Iris Productions

Colonial Gods

Dee Rees’ new Iris Prize film Colonial Gods is set in contemporary Butetown, also known as Cardiff Bay and Tiger Bay. A gritty, realistic and poignant short drama about the challenges facing a changing community represented by Abdi and Izi’s two very different responses to a world of place and people in transition.

DIRECTOR:

Dee Rees

PRODUCER:

Nekisa Cooper

WRITER:

Dee Rees

CAST:

Said Mohammed, Cornell John

RELEASE YEAR:

2009

UK/US, 29 mins

Set in Cardiff’s Butetown, Colonial Gods is a gritty, realistic and poignant short drama about the challenges facing a changing community, represented by Abdi and Izi’s two very different responses to a world in transition.

Colonial Gods, written and directed by Dee Rees, was the first Iris Production made with a winner of the Iris Prize, in 2009. It was no surprise for those who remember her multi award-winning short Pariah, which won the first Iris Prize in 2007, that Dee Rees was nominated for an Oscar ten years later. Following a meeting with Team Iris at Sundance 2008, Dee returned to Cardiff in October to sit on the Iris Prize International Jury. During her stay in Cardiff, Dee was able to reach out to members of the multicultural community of Cardiff Bay and the story of Colonial Gods started taking shape.

 

Colonial Gods is also available to purchase as part of Boys on Film 9 – Youth in Trouble, from Peccadillo Pictures.

Festival Screenings:

  • October 2009: Iris Prize Festival, Cardiff, Wales (World Premiere)
  • March 2010: London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, UK
  • March 2010: Fusion, Outfest, LA, US
  • June 2010: Palm Springs Shortfest, US
  • October 2010: Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, US
  • May 2011: Toronto LGBT Film Festival, Canada