Iris Prize Festival Director Berwyn Rowlands said: “The Community Award is just one of the many ways filmmakers can get involved with Iris. You can aim high and go straight for the Iris Prize or start with a project rooted in your own community. At Iris, we want LGBTQ+ stories to reach the widest possible audience – and the brilliant thing is, those stories come in all shapes and sizes.”
Community Award Winner: Uncanny Waters directed by Ray Malone and Steve Melia
Ray (she/they) is the founder of Heads Bodies Legs Collective, bringing over a decade of experience delivering interdisciplinary projects across cultural institutions and community spaces. Their practice spans live performance, film, photography and hybrid storytelling, using each form to explore queer ancestry, feminist histories and the uncanny. Her work responds to the rise of fascism through anti fascist world building and practices of collective care.The jury said: “We feel this is a defiant, optimistic, and in parts - wonderfully bonkers joy filled community project worthy of recognition. “There’s a tangible display of intergenerational community inclusion in a group which lets every generation of its 60-year age gap participants have a voice and be seen. There’s a sense of shared ideas, fun, encouragement, empathy and maybe most importantly, anger. Relevant, unapologetic anger at world events, and issues closer to home. The collective strength and collaboration of this film glistens off the screen like the water they quote as 'transformative and resistant', and as they say in the film - ‘this is the power of queer joy...' “We particularly resonated with a quote from the film showing strength and resilience, which we feel could inspire others feeling overwhelmed and under supported right now. ‘When we have everybody together it’s inspiring to look at our heritage and go… we’ve survived this before. How can we come together to fight the injustices that we’re facing?’
Education Awards Winner: Kiss Me Thru the Phone directed by Scarlett J. Stribley
Scarlett J. Stribley is a British-American writer and director based in Greater Manchester, specialising in experimental fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, and queer cinema. They are currently studying Film Production at the University of Salford.The jury said: “A very strong individual cinematic voice for me. As soon as the film starts you are immediately struck by its cinematography, colour, lighting, soundtrack and overall atmosphere. There is a clear immediate sense of ambition and risk in the filmmaking.”
Micro-short Winner: Clecs/Gossip directed by Harri Shanahan
Harri Shanahan is a filmmaker, artist and animator based in Manchester UK. Harri co-directed and created animation for the feature documentary, Rebel Dykes (Bohemia Media/BFI 2021). Harri learned animation independently through experimentation as part of a wider art practice that encompasses video, painting and performance, before gaining an MA in animation in 2019. Harri produces and directs music videos and short artist films and was also a member of alternative band and Feminist art collective ILL, whose debut album was released in 2019. Welsh narration and English subtitles.The jury said: “This wonderfully cheeky short animation brought together a charming combination of poetry, unique visual style and voice over / sound design to tell a story of two older women in love from the perspective of a younger woman. In just a few minutes I left like I was taken along for the train ride and captivated by this craftily made short.”
The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival is supported by the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery Good Cause funding.
The main festival sponsors are: The Michael Bishop Foundation; Creative Wales, a Welsh Government agency that supports the creative sectors in Wales; the BFI awarding funds from The National Lottery; Ffilm Cymru Wales; Film4; University of South Wales; Co-op Respect; Ymddiried - Media Grants Cymru, Bad Wolf; S4C; Gorilla Group; Pinewood Studios; Attitude Magazine; Diva Magazine; Movie Marker; The Ministry Venues, British Council Wales, and Transport for Wales. The festival also works in partnership BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru, and Visit Cardiff.
Cyhoeddi enillwyr gwobrau ffilmiau Cymuned, Addysg a Micro-fer Gwobr Iris
- 21 o ffilmiau byrion yn cystadlu am wobrau Cymuned, Addysg a Micro-fer Gwobr Iris
- Ffilm iaith Gymraeg yn ennill y Wobr Micro-fer
- Noddir gwobrau Cymuned, Addysg a Micro-fer Gwobr Iris gan Mark Williams, er cof am ei chwaer Rose Taylor Cyflwynir y gwobrau gan Leila Navabi
- “Yn Iris, rydym am i straeon LHDTQ+ gyrraedd y gynulleidfa ehangaf bosibl – a’r peth gwych yw bod y straeon hynny yn dod ym mhob siâp a maint.” Berwyn Rowlands
Cafodd y ffilmiau a gyrhaeddodd y rhestr fer ym mhob categori eu dangos ddydd Mercher, 14 Hydref, gyda’r cyhoeddiad am yr enillydd yn dilyn y dangosiadau. Cyflwynwyd y gwobrau gan Leila Navabi. Roedd y panel beirniaid yn cynnwys Efa Blosse-Mason, Katie White, Ryan Rowe, a Paul Davies (Stumpy).
Dywedodd Berwyn Rowlands, Cyfarwyddwr Gŵyl Gwobr Iris: “Dim ond un o’r ffyrdd niferus y gall gwneuthurwyr ffilm gymryd rhan yn Iris yw’r Wobr Gymuned. Gallwch anelu’n uchel a mynd yn syth am Wobr Iris, neu ddechrau gyda phrosiect sydd wedi’i wreiddio yn eich cymuned eich hun. Yn Iris, rydym am i straeon LHDTQ+ gyrraedd y gynulleidfa ehangaf bosibl – a’r peth gwych yw bod y straeon hynny yn dod ym mhob siâp a maint.”
