LGBT History Month Programme
Iris on the Move: Manchester 4 - 6 February Iris on the Move: Plymouth 10 - 11 February Iris on the Move: Bournemouth 19 - 22 February Best of Iris 2019 at Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea 24 February Iris Preview: And Then We Danced at Chapter, Cardiff 27 February Best British Shorts at Theatr Clwyd, Mold 27 February Berwyn Rowlands, Festival Director, commented: “I look forward to LGBT History Month as it allows Iris to share some amazing short films with audiences across the UK. It also keeps us busy during the dark month of February and by the time it is over, Spring is almost with us! The programme of films includes a selection of the best short work from the 2019 festival including the Iris Prize winner Black Hat and the Best British winner, My Brother is a Mermaid. Another highlight of the tour will be preview screenings of And Then We Danced, a story of rivalry and desire set within the world of a prestige dancing academy in Georgia. The film is a visually ravishing drama and has secured lavish praise at festival screenings across the world, winning many awards including the Best Feature Award sponsored by Bad Wolf at Iris in 2019. The controversy surrounding the film’s premier in Georgia in 2019 only proves what we’ve been saying at Iris for some time - we should not take for granted the freedom we have secured for ourselves as LGBT+ people. Things can change very quickly in this world and more often than not it is minorities like us who are targeted. " Other highlights include 2018 winner Mikael Bundsen from Sweden returning to the UK to introduce his short film Involuntary Activist, the 10th short film made with the Iris Prize. Other film makers taking part include Alfie Dale with his 2019 Iris Prize Best British short, Your Brother is a Mermaid. Alfie will also be joined by his lead actor Cameron Maydale, who will be performing with his guitar after selected screenings. View the 2020 Iris on the Move trailer
The main festival sponsors are: The Michael Bishop Foundation, Welsh Government, the BFI awarding funds from the National Lottery, Film4, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Pinewood Studios Group, Cardiff University, BBC Cymru Wales, For Cardiff, Bad Wolf, Gorilla Group, Co-op Respect, University of South Wales, Ministry of Sound and Cineworld. The festival also works in partnership with BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru and Stonewall Cymru.
