2026 Best British

Bluebird

Noah leaves London behind for the industrial banks of the Thames, where they’re invited into a state of in-between, as the city fades away and the river turns to sea.

DIRECTOR:

Maya Yoncali

PRODUCER:

Maya Yoncali

WRITER:

Zohrab Yoncali

RELEASE YEAR:

2026

UK, 18 mins

Director’s bio
Maya Yoncali (She/Her/Hers) is a British-Polish-Armenian director and former contemporary dancer. She creates work that explores emotional and psychological truths through a blend of movement, symbolism, and narrative storytelling. Being selected for the final shortlist of the 2026 Iris Prize Best British Short marks her first major film festival debut.

Mae Noah yn gadael Llundain am lannau diwydiannol afon Tafwys, lle cânt eu gwahodd i gyflwr o bontio, wrth i’r ddinas ddiflannu a’r afon droi’n fôr.

Bywgraffiadur y Cyfarwyddwr

Mae Maya Yoncali (Hi/Hi/Ei) yn gyfarwyddwr Prydeinig-Pwylaidd-Armenaidd ac yn gyn-ddawnsiwr cyfoes. Mae hi’n creu gwaith sy’n archwilio gwirioneddau emosiynol a seicolegol trwy gyfuniad o symudiad, symbolaeth, ac adrodd straeon naratif. Mae cael ei dewis ar gyfer rhestr fer derfynol Gwobr Iris am y Ffilm Fer Gorau Ym Mhrydain 2026 yn nodi ei hymddangosiad cyntaf mewn gŵyl ffilm fawr.

2026 Best British Shortlist