35 films from 22 countries have been selected in competition for the coveted award
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE PROVIDED BY IRIS PRIZE
Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival has announced the 35 films that have been chosen for the shortlist of the coveted Iris Prize. These films will be screened at the festival from 12-18 October.
The winner of the Iris Prize will receive £40,000 to make a new LGBTQIA+ short film in Wales. In this year’s shortlist, there are films from 22 countries, spanning 14 different languages and formats.
Berwyn Rowlands, Iris Prize festival director, said: “I get very emotional at this time of year, and possibly more in this 20th anniversary year when you are reminded about the film makers who came before, the pioneers, the brave the visionaries and the quite amazing storytellers.”
This year’s festival features everything from shorts about grief, love, friendship, family and identity. DIVA readers might pay particular attention to shortlisted films like Jennifer Drake’s God Is Grey which focuses on older lesbian love and grief. Olivia Cade’s Lesbian Ditch Day questions the impacts of queerbaiting on audiences. David McDonagh’s documentary Queen Lizzy looks into the life of queer travellers. Anushay Sheikh’s Same Time Next Year? sees Safa trapped at Jummah with her overbearing family and an angry ex. The list could go on and on.
You can find out more about this year’s Iris Prize here: irisprize.org
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