FOUNDER OF IRIS PRIZE LGBT+ FILM FESTIVAL UP FOR MAJOR AWARD 🏆

Berwyn, originally from Anglesey but who lives in Cardiff, has been shortlisted in the Arts category of this year’s National Lottery Awards. He has been nominated for his outstanding work over 15 years as the Founder and Festival Director of the Iris Prize. Berwyn is flying the flag for Wales and is one of only five individuals from across the UK nominated in the Arts category. The National Lottery Awards are the annual search for the UK’s favourite National Lottery funded people and projects. And they celebrate the inspirational individuals and groups who do extraordinary things in their community, especially during these challenging times. Established by Berwyn in 2006, the National Lottery funded Iris Prize takes place in Cardiff annually. Gradually, it has developed into the biggest international LGBT+ short film prize in the world. It has also become a leading voice in championing LGBT+ short film as well as running LGBT+ education and community outreach projects in Wales and the UK throughout the year. Iris has cemented itself as a significant event in the British film festival calendar and has featured in the top 50 film festivals in the world by Movie Maker magazine for four years.

Thrilled to be nominated, Berwyn, 54, who organised his first ever public film festival in Aberystwyth back in 1989, says:

“It’s an absolute honour to be shortlisted as a finalist in the Arts category for the 2021 National Lottery Awards. During the pandemic, film has provided escapism and comfort for so many at a time when it’s needed most. And this is why the Iris Prize continued last year in an online capacity. I would like to thank The National Lottery’ players for supporting myself and the Iris Prize and for helping us to run an unique festival which is dedicated to celebrating amazing LGBT+ film and bringing films from this diverse community to the attention of wider audiences around the world.” This year, more than 1,500 people were nominated for a National Lottery Award in recognition of the work they have carried out with the help of National Lottery funding. Next month a panel, made up of representatives of The National Lottery and partners, will decide the winners in each category from a shortlist of five. Winners will be revealed in the autumn and will receive a £3,000 cash prize for their organisation and a coveted National Lottery Awards trophy.

Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery, said:

“Since 1994, The National Lottery has made a huge positive impact on life across the UK. Thanks to National Lottery players and the £36 million raised each week for good causes, thousands of organisations are making an incredible impact and difference in their local areas.   “The National Lottery Awards honour those who have stepped up and stood out like Berwyn, who work tirelessly for their community. They deserve great praise and our thanks for their incredible work.” Encompassing all aspects of National Lottery good causes funding, the 2021 National Lottery Awards will recognise outstanding individuals in the following sectors:

• Culture, Arts & Film
• Heritage
• Sport
• Community/Charity

There will be a special Young Hero Award for someone under the age of 18 who has gone that extra mile in their organisation. In September a public vote will be held to find The National Lottery Project of the Year, while online polls will take place after the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to determine the winner of The National Lottery Olympian and Paralympian awards. - Oswyn Hughes, National Lottery Promotions Unit.  

SYLFAENYDD GŴYL FFILM IRIS YN CAEL EI ENWEBU AR GYFER GWOBR FAWR

Mae'r cynhyrchydd ffilm a theledu o Gaerdydd, Berwyn Rowlands, a sefydlodd y wobr ffilm fer LHDT+ ryngwladol fwyaf yn y byd, wedi cael ei enwebu ar gyfer Gwobr Loteri Genedlaethol 2021.

Mae Berwyn, sy’n wreiddiol o Ynys Môn ond sy’n byw yng Nghaerdydd nawr, ar y rhestr fer yng nghategori’r Celfyddydau yng Ngwobrau’r Loteri Genedlaethol eleni am ei waith rhagorol dros 15 mlynedd fel Sylfaenydd a Chyfarwyddwr Gŵyl, Gŵyl Ffilm LHDT+ Gwobr Iris. Mae Berwyn yn chwifio'r faner dros Gymru ac mae'n un o bum unigolyn yn unig o bob rhan o'r DU sydd wedi'u henwebu yng nghategori'r Celfyddydau. Bob blwyddyn, mae Gwobrau’r Loteri Genedlaethol yn chwilio am hoff bobl a phrosiectau a ariennir gan Loteri Genedlaethol y DU ac maent yn dathlu’r unigolion a’r grwpiau ysbrydoledig sy’n gwneud pethau anghyffredin yn eu cymuned, yn enwedig yn ystod yr amseroedd heriol hyn. Wedi'i sefydlu gan Berwyn yn 2006, mae Gwobr Iris, a ariennir gan y Loteri Genedlaethol, yn digwydd yng Nghaerdydd yn flynyddol ac mae wedi datblygu i fod y wobr ffilm fer LHDT+ ryngwladol fwyaf yn y byd. Gwobr Iris yw’r llais blaenllaw ar gyfer hyrwyddo ffilmiau byrion LHDT+ ac mae Iris hefyd yn cynnal prosiectau addysg LHDT+ a phrosiectau gwaith maes cymunedol yng Nghymru a'r DU trwy gydol y flwyddyn. Mae Iris wedi cadarnhau ei hun fel digwyddiad arwyddocaol yng nghalendr gŵyl ffilmiau Prydain ac mae wedi ymddangos ar restr 50 gŵyl ffilm orau yn y byd cylchgrawn Movie Maker ers pedair blynedd.

