Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival: Best British short film nominees revealed
Queer film fans will be able to watch this year's entrants online and free.
By Will Stroude
The Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival has revealed which LGBTQ short films will be battling out to be named ‘Best British Short, supported by Film4’ at this year’s festival.
15 home-grown films have made the shortlist ahead of the festival, which traditionally takes place in Cardiff but is set to take place free and online from 6-11 October this year in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
Dungarees (UK, 2020) – directed by Abel Rubinstein
That means it’ll be easier than ever for LGBTQ film fans across the globe to enjoy the films, which is just as well, because there are some cracking queer tales on offer this year.
Berwyn Rowlands, Festival Director, commented: “Congratulations to the Class of 2020, in a year where good news is at a premium, I’m delighted we have 15 superbly crafted stories to share in the Best British competition. This year was particularly competitive, with many previous Iris alumni not making the final 15.
Rhiw Goch (On the Red Hill) (UK, 2020) – directed by Anna Winstone
“I can’t wait to share these films for the first time with a UK wide audience. I hope that the many thousands who have shown an interest in Iris but have been unable to join us in Cardiff for our annual celebration of LGBT+ cinema, will get a better idea of what the fuss is all about. These films are without a doubt the best of the best.”
Tim Highsted, Senior Editor, Acquired Feature Films for Film4, commented: “The Iris Prize, with its focus on diversity, inclusion and new voices, and its setting in Cardiff, is a perfect fit for Film4. Short form content is a critical proving ground for rising talent, but with new platforms allowing for a wider range of voices to be heard, it’s also increasingly a draw for viewers.
My God, I’m Queer (UK, 2020) – directed by Matt Mahmood-Ogston
“We’re delighted to congratulate this year’s shortlisted films and look forward to giving these filmmakers a chance to reach a nationwide audience through Film4 on All 4.
The shortlist of 15 films are:
Better (UK, 2019) – directed by Michael J Ferns
Cindy (UK/France, 2020) – directed by Rosanagh Griffiths
Dungarees (UK, 2020) – directed by Abel Rubinstein
Go Home Polish (UK, 2019) – directed by Ian Smith
Just Me (UK, 2019) – directed by Adam Tyler
Mandem (UK, 2019) – directed by John Ogunmuyiwa
My God, I’m Queer (UK, 2020) – directed by Matt Mahmood-Ogston
Paint the Dragons’ Eyes (UK, 2020) – directed by James Lucas
Pompeii (UK, 2019) – directed by Harry Lighton, Marco Alessi & Matthew Jacobs Morgan
Queens (UK, 2020) – directed by Nick Bechman
Queering DI Teknolojik (UK, 2019) – directed by Timothy Smith
Rhiw Goch (On the Red Hill) (UK, 2020) – directed by Anna Winstone
The Passing (UK, 2020) – directed by Nichola Wong
The Scene (UK, 2019) – directed by James Corley
Wings (UK, 2020) – directed by Jamie Weston
The Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival takes place free and online from 6-11 October. Check out a teaser trailer for the Best British Short category below: