Iris Prize announces a shortlist of three for Documentary Film Finance Fund

•Three emerging filmmakers are shortlisted for the prestigious Iris Prize Documentary Film Finance Fund Sponsored by OUTflix and University of South Wales
•One filmmaker will have the premiere of their film on the opening night of the 20th Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Fim Festival in October 2026
•“As ever, it’s been great to see so many good documentary ideas being submitted for consideration to this years’ competition. I look forward to hearing more from our selected shortlist about their films.” Angela Clarke, Iris Prize
•“The UK is packed with burgeoning storytellers, drawing on history, culture, religion, visibility and more – and this year's shortlist is a reflection of the incredible talent bringing queer narratives to screen.” Philip Webb, COO of OUTtv
Organisers of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival have today (Friday 15 August 2025) announced details of the three shortlisted projects through to the final stage to be the fourth film commissioned by the Iris Prize Documentary Film Finance Fund, designed to support emerging documentary and factual film talent from Wales.
The Fund will award a single documentary film proposal a production grant of up to £20,000 for a 20-minute film.  The subject of the chosen film must be British and LGBTQ+. Priority will be given to stories from or about communities traditionally underrepresented in UK productions. The Iris Prize team will work with the originator of the idea to produce the film. The finished film will be premiered at the 20th edition of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival in October 2026 and after a theatrical window be shown on OUTflix’s platforms worldwide.
The three shortlisted films are:
  • Hidden in Conflict – Damian Kerlin
A compelling documentary uncovering Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community’s hidden narratives during the Troubles, revealing their struggles, resilience, and determination to find love, safety, and visibility amid political and societal oppression.
  • Pan Trans True Romance - Amy Derrick
Tami and Ash navigate the complexities of love and marriage, as they face their own cultural and religious differences, amidst eroding rights for the transgender community. Can love truly conquer all?
  • Wear I Am – Vicky Morton
Inspired by the work of trans-led mutual aid project TIN Wardrobe, Wear I Am follows a single gender-affirming care package on its journey from sender to recipient. Beginning with Leith, founder of TIN Wardrobe, the film explores his personal story and the tender ritual of assembling the parcel. As the box travels across the UK to reach a young TIN person in an isolated area, Wear I Am becomes a quiet meditation on visibility, solidarity, and the transformative power of being seen.
The shortlisted filmmakers will now attend an on-line workshop leading to a pitching session when shortlisted ideas will pitch for the commission.  The successful project will be announced in September.
Angela Clarke, BAFTA-nominated documentary filmmaker who has been looking after the shortlisting process said: “As ever, it’s been great to see so many good documentary ideas being submitted for consideration to this years’ competition. I look forward to hearing more from our selected shortlist about their films.”
Philip Webb, COO of OUTtv, said: “The UK is packed with burgeoning storytellers, drawing on history, culture, religion, visibility and more – and this year's shortlist is a reflection of the incredible talent bringing queer narratives to screen. At OUTflix, documentary filmmaking is a key pillar of our programming as we look to represent all facets of the LGBTQ+ experience, and we're looking forward to gaining further insight into these powerful projects through the coming weeks.”
The fund has previously supported three projects championing underrepresented voices in the production of three 20 minute documentary films: Some Girls Hate Dresses (2022) explores Black filmmaker Mena Fombo’s experiences as a tom boy from Nigerian heritage growing up in the UK and rejecting the images of Black women from the US; Bender Defenders (2023) celebrates the queer Muy-Thai club that non-binary filmmaker Ira Putliova is a member of in east London; and the third project Jackie (2024) tells the story of Jackie Forster – the founder of the lesbian magazine Sappho, and was made by Emily Sargent. Emily’s film will premiere on opening night of IRIS25 on Monday 13 October.

Iris Prize 2025: Monday 13 October – Sunday 19 October 2025. Iris Online will be available across the UK from 14 October to 7 November 2025.

Passes for Industry Day – and the full festival - are now available, and include tickets to all in-person screenings for that day too (Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2025 | Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2025)

