Best of Iris 2021 

WINNER: Iris Prize and Iris Prize Best British 2021 

Baba | 12A 
DIRECTED BY SAM ARBOR AND ADAM ALI
PRODUCER: HANNAH STEVENSON; CO-PRODUCER: SUSAN SIMNETT
WRITER: SAM ARBOR AND ADAM ALI
UK, 18 MINUTES

Living in the tunnels beneath Tripoli a queer Libyan teenager, Britannia, dreams of escape to a better life, but an unexpected discovery forces him to question whether to stay or flee from his homeland and his friends.

Iris Prize 2021 HIGHLY COMMENDED  

We Will Become Better – Sansara | PG
DIRECTOR: ANDZEJ GAVRISS
PRODUCER: LINE PRODUCER ALEXANDRA GALIUS. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER EGOR SOLOMATIN, MARIZOV MIKHAIL, EVGENY PRIMACHENKO. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER GIJS DETERMEIJER, ULIA PETROVA
WRITER: EVGENY PRIMACHENKO, ANDZEJ GAVRISS
RUSSIA, 6 MINUTES

Russian indie band Sansara made this music video as a tribute to Russia’s LGBT+ community, 12 months after the country passed legislation defining marriage solely as the union of man and woman. It’s a wonderful fusion of music and movement and a stirring tale of thwarted love, and though we can take no credit for this, it’s garnered over 1million views on YouTube since being submitted for the Iris Prize! 

Iris Prize Best British 2021 HIGHLY COMMENDED 

Cwch Deilen | U
DIRECTOR: EFA BLOSSE-MASON
PRODUCER: AMY MORRIS
WRITER: EFA BLOSSE-MASON
WALES, 8 MINUTES

 An animated love story about a leaf which becomes a boat, and fears come out of the murky waters as sea monsters and storms. Will the Leaf Boat survive the tumultuous waves?   

Iris Prize Youth Jury Award 2021
Winner 

S.A.M. | 15
DIRECTOR: LLOYD EYRE-MORGAN AND NEIL DAVID ELY
PRODUCER: NELL GREEN
WRITER: LLOYD EYRE-MORGAN AND NEIL DAVID ELY
UNITED KINGDOM, 16 MINUTES

Two young men form a connection on the swings of their local park. 

Best of Iris – Trans Stories 

Iris Prize 2021 HIGHLY COMMENDED 

God’s Daughter Dances | 12A
DIRECTOR: SUNGBIN BYUN
PRODUCER: SUJI BONG
WRITER: SUNGBIN BYUN
SOUTH KOREA, 24 MINUTES

 A transgender female dancer, Shin-mi, gets a call from the Military Manpower Administration, to attend for the Military Service Examination. Shin-mi, with everything in readiness, takes her steps to the Military Manpower Administration.  

Iris Prize Best British 2021 HIGHLY COMMENDED     

Pop | 15
DIRECTOR: MARGO ROE
PRODUCER: LUCY MEER
WRITER: MARGO ROE
ENGLAND (UK), 21 MINUTES

 Jack is a young boy exploring his own identity when he befriends a recently released ex-convict, Pop. The pair bond, but Pop’s past and his inability to control his emotions threaten to put Jack in danger. 

COOP Audience Award for best Iris Prize Short 

BIRTHDAY BOY | 15
DIRECTOR: LEO LEBEAU
PRODUCER: JAMES BELL, LEO LEBEAU
WRITER: JAMES BELL, LEO LEBEAU
UNITED KINGDOM, 20 MINUTES

Birthday Boy follows a transgender boy, Alex, as he experiences bullying at a private all girls school. He lives a double life in online games, where he feels he can express his true identity. Alex has excitedly planned a digital birthday party, however, on the day of his birthday, the bullying takes a violent turn for the worse. We experience these tragic events through his memories, as he reflects from a hospital bed. 

Despite his hardships, ultimately this is a film about acceptance, with an uplifting narrative that positively portrays a trans character.