LGBT film library continues to expand

Organisers of the Iris Prize have today (9 March 2017) made available 11 new short films to their ground breaking LGBT film library which was launched last year. The new short films have been produced by community groups and secondary school pupils from all over Wales over the past 12 months. Available free of charge on YouTube, the films are all unique telling a different story using comedy as well as hard hitting drama to communicate their message. Highlights of the new selection includes Prefer Not to Say a film by staff at the Wales Audit Office about a fly on the wall TV crew who follow Dafydd played by Guto Gwilym (pictured above) on his first day in work. Full of excitement his only concern revolves around the issue of coming out. Should he come out? Filmed at the Wales Audit Office this film is both insightful and uplifting. Total Recurl by NHS Velindre uses comedy to share their message. To fit in at work Lucy hides the fact that she has curly hair. With the unexpected support of her colleagues and patients, will she decide to retire her hair straighteners and be true to herself? Another highlight in this collection is LGBT Awareness in Sport by LGB&T Sport Cymru which was recognised at the inaugural Iris Community and Education Short Film Awards earlier this year. The documentary brings to the screen the experiences of LGBT people in sport including hockey, football and running supported by honest interviews. Andrew Pierce, Chair of the Iris Prize said: “Community groups and school pupils across Wales have been busy over the past 12 months discussing films, putting on mini Iris film festivals and producing their own short films. I’m delighted that 11 new short films will be available to view on our You Tube channel. The stories and themes cover everything from sport through to religion and unfortunately bullying, which continues to be a problem for LGBT people.” “I also hope that the stories covered in these films will enable other communities to start a discussion as Iris and her partners share LGBT stories from Wales which all have universal resonance with a wider audience.” The full list of new community films available now are:

• Ashford + Charlie, Mencap Cymru
• LGBT Awareness in Sport, LGB&T Sport Cymru
• All One in Christ, Changing Attitude Trawsnewid Agwedd Cymru
• It’s Only Words, Cardiff and Vale UHB
• Total Recurl, NHS Velindre
• My First Pride, Pride Cymru Youth Councillors
• Behind the Bikesheds, Office for National Statistics
• Prefer Not to Say, Wales Audit Office (not available until 29 March 2017)

The full list of new education films available now are:

• Dear Diary, Ysgol David Hughes
• The Blstander, Fitzalan High School
• Labels, Aberdare Community School

The new films can be found here: The Iris Prize Community and Education activity is funded by: Big Lottery Fund Wales and Ffilm Cymru Wales. The main festival sponsors are: The Michael Bishop Foundation, Welsh Government, BFI, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Pinewood Studios Group, Cardiff University, Gorilla Group, Cineworld, Pride Cymru, British Council Wales, Orchard, and Bafta Cymru.