Iris members get priority access to tickets before general sale.
General Box Office opens Monday 7 September
The 35 films competing for the £40,000 Iris Prize 2026 will screen across nine specially curated programmes throughout Iris20. From faith, family and cultural expectations to companionship, masculinity, identity and growing up, each programme brings together stories connected by a shared theme.
Screenings take place from Tuesday 13 to Saturday 17 October, giving you plenty of opportunities to discover this year’s Iris Prize shortlist.
Can’t make it to Cardiff? All nine programmes will also be available on Iris Online across the UK until 31 October, where the films will compete for the Iris Prize Co-op Audience Award — giving you the chance to watch and vote for your favourite.
A strained reunion, friction at a funeral, and taking back control using Buddhism. This collection of films explores the role of religion and spirituality in shaping identity.
TUE 13 OCT 10 AM
A sensual secret, a nighttime companion, really getting to know your family, and an emotional night in the takeaway. This collection of films delves into the hidden corners of identity.
La Moto (The Motorcycle) Dir. Matteo Giampetruzzi. Italy/Denmark/Spain. 2025. 20 mins.
The Hold Dir. Ashley Panton. UK. 2025. 12 mins.
Seahorse Dir. Leo Tabosa. Brazil. 2024. 22 mins.
Magid / Zafar Dir. Luís Hindman. UK. 2025. 19 mins.
TUE 13 OCT 12 PM
Preparing for the school show, a sibling dispute, upheaving familial norms, and a close-knit cricket team. This collection of films looks at how cultural expectations shape communities and the individuals within them.
TUE 13 OCT 3 PM
A new kind of mystery to solve, siblings reconnecting, examining lesbian media, a journey of self, and taking the time to make a connection. This collection of films explores growing up and the uncertain path towards adulthood.
WED 14 OCT 12 PM
A family bracing for loss, excluded at a wake, seeking company in an old friend, and a complicated history resurfacing. This collection of films deals with disconnect in familial relationships.
THU 15 OCT 12 PM
A lifetime of performance, an adrenaline-fueled hobby, trying to impress on a first date, and finding connection in an unlikely place. This collection of films looks at the adversity faced in making the decision to be yourself.
THU 15 OCT 3 PM
Persisting in the public eye, a curious family dynamic, unleashing the harm of repressed emotions, and camaraderie in the Yorkshire mines. This collection of films engages with the conventions and complexities of masculinity.
THU 15 OCT 7 PM
Reunited with a childhood role model, heartwarming tales of love, upholding a fantasy life, and an intergenerational friendship. This collection of films studies themes of companionship in its many forms.
FRI 16 OCT 12 PM
A new apprentice at school, a repressed police officer, and an unwelcome mechanic. This collection of films is centered on the upheaval of crossing paths with a stranger and altering the course of your life.
SAT 17 OCT 10 AM