Enilydd Gwobr Gymuned: Uncanny Waters gan Ray Malone a Steve Melia
Ray (hi/nhw) yw sylfaenydd Heads Bodies Legs Collective, gan ddod â dros ddegawd o brofiad o gyflwyno prosiectau rhyngddisgyblaethol ar draws sefydliadau diwylliannol a mannau cymunedol. Mae eu harfer yn cwmpasu perfformiadau byw, ffilm, ffotograffiaeth ac adrodd straeon hybrid, gan ddefnyddio pob ffurf i archwilio hynafiaeth cwiar, hanesion ffeministaidd a'r rhyfeddol. Mae ei gwaith yn ymateb i gynnydd ffasgiaeth trwy adeiladu byd gwrth-ffasgaidd ac arferion gofal cyfunol.Dywedodd y rheithgor: “Rydym yn teimlo bod hwn yn brosiect cymunedol herfeiddiol, optimistaidd, ac mewn rhannau - rhyfeddol o wallgof, llawn llawenydd sy'n deilwng o gydnabyddiaeth. “Mae arddangosfa pendant o gynhwysiant cymunedol rhyng-genhedlaethol mewn grŵp sy'n gadael i bob cenhedlaeth o'i gyfranogwyr bwlch oedran 60 mlynedd gael llais a chael eu gweld. Mae yna ymdeimlad o syniadau a rennir, hwyl, anogaeth, empathi ac efallai'n bwysicaf oll, dicter. Dicter perthnasol, heb ymddiheuro at ddigwyddiadau'r byd, a materion yn nes at adref. “Mae cryfder cyfunol a chydweithrediad y ffilm hon yn disgleirio oddi ar y sgrin fel y dŵr maen nhw'n ei ddyfynnu fel 'trawsnewidiol a gwrthsefyll', ac fel maen nhw'n dweud yn y ffilm - 'dyma bŵer llawenydd cwiar...' “Fe wnaethon ni atseinio’n arbennig gyda dyfyniad o’r ffilm yn dangos cryfder a gwytnwch, a theimlwn y gallai hynny ysbrydoli eraill i deimlo eu bod yn cael eu gorlethu a’u diffyg cefnogaeth ar hyn o bryd. ‘When we have everybody together it’s inspiring to look at our heritage and go… we’ve survived this before. How can we come together to fight the injustices that we’re facing?’
Enillydd Gwobr Addysg: Kiss Me Thru the Phone gan Scarlett J. Stribley
Mae Scarlett J. Stribley yn awdur a chyfarwyddwr Prydeinig-Americanaidd sy'n gweithio ym Mhrif Ardal Manceinion, ac yn arbenigo mewn ffuglen arbrofol, ffuglen wyddonol, ffantasi a sinema cwiar. Ar hyn o bryd, maent yn astudio Cynhyrchu Ffilm ym Mhrifysgol Salford.Dywedodd y panel beirniaid: “Llais sinematig unigol cryf iawn yn fy marn i. Cyn gynted ag y mae'r ffilm yn dechrau, cewch eich taro ar unwaith gan ei sinematograffi, ei lliwiau, ei goleuo, ei thrac sain a'i haergylch gyffredinol. Mae ymdeimlad clir ac uniongyrchol o uchelgais a mentro yn y broses o wneud y ffilm.”
Enillydd Ffilm Ficro-fer: Clecs/Gossip gan Harri Shanahan
Mae Harri Shanahan yn wneuthurwr ffilmiau, yn artist ac yn animeiddiwr sy'n gweithio ym Manceinion, y DU. Cyd-gyfarwyddodd Harri y ffilm ddogfen nodwedd Rebel Dykes (Bohemia Media/BFI 2021) a chreu'r animeiddiad ar ei chyfer. Dysgodd Harri animeiddio'n annibynnol trwy arbrofi fel rhan o ymarfer artistig ehangach sy'n cynnwys fideo, paentio a pherfformio, cyn ennill gradd MA mewn animeiddio yn 2019. Mae Harri yn cynhyrchu ac yn cyfarwyddo fideos cerddoriaeth a ffilmiau artist byr; roedd Harri hefyd yn aelod o'r band amgen a'r grŵp celf Ffeministaidd ILL, a ryddhaodd eu halbwm cyntaf yn 2019. Adroddiad yn Gymraeg ac is-deitlau Saesneg.Dywedodd y panel beirniaid: "Daeth yr animeiddiad byr, hyfryd o ddireidus hwn â chyfuniad swynol o farddoniaeth, steil gweledol unigryw a dyluniad sain/lleisiau cefndir ynghyd i adrodd stori am ddwy ddynes hŷn mewn cariad, o safbwynt dynes iau. Mewn ychydig funudau yn unig, teimlais fy mod wedi mynd ar y daith trên ac wedi fy swyno gan y ffilm fer hon a grëwyd mor gelfydd."
Cefnogir Gŵyl Ffilmiau LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris gan Gronfa Prosiectau Cynulleidfa'r BFI (Loteri Genedlaethol), sy'n dyfarnu cyllid Loteri Genedlaethol ar gyfer Achosion Da.
Prif noddwyr yr ŵyl yw: Sefydliad Michael Bishop; Cymru Greadigol, un o asiantaethau Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n cefnogi'r sectorau creadigol yng Nghymru; y BFI sy'n dyfarnu arian gan y Loteri Genedlaethol; Ffilm Cymru Wales; Film4; Prifysgol De Cymru; Co-op Respect; Ymddiried - Media Grants Cymru; Bad Wolf; S4C; Grŵp Gorilla; Pinewood Studios; Cylchgrawn Attitude; Cylchgrawn Diva; Movie Marker; The Ministry Venues; Trafnidiaeth Cymru; a Chyngor Prydeinig Cymru. Mae'r ŵyl hefyd yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru a Croeso Caerdydd.
