Editor

·        Pinewood Studios Group continue to offer the £20,000 award for Best British LGBT+ short film

·         “There is a sense of unease through some of the films this year, whether through honest depictions of coming out as transgender in modern Britain or a look back to the past which feels all too familiar.”

·         A documentary attempting to rediscover our recent history, a vision of the future which will keep you awake at night and a dark comedy which will have you screaming in your cinema chair – these are just some of the highlights.

Organisers of the Iris Prize have today (08/08/2019) announced details of the 15 short films competing for the Best British Award at the 2019 Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival. The winner who will be presented with a prize valued at £20,000 from sponsors Pinewood Studios Group, will be announced during the October film festival in Cardiff, Wales.

Berwyn Rowlands, Festival Director, commented:
“This shortlist is possibly the most eclectic mix competing for the Iris Prize Best British award that I can remember. As with the best of modern British short film, these are tales spanning animation, documentary, comedy, science fiction and beyond. Luckily the shortlisted filmmakers have remembered that regardless of genre you must tell a story, and can this lot tell a story!

But there is a sense of unease through some of the films this year, whether through honest depictions of coming out as transgender in modern Britain or a look back to the past which feels all too familiar.

“The stories cover a documentary attempting to rediscover our recent history, a vision of the future which will keep you awake at night and a dark comedy which will have you screaming in your cinema chair.”

The full list of competing films features at least two filmmakers returning to Cardiff. Joe Morris is nominated for a second time, following Junk in 2010. Jason Bradbury, who has already experienced life as an Iris jury member in 2015, returns to Cardiff this year with a film in competition – two very different experiences!

The full list of nominated films:

•          Becoming Cherrie (Dir. Nicky Larkin)

•          Invisible Women (Dir. Alice Smith)

•          We Are Dancers (Dir. Joe Morris)

•          #TradWives (Dir. Anna Snowball)

•          Fee (Dir. Guen Murroni)

•          Starboy (Dir. Joelle Bentolila)

•          Dead Birds (Dir. Johnny Kenton)

•          My Brother Is A Mermaid (Dir. Alfie Dale)

•          Marco (Dir. Saleem Haddad)

•          Deep Clean (Dir. David Wilson)

•          Dix Pix (Dir. Steven Fraser)

•          Hey You (Dir. Jared Watmuff)

•          Dubs (Dir. Anthony Greyley)

•          My Sweet Prince (Dir. Jason Bradbury)

•          My Loneliness is Killing Me (Dir. Tim Courtney)

You can read more about each film, the directors and view trailers by following this link: www.irisprize.org/the-prize-2019/bestbritish

Media assets and more information:

View the Iris Prize Best British trailer here: https://youtu.be/Yp7s2RqRaOg

More details about all 15 films here:  www.irisprize.org/the-prize-2019/bestbritish    

The names of the 36 short films competing for the Iris Prize will be announced on Friday 16 August 2019.

Early Bird Passes still available
The Early Bird Passes are VERY limited, so book now to guarantee your Iris 2019 experience for the cheapest possible price. Get tickets at www.irisprize.org/tickets

The main festival sponsors are: The Michael Bishop Foundation, Welsh Government, BFI, BBC Cymru Wales, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Pinewood Studios Group, Cardiff University, For Cardiff, Bad Wolf, Gorilla Group, Co-op Respect, University of South Wales and Cineworld. The festival also works in partnership with BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru and Stonewall Cymru.