Blackout by Chris Urch wins Iris Prize Best British Short, sponsored by Film4

• Special mentions to three other British shorts
• Performance awards announced in Best Performance in a Female Role; Best Performance in a Male role; and Best Performance in a role Beyond the Binary
• “When we launched the Iris Prize we wanted to see excellence in storytelling, and we have seen that improve year on year.” Berwyn Rowlands
Tim Highsted (Channel 4) with Chris Urch (Director, Blackout)

Photo - Tim Highsted (Channel 4) with Chris Urch (Director, Blackout)

The organisers of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival – celebrating global stories and Cardiff charm are thrilled to announce that the winner of the Iris Prize Best British Short Film Award is Chris Urch, for his film Blackout. This is Chris Urch’s first outing as a director and was named winner during the Best British Day Gala on Friday, 17 October, at 10pm, at Vue Cinema, Stadium Plaza, Cardiff. This is the first year that all 15 Best British shortlisted films have been shown on one day, culminating in a Gala Evening celebrating British short film making.

Watch Blackout on Channel 4

The winner of the Iris Prize Best British award receives an exclusive screening of their film at Pinewood Studios and a welcome reception with drinks and canapes sponsored by Pinewood Group. They will also be invited to be part of the 2026 Iris Prize Best British Jury. All films in the Best British 2025 shortlist will be available on Channel 4 streaming and broadcast over the next 12 months. After the end of the Channel 4 window the Best British Short nominated films will be offered a non-exclusive second window on OUTTv‘s global platforms.
Blackout. Dir. Chris Urch - 2025 Iris Prize Best British Winner
Blackout. Dir. Chris Urch - 2025 Iris Prize Best British Winner
Blackout, directed by Chris Urch, tells the story of a young man living in a high-rise apartment who is disturbed by domestic violence in the flat next door. He soon comes to realise that violence isn’t always on the outside – sometimes it’s with us all along. Urch is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter having been part of the writing team behind Steve McQueen's critically acclaimed series, Small Axe.
Tim Highsted, Senior Editor, Acquired Feature Films at Channel 4, and Chair of the Best British Jury said: “It was an honour to be a chair once again with The Iris Prize as it allows LGBTQIA stories to be told and gives a platform to emerging talent. Getting to watch all these amazing shorts was a pleasure. However, we could only choose one winner. The jury awarded Blackout the Best British Short for its subtle and understated power in which it tells a story about relationships, control and violence, featuring fine performances and photography.”
The Best British jury gave special mention to the following three films: A movingly tender animation, based on Dean Atta’s eponymous poem, sees Edan (19) and Dula (18) on a journey of self-acceptance and love – for each other and themselves.
  • Demons, directed by Emmanuel Imani
A London cop returns to Lagos, risking everything to avenge his lover's death, battling corruption and confronting his own demons in a heart-wrenching quest for justice. Kaleb reunites with his sister after years apart following his transition, but to connect with each other they first must come to terms with what drove them apart.
Berwyn Rowlands, Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival Director, said: “The 15 films shortlisted confirm that the quality of queer storytelling in the UK is in rude health. When we launched the Iris Prize we wanted to see excellence in storytelling, and we have seen that improve year on year. “The Iris Prize Best British awards are sponsored by Film4 and all the Best British shortlisted films will be released on Channel 4 streaming from tonight (17 October).  This will allow a new audience to experience these stories, and this increased visibility feeds back to the filmmaking process and we eventually get to see excellence in storytelling.”
Here are the Best British Performance awards winners:
2025 Winner - Best Performance in a Female Role
2025 Winner - Best Performance in a Female Role
Best Performance in a Female Role – Kat Ronney as Ricky in Hot Young Geeks Seek Blood-Sucking Freak, by Heath Virgoe
Jury member Louisa Connolly-Burnham said: “I was completely captivated by Kat’s performance as Ricky in Hot Young Geeks Seek Blood-Sucking Freak. Comedy is one of the hardest genres to master, relying so heavily on timing, energy, and nuance—and Kat has all of this in abundance. She brings an infectious vitality to the film, with comic timing that is pitch-perfect, but also carries the ability to shift gears and move us deeply. Ricky is both hilarious and profoundly lovable, and Kat makes you laugh out loud while also breaking your heart. Her fierce loyalty and love for her friend and flatmate Max, played beautifully by Angus Stobie, are especially moving. The chemistry between all three leads is tender, warm, and irresistible, making Ricky a protagonist you can’t help but root for."
2025 Winner - Best Performance in a Male Role
2025 Winner - Best Performance in a Male Role
Best Performance in a Male Role – Jay Newton as Alan in Sleazy Tiger, by James Ley
Jury member Denis Grindel said: “Jay led this wild, dark comedy with total control and captivating charisma, never missing a beat in the quick pace of the narrative with his sharp, grounded comedic performance — all while maintaining Alan’s humanity. He was bold, funny, compelling, and in the final moments gave us vulnerability and honesty that was truly captivating. I was with him the entire way on this journey through Alan's shame and ultimate self-acceptance and love.”
2025 Winner - Best Performacne in a Non Binary Role
2025 Winner - Best Performance in a Non Binary Role
Best Performance in a Role Beyond the Binary – Leah Harvey as Bills, in Solers United, by Sara Harrak
Jury member Ashley Goh said: “My choice for the winner of Best Performance in a Role Beyond the Binary is Leah Harvey as Bills for Solers United. Leah was beautifully characterised from Bills' first appearance onscreen, portraying their conflicted plight with nuance and clarity. Leah just has an ease that draws you in to Bills' life without doing too much and was a joy to watch from start to finish.”

