Iris Prize LGBTQ film festival unveils shortlist for Best International Short Film for 2022
Filmmakers from India, Australia, and Norway are up for the 2022 International Short prize
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Provided (Still from Tank Girl, directed by Erich Rettstadt, from Taiwan)
The Cardiff-based Iris Prize LGBTQ Film Festival has announced the 36 films up for the prestigious Iris Prize for the best international short film, sponsored by The Michael Bishop Foundation, and the £30,000 prize.
Featuring films from 18 different countries, including three from the UK and three from Ireland, this year’s crop is made up of 21 chosen from the Iris’ partner festivals and the rest coming from a pre-selection jury.
Still from Tarneit, directed by John Sheedy, from Australia
Across nine separate programmes – A Family Affair, High Drama, Becoming, Love Without Borders, The Autumn Years, Trans Tales, Dark Desires, Queer Futures, and Documentary Showcase – the films tell stories ranging from coming-of-age teenage tales, to horror comedies, through a journey encompassing designer babies, and the moving stories of people looking for love and companionship in the autumn of their lives.
Check out a montage of the films nominated below:
Berwyn Rowlands, the Iris Prize Film Festival Director, says: “We are pleased to unveil our fantastic shortlist of the best of the best in LGBTQ+ filmmaking. We have filmmakers from 18 countries, representing full diversity, actively engaging across the LGBTQ+ community.
“The uniting factor in all 36 films is an exhilarating celebration of lives of LGBTQ+ people across the world.”
He continues, “It is especially poignant to be welcoming our domestic and international filmmakers and guests back to Cardiff, for the first in person, since 2019. We hope you come to enjoy a festival of film and also take part in the ‘fringe events’ such as the first Iris gig at the legendary Cardiff venues, Clwb Ifor Bach, and the other nightly parties during the week.”
The festival returns in person from 11 – 16 October. The box office opens on 16 September, with full festival passes, day tickets, and weekend tickets available.
Full details of programmes and showtimes can be found online at irisprize.org. People can book tickets for the Iris Prize Film Festival here.
The Attitude September/October issue is out now.
