Katie appointed Iris Prize patron

Organisers of the Iris Prize have confirmed that Scottish based writer, Katie White has been appointed a Patron to the Iris Prize. The Iris Prize, awarded annually to the best LGBT short film, at £30,000 continues to be the world’s largest short film prize, thanks to the generous support of The Michael Bishop Foundation. Katie will start undertaking her duties as a patron by attending this week’s Iris on the Move event at Cineworld, Llandudno Junction where she will be judging the Iris Leadership Award on Friday 26 January. Heno on S4C will be broadcasting live from the event which will see community groups and schools from across Wales compete in the Iris Education and Community Short Film Awards. Andrew Pierce, Iris Prize Chair, commented: “I am delighted that Katie has agreed to become a patron of the Iris Prize. Katie has been an enthusiastic supporter of our work since she attended the festival back in 2014 and walked away with the Best British Award for Middle Man for which she had written the script. With repeat visits to Cardiff over the past three years to sit on our independent juries or take part in panel sessions, Katie has always gone the extra mile.” “As a straight woman Katie will help make sure that Iris can be relevant and reach out to all areas of our community and friends. I know she has some interesting ideas about sharing the Iris experience in Scotland and over the next three years she will play an important part in making sure we are successful in our aim to increase audiences for LGBT + stories.” Katie White, Patron of the Iris Prize, commented: “Sometimes in life you stumble upon something you don't realise will change your life. Iris was my 'something'.” “Winning Iris in 2014 with Charlie Francis was fantastic, but just as amazing was meeting, and becoming part of the Iris family. Berwyn and his extensive Iris family have welcomed me in, nurtured me, valued my opinions, and taken me on journeys from Cardiff to Dungarvan to London, and most recently on my first trip to Llandudno.” “What Iris has also done, is to have taken me on worldwide film journeys, that have introduced me to amazing LGBT+ people, stories and situations, that like many others I would never have been aware of without the exposure they received as being part of Iris. Thank you, Iris, for this amazing honour. I will endeavour to do you proud.” The main festival sponsors are: The Michael Bishop Foundation, Welsh Government, BFI, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Pinewood Studios Group, Cardiff University, For Cardiff, Gorilla Group, Co-op Respect and Cineworld. The festival also works in partnership with BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru and Stonewall Cymru. Iris on the Move is also funded by Film Hub Wales.