Watch all 3 Best British Programmes on Channel 4

The Iris Prize Festival has received support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.

Iris Online is available until 7 November 2025.

Full details about Iris can be found here:  www.irisprize.org    

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; Transport for Wales; Stadium Plaza; and OUTflix. The festival also works in partnership with BAFTA Cymru and Pride Cymru.
Blackout gan Chris Urch yn ennill Gwobr Iris am y Ffilm Fer Gorau Ym Mhrydain a noddir gan Film4
  • Crybwylliadau arbennig i dair ffilm fer Brydeinig arall
  • Cyhoeddwyd gwobrau perfformiad ar gyfer y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Fenywaidd; y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Wrywaidd; a'r Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Tu Hwnt i'r Deuaidd
  • “Pan lansiwyd Gwobr Iris, roeddem am weld rhagoriaeth mewn adrodd straeon, ac rydym wedi gweld hynny'n gwella o flwyddyn i flwyddyn.” Berwyn Rowlands
Mae trefnwyr Gŵyl Ffilm LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris – sy'n dathlu straeon byd-eang a swyn Caerdydd – wrth eu bodd yn cyhoeddi mai Chris Urch yw enillydd Gwobr Ffilm Fer Gorau Ym Mhrydain Gwobr Iris, am ei ffilm Blackout. Dyma ymddangosiad cyntaf Chris Urch fel cyfarwyddwr ac fe'i henwyd yn enillydd yn ystod Gala Diwrnod y Gorau Ym Mhrydain ddydd Gwener, 17 Hydref, am 10pm, yn Sinema Vue, Plasa'r Stadiwm, Caerdydd. Dyma'r flwyddyn gyntaf i bob un o'r 15 ffilm Gorau Y, Mhrydain a oedd ar y rhestr fer gael eu dangos ar un diwrnod, gan arwain at Noson Gala yn dathlu gwneud ffilmiau byrion Prydeinig.
Mae enillydd gwobr Gorau Ym Mhrydain Gwobr Iris yn derbyn dangosiad unigryw o'u ffilm yn Stiwdios Pinewood a derbyniad croeso gyda diodydd a chanapés a noddir gan y Pinewood Group. Byddant hefyd yn cael eu gwahodd i fod yn rhan o Reithgor Gorau Ym Mhrydain Gwobr Iris 2026. Bydd pob ffilm ar restr fer Gorau Ym Mhrydain 2025 ar gael ar ffrydio a darlledu ar Channel 4 dros y 12 mis nesaf. Ar ôl diwedd ffenestr Channel 4, bydd y ffilmiau Gorau Ym Mhrydain yn cael cynnig ail ffenestr an-gyfyngedig ar lwyfannau byd-eang OUTTv.
Mae Blackout, dan gyfarwyddyd Chris Urch, yn adrodd hanes dyn ifanc sy'n byw mewn fflat uchel sy'n cael ei aflonyddu gan drais domestig yn y fflat drws nesaf. Yn fuan mae'n sylweddoli nad yw trais bob amser ar y tu allan - weithiau mae gyda ni drwy'r amser. Mae Urch yn ddramodydd ac yn sgriptiwr arobryn ar ôl bod yn rhan o'r tîm ysgrifennu y tu ôl i gyfres Steve McQueen, Small Axe, a gafodd glod gan y beirniaid.
