The celebration of LGBTQIA+ cinema has also opened its box office
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE OF LESBIAN LINES/PROVIDED BY IRIS
Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival has just announced its full 2026 programme alongside opening the Box Office. Taking place between 12-18 October, the festival will be showing some of the most exciting new projects in LGBTQIA+ filmmaking alongside old classics.
Alongside the chance to watch the 35 short films that have been shortlisted for the Iris Prize, audiences can also see the 15 British shorts that are in competition for the Best British Award. To celebrate the festival’s 20th year, there will be a record 16 features on show, including a special screening of Desert Hearts followed by a Q&A with director Donna Deitch.
DIVA readers will also be excited to see a screening of Cara Holme’s documentary Lesbian Lines, which tells the story of how a community of lesbians builds an underground network of helplines in Ireland.
There will also be five public Iris Talks taking place throughout the week, including: in conversation with Andrew Haigh, Youth Talk, Beyond The Tropes: Lesbians, Representation & Cinema, Queer Archive: In or Out? and Queer Welsh Creativity: What’s Out There?
Speaking about this year’s Iris Prize, Iris Prize Festival director Berwyn Rowlands said: “Take a week off and spend it with Iris in Cineworld. There I’ve said it. That’s one way to make sure you get to see everything we have on offer this year.”
You can find out more about Iris Prize here: irisprize.org
Love media made by and for LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people? Then you’ll love DIVA. We’ve been spotlighting the community for over 30 years. Here’s how you can get behind queer media and keep us going for another generation: linkin.bio/ig-divamagazine
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