Gwobr Iris yn cyhoeddi rhestr fer o dair ar gyfer Cronfa Cyllid Ffilm Ddogfen

  • Mae tri gwneuthurwr ffilm sy'n dod i'r amlwg wedi cyrraedd rhestr fer Cronfa Cyllid Ffilm Ddogfen Gwobr Iris a Noddir gan OUTflix a Phrifysgol De Cymru
  • Bydd un gwneuthurwr ffilm yn cael y cyfle i weld perfformiad cyntaf ei ffilm ar noson agoriadol 20fed Gŵyl Ffilm LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris ym mis Hydref 2026
  • “Fel bob amser, mae wedi bod yn wych gweld cymaint o syniadau dogfen da yn cael eu cyflwyno i'w hystyried i gystadleuaeth eleni. Edrychaf ymlaen at glywed mwy gan ein rhestr fer ddethol am eu ffilmiau.” Angela Clarke, Gwobr Iris
  • “Mae'r DU yn llawn storïwyr sy'n ffynnu, gan dynnu ar hanes, diwylliant, crefydd, gwelededd a mwy - ac mae rhestr fer eleni yn adlewyrchiad o'r dalent anhygoel sy'n dod â naratifau queer i'r sgrin.” Philip Webb, Prif Swyddog Gweithredu OUTtv
Heddiw (dydd Gwener 15 Awst 2025) mae trefnwyr Gŵyl Ffilm LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris wedi cyhoeddi manylion y tri phrosiect ar y rhestr fer hyd at y cam terfynol i fod y bedwaredd ffilm a gomisiynwyd gan Gronfa Cyllid Ffilm Ddogfen Gwobr Iris, a gynlluniwyd i gefnogi talent ffilm ddogfen a ffeithiol sy'n dod i'r amlwg o Gymru.
Bydd y Gronfa yn dyfarnu grant cynhyrchu hyd at £20,000 i un cynnig ffilm ddogfen am ffilm 20 munud. Rhaid i bwnc y ffilm a ddewisir fod yn Brydeinig ac yn LHDTQ+. Rhoddir blaenoriaeth i straeon o gymunedau sydd wedi'u tangynrychioli'n draddodiadol mewn cynyrchiadau'r DU, neu amdanynt. Bydd tîm Gwobr Iris yn gweithio gyda chreawdwr y syniad i gynhyrchu'r ffilm. Bydd y ffilm orffenedig yn cael ei dangos am y tro cyntaf yn 20fed rhifyn Gŵyl Ffilm LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris ym mis Hydref 2026 ac ar ôl cyfnod theatrig caiff ei dangos ar lwyfannau OUTflix ledled y byd.
Dyma’r tair ffilm ar y rhestr fer:
  • Hidden in Conflict – Damian Kerlin
Rhaglen ddogfen gymhellol sy'n datgelu naratifau cudd cymuned LHDTQ+ Iwerddon yn ystod yr Helynt, gan ddatgelu eu brwydrau, eu gwydnwch, a'u penderfyniad i ddod o hyd i gariad, diogelwch, a gwelededd yng nghanol gormes wleidyddol a chymdeithasol.
  • Pan Trans True Romance - Amy Derrick
Mae Tami ac Ash yn llywio cymhlethdodau cariad a phriodas, wrth iddynt wynebu eu gwahaniaethau diwylliannol a chrefyddol eu hunain, yng nghanol hawliau sy'n erydu i'r gymuned drawsryweddol. A all cariad oresgyn popeth?
  • Wear I Am – Vicky Morton
Wedi'i ysbrydoli gan waith prosiect cymorth cydfuddiannol dan arweiniad trawsryweddol TIN (traws, rhyngryw ac anneuaidd) Wardrobe, mae Wear I Am yn dilyn un pecyn gofal sy'n cadarnhau rhywedd ar ei daith o'r anfonwr i'r derbynnydd. Gan ddechrau gyda Leith, sylfaenydd TIN Wardrobe, mae'r ffilm yn archwilio ei stori bersonol a'r ddefod dyner o roi'r parsel at ei gilydd. Wrth i'r pecyn deithio ar draws y DU i gyrraedd person ifanc TIN mewn ardal ynysig, mae Wear I Am yn dod yn fyfyrdod tawel ar welededd, undod, a phŵer trawsnewidiol cael eich gweld.
Bydd y gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau sydd wedi cyrraedd y rhestr fer nawr yn mynychu gweithdy ar-lein sy'n arwain at sesiwn cyflwyno lle bydd syniadau ar y rhestr fer yn cael eu cyflwyno ar gyfer y comisiwn. Cyhoeddir y prosiect llwyddiannus ym mis Medi.
Dywedodd Angela Clarke, gwneuthurwr ffilmiau dogfen a enwebwyd am BAFTA ac sydd wedi bod yn gofalu am y broses o lunio rhestr fer: “Fel bob amser, mae wedi bod yn wych gweld cymaint o syniadau dogfen da yn cael eu cyflwyno i'w hystyried i gystadleuaeth eleni. Edrychaf ymlaen at glywed mwy gan ein rhestr fer ddethol am eu ffilmiau.” Angela Clarke, Gwobr Iris.
Dywedodd Philip Webb, Prif Swyddog Gweithredu OUTtv: “Mae'r DU yn llawn storïwyr sy'n ffynnu, gan dynnu ar hanes, diwylliant, crefydd, gwelededd a mwy - ac mae rhestr fer eleni yn adlewyrchiad o'r dalent anhygoel sy'n dod â naratifau cwiar i'r sgrin.Yn OUTflix, mae gwneud ffilmiau dogfen yn rhan allweddol o’n rhaglennu wrth i ni geisio cynrychioli pob agwedd ar y profiad LHDTQ+, ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen at gael rhagor o fewnwelediad i’r prosiectau pwerus hyn yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf.”
Mae’r gronfa eisoes wedi cefnogi tri phrosiect sy'n hyrwyddo lleisiau sydd wedi'u tangynrychioli wrth gynhyrchu tair ffilm ddogfen 20 munud: Some Girls Hate Dresses* (2022) yn archwilio profiadau'r gwneuthurwr ffilmiau Du Mena Fombo fel tomboy o dreftadaeth Nigeria yn tyfu i fyny yn y DU ac yn gwrthod delweddau menywod du o'r Unol Daleithiau; mae Bender Defenders (2023) yn dathlu'r clwb queer Muy-Thai y mae'r gwneuthurwr ffilmiau anneuaidd Ira Putliova yn aelod ohono yn nwyrain Llundain; ac mae’r trydydd prosiect Jackie (2024) yn adrodd stori Jackie Forster - sylfaenydd y cylchgrawn lesbiaidd Sappho, a gynhyrchwyd gan Emily Sargent. Bydd ffilm Emily yn cael ei dangos am y tro cyntaf ar noson agoriadol IRIS25 ddydd Llun 13 Hydref.

Bydd Gwobr Iris yn dychwelyd eleni: Dydd Llun 13 Hydref – Dydd Sul 19 Hydref 2025. Gellir dod o hyd i fanylion llawn am Wobr Iris yma: www.irisprize.org

Mae tocynnau ar gyfer Diwrnod Diwydiant – a’r ŵyl gyfan – ar gael nawr, ac maent yn cynnwys tocynnau i bob dangosiad wyneb yn wyneb ar gyfer y diwrnod hwnnw hefyd. (Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2025 | Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2025)