2026 Iris Prize

Big Bass

What does it mean to feel seen by others before you’re ready to see yourself? A filmmaker travels back to 1997 to revisit a dream-like memory from second grade that centres around her queer identity, her legendary PE teacher and a mysterious large plastic fish.

DIRECTOR:

Drew Dickler

PRODUCER:

Nikki F Heyman, Jennie Kamin, David Sherwin

WRITER:

Drew Dickler

RELEASE YEAR:

2025

USA, 14 mins, Language: English

Director’s bio

Drew Dickler (She/Her/Hers) is a documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Deep Dive Films. Her films explore themes of identity, resilience and social justice. She produced What Will I Become? (2026), which won the Amnesty International Film Award at the Berlinale. Her award-winning short Big Bass (2025) has screened at festivals around the world, and her debut feature Fireboys (2020) streamed on HBO.

Beth mae’n ei olygu i deimlo eich bod yn cael eich gweld gan eraill cyn eich bod yn barod i weld eich hun? Mae gwneuthurwr ffilmiau yn teithio yn ôl i 1997 i ailymweld â chof tebyg i freuddwyd o flwyddyn dau yn yr ysgol sy’n canolbwyntio ar ei hunaniaeth cwiar, ei hathro Addysg Gorfforol chwedlonol, a physgodyn plastig mawr dirgel.

Bywgraffiad y cyfarwyddwr

Gwneuthurwr ffilmiau dogfen a chyd-sylfaenydd Deep Dive Films yw Drew Dickler (Hi/Hi/Ei). Mae ei ffilmiau’n archwilio themâu hunaniaeth, gwytnwch a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol. Cynhyrchodd What Will I Become? (2026), a enillodd Wobr Ffilm Amnest Rhyngwladol yn y Berlinale. Mae ei ffilm fer arobryn Big Bass (2025) wedi dangos mewn gwyliau ledled y byd, ac mae ei ffilm nodwedd gyntaf Fireboys (2020) wedi’i ffrydio ar HBO.

2026 Iris Prize Shortlist