Documentary Film Fund opens for second round of applications

• The Iris Prize Documentary Film Finance Fund Sponsored by FROOT and Aberystwyth University is open for the second round of applications
• Dr Somina 'Mena' Fombo is the first Iris Prize Documentary Film Finance Fund recipient
• "This is a fantastic opportunity for British based documentary filmmakers with LGBTQ+ stories to share”
On Monday (16 January, 2023), the organisers of Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival announced that the second round of the Iris Prize Documentary Film Finance Fund had opened. The fund is sponsored by FROOT and Aberystwyth University. A total fund of £60,000 will support three documentary films with an annual call for ideas from filmmakers each January. The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival established the fund to finance documentary films (running time: 22/25 minutes or 40 minutes) produced by emerging British LGBTQ+ filmmakers. The fund will award up to £20000 towards a production annually for at least three years. The application process is now open and will be run by the Iris Prize who will oversee the intake and shortlisting of the submissions to the Fund. The Iris Prize Team will be headed by Berwyn Rowlands (Festival Director) and Angela Clarke (BAFTA-nominated documentary filmmaker).
Angela Clarke, Iris Prize said:
"This is a fantastic opportunity for British based documentary filmmakers with LGBTQ+ stories to share. As a filmmaker who’s been involved with the Iris Prize, I’m delighted to be working with Berwyn and the team on this exciting venture and can't wait to see what ideas get submitted. It's a challenging time for the creative industry now, so it's great to be able to be a part of something that will help the filmmakers within the sector to flourish.”
The first award was made to Dr Somina 'Mena' Fombo from Bristol and she has already started work on Some Girls Hate Dresses!, a nostalgic look into the black British tomboys from yesteryear told through the lens of queer black women who wore the label with pride throughout the 1990s.   Dr Mena - documentary film fund
"This award really is about supporting passionate filmmakers with a vested interest in documentary storytelling,” said Dr Somina 'Mena' Fombo.  “I was able to bring my whole self and my whole idea to Iris Prize with flexibility to develop and evolve during the process. I would say just go for it!"
Berwyn Rowlands, Festival Director said:
“This is a major commitment to support the development of LGBTQ+ film making in the UK. This partnership allows the finished documentaries to be seen by a global audience thanks to the extensive network of OUTtv Media Group Inc which includes FROOT. We are delighted that this fund, added to our existing commitments via the Iris Prize Best British Short Supported by Film4, will see more content being created and share with a global audience. “We were spoilt for choice with some amazing projects for the first year with the Iris Prize Documentary Fund. It has been a joy working with the shortlisted film makers and my only sadness is that we had to choose one project only. I’m so proud of this fund and would like to thank Aberystwyth University and Froot for supporting the initiative. We look forward very much to what Mena will produce with us.”

Key dates for the second year are listed below:

  • Monday 16 January, 2023 - Open the call for applications.
  • Friday 31 March, 2023 - Last date for the receipt of applications.
  • April 2023 - Shortlisting process.
  • Tuesday 2 May, 2023 - Shortlist announced. Between 3 and 6 projects maximum.
  • June/July 2023 - Summer School in Aberystwyth (TBC) with support of the Theatre Film and Television Department at Aberystwyth University.
  • August/September 2023 - Announce the selected project commission.

Further details about the fund can be found here:  Documentary Film Financing Fund

