And the winner is: ·       I Don’t Want To Go Back Alone  (directed by Daniel Ribeiro, Brazil) - Iris Prize And the other winners are:  ·        The Red Bike (directed by Andrew Steggall) – Best UK Short ·        August (directed by Eldar Rapaport)- Iris Prize Best Feature Award ·        Murray Bartlett (Troy in August) Best Actor in a Feature ·        Allison Lane (Candy in Going Down In La-La Land) Best Actress in a Feature A short film about a blind 15 year old Brazilian teenager who falls in love with his new friend, Gabriel has been announced as winner of the 2011 Iris Prize – Cardiff’s International Gay and Lesbian Short Film Prize. The £25,000 prize will allow the film maker to make a new short film in the UK. At the sold out awards evening at Cardiff’s Cineworld, Jury Chair Mary Fitzpatrick announced that the international jury had selected filmmaker Daniel Ribeiro from Brazil to scoop the coveted award. Mary Fitzpatrick said, “The jury thought that I Don’t Want To Go Back Alone took a simple story out of a very jagged path and it won because hope and love should never become redundant.  “The jury this year also wanted to recognize three short films and present them with a highly commended: Fourplay San Francisco by Kyle Henry from the USA. This film shows compassion dignity and generosity.  The sex worker had the most beautiful quality of being able to empower another human being. Play Name by Dave Snyder from Thailand and USA, a film about the devasting collision of mis-matched hopes and expectations. Hold On Tight by Anna Rodgers from Ireland, which reminds us that it still isn’t easy being gay today and illuminated the internal shame that many LGBT people feel.
A special mention was also given to Bald Guy by Maria Bock from Norway for being quite simlpy a joyous experience, ” added Mary Fitzpatrick. It was also announced that the festival’s award for best feature film was won by Eldar Rapaport for August. The Award carries a £1,000 cash prize donated by Independent Financial Adviser Martin Briggs from Cardiff and is selected by the Friends of Iris. The Leader of Cardiff Council, Rodney Berman announced that the Best UK Short was won by director Andrew Steggall for his film The Red Bike.  Andrew will be invited to be a member of the 2012 Iris Prize International Jury.  Two new public awards for best actor and best actress in a feature film were presented to Murray Bartlett for his performance as Troy in the film August and Allison Lane for her performance as Candy in Going Down in La-La Land.  Both awards were sponsored by the London Women’s Clinic. All of the film makers who travelled to Wales were hosted by the Friends of Iris, individuals who open their homes to the makers of the 30 short listed films from as far a field as Japan, Israel, Switzerland, France, Germany, Norway and the United States.  The four day festival also included eight of the latest gay and lesbian feature films, with all enjoying their UK premieres at the festival. The international jury included last year’s winner Magnus Mork from the Norway, actor Murray Bartlett from New York, author Sarah Waters and film makers, actors and industry experts from across the continents.

•  The Iris Prize Festival is a four day event which includes screenings of the 30 short films competing for the Iris Prize, premiere screenings of 6 new feature films, panel sessions, networking opportunities, parties and a glittering awards show.

• The Iris Prize is an international gay and lesbian short film prize that unites a global network of film festivals - located in Tel Aviv, Hamburg, Brazil, Austin, Hong Kong, London, Toronto, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Dublin, Philadelphia, Sydney, Miami, Chicago, Melbourne and Mumbai – who annually nominate a short film to compete for the Iris Prize.
• The 2012 Iris Prize Festival will take place in Cardiff, Wales (UK) from 10th – 14th October.
• The Iris Prize – Cardiff’s International Gay and Lesbian Short Film Prize is the only LGBT short film prize in the world which allows the winner to make a new film. Iris is more than just a trophy that gathers dust or a certificate that yellows on the wall. Iris is what film makers need – funding, support and guidance. Past winners, include Dee Rees (US) – 2007, Till Kleinert (Germany) – 2008, Eldar Rapaport (Israel/US) – 2009 and Magnus Mork (Norway) – 2010