Dywedodd Tim Highsted, Uwch Olygydd, Ffilmiau Nodwedd a Gaffaelwyd yn Channel 4, a Chadeirydd y Rheithgor Gorau Ym Mhrydain: “Roedd yn anrhydedd bod yn gadeirydd unwaith eto gyda Gwobr Iris gan ei bod yn caniatáu i straeon LHDTQIA gael eu hadrodd ac yn rhoi llwyfan i dalent sy'n dod i'r amlwg. Roedd cael gwylio'r holl ffilmiau byrion anhygoel hyn yn bleser. Fodd bynnag, dim ond un enillydd y gallem ei ddewis. Dyfarnodd y rheithgor y Ffilm Fer Gorau Ym Mhrydain i Blackout am ei phŵer cynnil a thanseiliedig lle mae'n adrodd stori am berthnasoedd, rheolaeth a thrais, gan gynnwys perfformiadau a ffotograffiaeth dda.”
Rhoddodd y rheithgor Gorau Ym Mhrydain sylw arbennig i'r tair ffilm ganlynol:
  • Two Black Boys in Paradise, cyfarwyddwyd gan Baz Sells
Mae animeiddiad tyner a chyffrous, yn seiliedig ar gerdd o'r un enw gan Dean Atta, yn gweld Edan (19) a Dula (18) ar daith o hunan-dderbyniad a chariad – i'w gilydd ac iddyn nhw eu hunain.
  • Demons, cyfarwyddwyd gan Emmanuel Imani
Mae plismon o Lundain yn dychwelyd i Lagos, gan beryglu popeth i ddial am farwolaeth ei gariad, brwydro yn erbyn llygredd ac wynebu ei gythreuliaid ei hun mewn ymgais dorcalonnus am gyfiawnder.
  • Man Enough, cyfarwyddwyd gan Beru Tessema
Mae Kaleb yn ailuno â'i chwaer ar ôl blynyddoedd ar wahân yn dilyn ei drawsnewidiad, ond er mwyn cysylltu â'i gilydd rhaid iddynt yn gyntaf ddod i delerau â'r hyn a'u gyrrodd ar wahân.
Dywedodd Berwyn Rowlands, Cyfarwyddwr Gŵyl Ffilm LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris: “Mae’r 15 ffilm ar y rhestr fer yn cadarnhau bod ansawdd adrodd straeon cwiar yn y DU mewn cyflwr arbennig. Pan lansiwyd Gwobr Iris, roedden ni eisiau gweld rhagoriaeth mewn adrodd straeon, ac rydym wedi gweld hynny’n gwella o flwyddyn i flwyddyn. “Mae gwobrau Gorau Ym Mhrydain Gwobr Iris yn cael eu noddi gan Film4 a bydd yr holl ffilmiau Gorau Ym Mhrydain ar y rhestr fer yn cael eu rhyddhau ar ffrydio Channel 4 o heno (17 Hydref). Bydd hyn yn caniatáu i gynulleidfa newydd brofi’r straeon hyn, ac mae’r gwelededd cynyddol hwn yn bwydo’n ôl i’r broses gwneud ffilmiau ac yn y pen draw, rydym yn cael gweld rhagoriaeth mewn adrodd straeon.”
Dyma enillwyr gwobrau’r Perfformiad Prydeinig Gorau: Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Fenywaidd – Kat Ronney fel Ricky yn Hot Young Geeks Seek Blood-Sucking Freak, gan Heath Virgoe