Cronfa Ffilm Ddogfen ar gyfer gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau LHDTC+ newydd yn agor am yr ail rownd
  • Mae Cronfa Cyllid Ffilm Ddogfen Gwobr Iris a noddir gan FROOT a Phrifysgol Aberystwyth ar agor ar gyfer yr ail rownd o geisiadau
  • Dr Somina 'Mena' Fombo yw derbynnydd cyntaf Cronfa Cyllid Ffilm Ddogfen Gwobr Iris.
  • "Mae hwn yn gyfle gwych i wneuthurwyr ffilmiau dogfen o Brydain sydd â straeon LHDTQ+ i'w rhannu"
Ddydd Llun (16 Ionawr, 2023), cyhoeddodd trefnwyr Gŵyl Ffilm LHDTC+ Gwobr Iris, fod ail rownd Cronfa Cyllid Ffilm Ddogfen Gwobr Iris wedi agor. Noddir y gronfa gan FROOT a Phrifysgol Aberystwyth. Bydd cyfanswm cronfa o £60,000 yn cefnogi tair ffilm ddogfen gyda galwad blynyddol am syniadau gan wneuthurwyr ffilmiau bob mis Ionawr.
Sefydlodd Gŵyl Ffilm LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris y gronfa i ariannu ffilmiau dogfen (amser rhedeg: 22/25 munud neu 40 munud) a gynhyrchwyd gan wneuthurwyr ffilmiau LHDTQ+ Prydeinig sy'n dod i'r amlwg. Bydd y gronfa'n dyfarnu hyd at £20,000 tuag at gynhyrchiad yn flynyddol am o leiaf tair blynedd. Mae'r broses ymgeisio bellach ar agor a bydd yn cael ei rhedeg gan Wobr Iris a fydd yn goruchwylio'r broses o dderbyn a llunio rhestr fer o'r cyflwyniadau i'r Gronfa. Bydd Tîm Gwobr Iris yn cael ei arwain gan Berwyn Rowlands (Cyfarwyddwr yr Ŵyl) ac Angela Clarke (gwneuthurwr ffilmiau dogfen a enwebwyd am wobr BAFTA).
Dywedodd Angela Clarke, Gwobr Iris:
"Mae hwn yn gyfle gwych i wneuthurwyr ffilmiau dogfen o Brydain sydd â straeon LHDTQ+ i'w rhannu. Fel gwneuthurwraig ffilmiau sydd wedi bod yn gysylltiedig â Gwobr Iris, rwy'n falch iawn o fod yn gweithio gyda Berwyn a'r tîm ar y fenter gyffrous hon ac yn methu aros i weld pa syniadau sy'n cael eu cyflwyno. Mae'n gyfnod heriol i'r diwydiant creadigol nawr, felly mae'n wych gallu bod yn rhan o rywbeth fydd yn helpu'r gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau o fewn y sector i ffynnu."
Rhoddwyd y wobr gyntaf i Dr Somina 'Mena' Fombo o Fryste ac mae hi eisoes wedi dechrau gweithio ar Some Girls Hate Dresses!, golwg hiraethus ar y ‘tomboys’ du o flynyddoedd yn ôl drwy lygaid menywod du queer a wisgodd y label gyda balchder drwy gydol y 90au. 
"Mae'r wobr hon wir yn ymwneud â chefnogi gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau angerddol sydd â diddordeb gwirioneddol mewn adrodd straeon dogfennol," meddai Dr Somina 'Mena' Fombo. "Roeddwn i'n gallu dod â fy holl hunan a fy holl syniad i Wobr Iris gyda hyblygrwydd i ddatblygu ac esblygu yn ystod y broses. Baswn i ond yn dweud ewch amdani!"
Dywedodd Berwyn Rowlands, Cyfarwyddwr yr Ŵyl:
"Mae hwn yn ymrwymiad mawr i gefnogi datblygiad gwneud ffilmiau LHDTQ+ yn y DU. Mae'r bartneriaeth hon yn caniatáu i'r rhaglenni dogfen gorffenedig gael eu gweld gan gynulleidfa fyd-eang diolch i rwydwaith helaeth OUTtv Media Group Inc sy'n cynnwys FROOT. Rydym wrth ein bodd y bydd y gronfa hon, a ychwanegwyd at ein hymrwymiadau presennol drwy Wobr Gorau Ym Mhrydain Gwobr Iris a Gefnogir gan Film4, yn gweld mwy o gynnwys yn cael ei greu a'i rannu gyda chynulleidfa fyd-eang. "Cawsom ein sbwylio am ddewis gyda phrosiectau anhygoel am y flwyddyn gyntaf gyda Chronfa Ffilm Ddogfen Gwobr Iris. Mae wedi bod yn bleser gweithio gyda'r gwneuthurwyr ffilm sydd ar y rhestr fer a fy unig dristwch yw bod yn rhaid i ni ddewis un prosiect yn unig. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r gronfa hon a hoffwn ddiolch i Brifysgol Aberystwyth a Froot am gefnogi'r fenter. Rydyn ni'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at yr hyn y bydd Mena yn ei gynhyrchu gyda ni."

Rhestrir dyddiadau allweddol ar gyfer yr ail flwyddyn isod:

  • Dydd Llun 16 Ionawr, 2023 - Agorwch yr alwad am geisiadau.
  • Dydd Gwener 31 Mawrth, 2023 - Dyddiad olaf ar gyfer derbyn ceisiadau.
  • Ebrill 2023 - Creu rhestr fer.
  • Dydd Mawrth 2 Mai, 2023 - Cyhoeddi’r rhestr fer. Rhwng 3 a 6 phrosiect ar eu huchaf.
  • Mehefin/Gorffennaf 2023 - Ysgol Haf yn Aberystwyth (TBC) gyda chymorth Adran Ffilm a Theledu Theatr ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth.
  • Awst/Medi 2023 - Cyhoeddi'r darpar gomisiwn.

Gellir dod o hyd I fanylion pellach am y gronfa fan hyn:  Documentary Film Financing Fund