Documentary Film Fund opens for third round

- The Iris Prize Documentary Film Finance Fund sponsored by OUTtv Media Global and Aberystwyth University is open for the third round of applications
- A chance for potential applicants to join a Zoom call on 29 February to discuss the application process
- "Every year we are blown away by the incredible filmmaking coming from its [the fund] recipients and we are proud to continue to support an initiative that nurtures emerging talent in our community”
Documentary Film Finance Fund - Open for third of applications
On Tuesday (13 February, 2024), the organisers of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival announced that the third round of the Iris Prize Documentary Film Finance Fund had opened. The fund is sponsored by OUTtv and Aberystwyth University. The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival established the fund (up to £20,000) to finance documentary films (running time: 22/25 minutes or 40 minutes) produced by emerging UK-based LGBTQ+ filmmakers.
The application process is now open and will be run by the Iris Prize team headed by Berwyn Rowlands (Festival Director) and Angela Clarke (BAFTA-nominated documentary filmmaker). Individuals living in the UK can apply, and the fund is interested in supporting filmmakers who identify as part of communities that are underrepresented in the film industry, including, but not limited to, black, Asian, and minority ethnic people, and women.
The first Documentary Film Finance Fund award was made in 2022 to Bristol-based Somina FomboSome Girls Hate Dresses, which had its global streaming premiere on OUTtv Media Global in January 2024, took a nostalgic look into the black British tomboys from the 1990s. The second award was made to London-based Ira Putilova.  Their film will tell the story of four members of a queer Muay Thai club in London, focusing on confronting rising hate crime by teaching martial arts to queer, trans and non-binary people and running self-defence classes for their community.
Angela Clarke, Iris Prize said: "We are delighted to announce that our third round of Documentary Film Finance Funding is open, and we look forward to receiving applications from across the UK.  This is a fantastic opportunity for UK-based documentary filmmakers with LGBTQ+ stories to share. For those filmmakers who wish to know more about the fund, and how it works, please join us on Zoom on 29 February at 5pm, where we can answer your questions.”

Philip Webb, Chief Operating Officer of OUTtv Media Global, said: “The Iris Prize Documentary Film Finance Fund is a vital platform that gives gifted LGBTQ+ documentary makers in the UK the support needed to be able to tell their stories authentically and bring their ideas to life.  Every year we are blown away by the incredible filmmaking coming from its recipients and we are proud to continue to support an initiative that nurtures emerging talent in our community. We look forward to introducing new creators and projects to our audiences following the competition."

Key dates:

  • Tuesday 13 February, 2024 - Open the call for applications.
  • Thursday 29 February, 2024 - Zoom call with Angela Clarke and Grant Vidgen for interested filmmakers
  • Sunday 31 March, 2024 - Last date for the receipt of applications.
  • April 2024 - Shortlisting process.
  • Thursday 2 May, 2024 - Shortlist announced. Between three and six projects maximum.
  • June/July 2024 - Summer School in Aberystwyth (TBC) with support of the Theatre Film and Television Department at Aberystwyth University.
  • August/September 2024 - Announce the selected project commission.

Further details about the fund can be found here: https://irisprize.org/documentary-film-financing-fund/


Cronfa Ffilm Ddogfennol ar gyfer gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau LHDTQ+ newydd yn y DU yn agor ar gyfer y drydedd rownd