Yn falch o gael ei enwebu, dywed Berwyn (yn y llun uchod yn 2007), 54, a drefnodd ei ŵyl ffilm gyhoeddus gyntaf erioed yn Aberystwyth ym 1989:

“Mae'n anrhydedd llwyr cyrraedd rhestr fer y categori Celfyddydau ar gyfer Gwobrau’r Loteri Genedlaethol 2021. Yn ystod y pandemig, mae ffilmiau wedi darparu dihangfa a chysur i gynifer ar adeg pan oedd eu hangen fwyaf, a dyma pam y parhaodd Gwobr Iris y llynedd ar-lein. Hoffwn ddiolch i chwaraewyr y Loteri Genedlaethol am fy nghefnogi i a Gwobr Iris ac am ein helpu i gynnal gŵyl unigryw sy'n ymroddedig i ddathlu ffilmiau LHDT+ anhygoel a dod â ffilmiau o'r gymuned amrywiol hon i sylw cynulleidfaoedd ehangach ledled y byd.” Eleni, enwebwyd mwy na 1,500 o bobl ar gyfer Gwobr y Loteri Genedlaethol i gydnabod y gwaith y maent wedi'u gwneud gyda chymorth cyllid y Loteri Genedlaethol. Y mis nesaf bydd panel, sy'n cynnwys cynrychiolwyr y Loteri Genedlaethol a phartneriaid, yn penderfynu ar yr enillwyr ym mhob categori o restr fer o bump. Datgelir yr enillwyr yn yr hydref a byddant yn derbyn gwobr ariannol o £3,000 ar gyfer eu sefydliadau ynghyd â thlws Gwobrau’r Loteri Genedlaethol.

Dywedodd Jonathan Tuchner, o’r Loteri Genedlaethol:

“Er 1994, mae’r Loteri Genedlaethol wedi cael effaith gadarnhaol enfawr ar fywyd ledled y DU. Diolch i chwaraewyr y Loteri Genedlaethol a'r £36 miliwn a godir bob wythnos at achosion da, mae miloedd o sefydliadau yn cael effaith a gwahaniaeth anhygoel yn eu hardaloedd lleol. “Mae Gwobrau’r Loteri Genedlaethol yn anrhydeddu’r rhai sydd wedi camu i fyny a sefyll allan fel Berwyn, sy’n gweithio’n ddiflino dros eu cymuned. Maen nhw'n haeddu canmoliaeth fawr a'n diolch am eu gwaith anhygoel." Gan gwmpasu pob agwedd ar gyllid achosion da'r Loteri Genedlaethol, bydd Gwobrau’r Loteri Genedlaethol 2021 yn cydnabod unigolion rhagorol yn y sectorau canlynol:

• Diwylliant, Celfyddydau a Ffilm
• Treftadaeth
• Chwaraeon
• Cymuned / Elusen

Bydd Gwobr Arwr Ifanc arbennig i rywun o dan 18 oed sydd wedi mynd gam ymhellach yn ei sefydliad. Ym mis Medi cynhelir pleidlais gyhoeddus i ddod o hyd i Brosiect Loteri Genedlaethol y Flwyddyn, tra bydd arolygon barn ar-lein yn cael eu cynnal ar ôl Gemau Olympaidd a Pharalympaidd Tokyo i bennu enillydd gwobrau Olympaidd a Pharalympaidd y Loteri Genedlaethol.