2026 Iris Prize

Charlie is Not a Boy

Set within an allegorical America, in a crumbling household ruled by a perverted butcher of a father, a hushed soul clings to the magic of his eccentric grandmother, until his safe haven unravels, forcing him to choose between the masks he wears and his authentic self.

DIRECTOR:

Pol Kurucz

PRODUCER:

Pol Kurucz and Stalter Judit

WRITER:

Pol Kurucz and Pablo Larcuen

RELEASE YEAR:

2026

USA, France, Hungary, 13 mins, Language: English

Director’s bio

LA-based French visual artist and director Pol Kurucz (He/Him/His) explores human singularity by challenging social, gender, and aesthetic norms. To evade the stiff mould of contemporary trends and invoke childlike wonder, he combines highly stylized worlds, reimagined archetypes, and retro-surreal narratives.

Wedi’i osod mewn America alegorïaidd, mewn cartref sy’n dadfeilio ac sy’n cael ei reoli gan gigydd gwyrdroëdig o dad, mae enaid tawel yn glynu wrth hud ei nain ecsentrig, nes bod ei hafan ddiogel yn dadfeilio, gan ei orfodi i ddewis rhwng y masgiau y mae’n eu gwisgo a’i hunan ddilys.

Bywgraffiad y Cyfarwyddwr

Mae’r artist gweledol a chyfarwyddwr Ffrengig Pol Kurucz (Ef/Ef/Ei) sy’n byw yn Los Angeles, yn archwilio unigolrwydd dynol trwy herio normau cymdeithasol, rhywedd ac esthetig. Er mwyn osgoi mowld anhyblyg tueddiadau cyfoes ac ysgogi rhyfeddod plentynnaidd, mae’n cyfuno bydoedd wedi’u steilio’n fawr, archeteipiau wedi’u hail-ddychmygu, a naratifau retro-swrrealaidd.