  • Mae Cronfa Cyllid Ffilm Ddogfennol Gwobr Iris a noddir gan OUTtv Media Global a Phrifysgol Aberystwyth ar agor ar gyfer y drydedd rownd o geisiadau
  • Cyfle i ddarpar ymgeiswyr ymuno â galwad Zoom ar 29 Chwefror i drafod y broses
  • "Bob blwyddyn rydym wedi ein syfrdanu gan y gwaith ffilmio anhygoel sy'n dod oddi wrth ei dderbynwyr ac rydym yn falch o barhau i gefnogi menter sy'n meithrin talent sy'n dod i'r amlwg yn ein cymuned”
Ddydd Mawrth (13 Chewfror, 2024), cyhoeddodd trefnwyr Gŵyl Ffilm LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris fod trydedd rownd Cronfa Cyllid Ffilm Ddogfennol Gwobr Iris wedi agor. Noddir y gronfa gan OUTtv Media Global a Phrifysgol Aberystwyth. Sefydlodd Gŵyl Ffilm LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris y gronfa (hyd at £20,000) i ariannu ffilmiau dogfen (amser rhedeg: 22/25 munud neu 40 munud) a gynhyrchwyd gan wneuthurwyr ffilmiau LHDTQ+ o’r DU sy'n dod i'r amlwg.
Mae'r broses ymgeisio bellach ar agor a bydd yn cael ei rhedeg gan dîm Gwobr Iris dan arweiniad Berwyn Rowlands(Cyfarwyddwr yr Ŵyl) ac Angela Clarke (gwneuthurwr ffilmiau dogfen a enwebwyd am BAFTA). Gall unigolion sy'n byw yn y DU wneud cais, ac mae gan y gronfa ddiddordeb mewn cefnogi gwneuthurwyr ffilm sy'n uniaethu fel rhan o gymunedau sydd heb gynrychiolaeth ddigonol yn y diwydiant ffilm, gan gynnwys, ond heb fod yn gyfyngedig i, bobl du, Asiaidd, a lleiafrifoedd ethnig, a menywod.
Dyfarnwyd y wobr gyntaf gan y Gronfa Cyllid Ffilm Ddogfennol yn 2022 i Somina Fombo o Fryste.  Roedd Some Girls Hate Dresses, a gafodd ei dangosiad ffrydio byd-eang am y tro cyntaf ar OUTtv Media Global ym mis Ionawr 2024, yn gipolwg hiraethus ar y tomboys Prydeinig du o'r 1990au. Dyfarnwyd yr ail wobr i Ira Putilova o Lundain.  Bydd y ffilm yn adrodd hanes pedwar aelod o glwb Muay Thai queer yn Llundain, gan ganolbwyntio ar wynebu troseddau casineb cynyddol trwy ddysgu crefftau ymladd i bobl queer, traws ac anneuaidd a chynnal dosbarthiadau hunanamddiffyn ar gyfer eu cymuned.
Dywedodd Angela Clarke, Gwobr Iris: "Rydym yn falch iawn o gyhoeddi bod ein trydedd rownd o Gyllid Ffilm Ddogfennol ar agor ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen at dderbyn ceisiadau o bob rhan o'r DU.  Mae hwn yn gyfle gwych i wneuthurwyr ffilmiau dogfen yn y DU sydd â straeon LHDTQ+ i’w rhannu. I'r gwneuthurwyr ffilm hynny sy'n dymuno gwybod mwy am y gronfa, a sut mae'n gweithio, ymunwch â ni ar Zoom ar 29 Chwefror am 5pm, lle gallwn ateb eich cwestiynau."

Dywedodd Philip Webb, Prif Swyddog Gweithredu OUTtv Media Global: "Mae Cronfa Cyllid Ffilm Ddogfennol Gwobr Iris yn blatfform hanfodol sy'n rhoi'r gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen ar wneuthurwyr ffilmiau dogfennol LHDTQ+ dawnus yn y DU i allu adrodd eu straeon yn ddilys a dod â'u syniadau yn fyw.  Bob blwyddyn rydym wedi ein syfrdanu gan y gwaith ffilmio anhygoel sy'n dod oddi wrth ei dderbynwyr ac rydym yn falch o barhau i gefnogi menter sy'n meithrin talent sy'n dod i'r amlwg yn ein cymuned. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen at gyflwyno crewyr a phrosiectau newydd i'n cynulleidfaoedd yn dilyn y gystadleuaeth."

Dyddiadau allweddol:

  • Dydd Mawrth 13 Chwefror, 2024 - Agor yr alwad am geisiadau.
  • Dydd Iau 29 Chwefror, 2024 - Galwad Zoom ar gyfer gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau sydd â diddordeb yn y gronfa, gydag Angela Clarke a Grant Vidgen
  • Dydd Sul 31 Mawrth , 2024 - Dyddiad olaf ar gyfer derbyn ceisiadau.
  • Ebrill 2024 - Creu rhestr fer.
  • Dydd Iau 2 Mai, 2024 - Cyhoeddi’r rhestr fer. Rhwng tri a chwe phrosiect ar eu huchaf.
  • Mehefin/Gorffennaf 2024 - Ysgol Haf yn Aberystwyth (i’w gadarnhau) gyda chymorth Adran Ffilm a Theledu Theatr ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth.
  • Awst/Medi 2024 - Cyhoeddi'r darpar gomisiwn.

Mae rhagor o fanylion am y gronfa ar gael yma: https://irisprize.org/documentary-film-financing-fund/