today. [Being able to] screen the film around the country is really lovely – I hope it means that Jackie’s name will travel, and that more people will get to hear about her amazing life.” – Emily Sargent on Jackie being part of Iris on the Move.
Another programme highlight is Rachel Dax’s feature documentary, 3000 Lesbians Go To York. It tells the story of how a lesbian bookseller (who also happened to be trans) created the largest gathering of LGBTQIA+ women in the UK. Viewers will see the quietly conservative city of York transformed into a thriving centre of all things lesbian. There are plenty of DIVA favourites in this one, from Horse and Val McDermid to Sarah Waters and Aneesa Chaudhry.
For even more brilliant queer cinema, check out Iris 2025’s Best Bits, Y Tolldy directed by Dan Thomas and Never, Never, Never directed by John Sheedy. This programme also includes the Best British-winning film Blackout by Chris Urch and the Iris Prize-winning film One Day This Kid by Alexander Farah.
Find out more at irisprize.org/2026-tour-calendar.
Learn how to submit your film to this year’s Iris Prize at irisprize.org/submissions.
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