Dywedodd aelod y rheithgor Louisa Connolly-Burnham: “Cefais fy swyno’n llwyr gan berfformiad Kat fel Ricky yn Hot Young Geeks Seek Blood-Sucking Freak. Mae comedi yn un o’r genres anoddaf i’w meistroli, gan ddibynnu cymaint ar amseru, egni, a naws—ac mae gan Kat hyn i gyd yn helaeth. Mae hi’n dod â bywiogrwydd heintus i’r ffilm, gydag amseru comig sy’n berffaith, ond sydd hefyd â’r gallu i newid gêr a’n cyffwrdd yn ddwfn. Mae Ricky yn ddoniol iawn ac yn hynod annwyl, ac mae Kat yn gwneud i chi chwerthin yn uchel tra hefyd yn torri’ch calon. Mae ei theyrngarwch ffyrnig a’i chariad at ei ffrind a’i chyd-letywr Max, a chwaraeir yn hyfryd gan Angus Stobie, yn arbennig o gyffrous. Mae’r cemeg rhwng y tri phrif gymeriad yn dyner, yn gynnes, ac yn anorchfygol, gan wneud Ricky yn brif gymeriad na allwch chi helpu ond ei gefnogi.”
Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Wrywaidd – Jay Newton fel Alan yn Sleazy Tiger, gan James Ley
Dywedodd aelod y rheithgor Denis Grindel: “Arweiniodd Jay y gomedi wyllt, dywyll hon gyda rheolaeth lwyr a charisma cyfareddol, heb golli curiad yng nghyflymder cyflym y naratif gyda'i berfformiad comig miniog, daearol — a hynny i gyd wrth gynnal dynoliaeth Alan. Roedd yn feiddgar, yn ddoniol, yn gymhellol, ac yn yr eiliadau olaf rhoddodd inni fregusrwydd a gonestrwydd a oedd yn wirioneddol gyfareddol. Roeddwn i gydag ef yr holl ffordd ar y daith hon trwy gywilydd Alan a'i hunan-dderbyniad a'i gariad eithaf.”
Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Y Tu Hwnt i'r Deuaidd – Leah Harvey fel Bills, yn Solers United, gan Sara Harrak
Dywedodd aelod y rheithgor Ashley Goh: “Fy newis i ar gyfer enillydd y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Y Tu Hwnt i'r Deuaidd yw Leah Harvey fel Bills ar gyfer Solers United. Cafodd Leah eu nodweddu'n hyfryd o ymddangosiad cyntaf Bills ar y sgrin, gan bortreadu eu trafferthion gwrthdaro gyda naws ac eglurder. Mae gan Leah rwyddineb sy'n eich tynnu i mewn i fywyd Bills heb wneud gormod, ac roedd yn bleser i'w gwylio o'r dechrau i'r diwedd.”

Mae Gŵyl Gwobr Iris wedi derbyn cefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru drwy Greadigol Cymru.

Mae Iris Ar-lein ar gael tan 7 Tachwedd 2025.

Gellir dod o hyd i fanylion llawn am Iris yma: www.irisprize.org

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; Plaza’r Stadiwm; ac OUTflix. Mae'r ŵyl hefyd yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â BAFTA Cymru a Pride Cymru.