Magid / Zafar by Luís Hindman wins the prestigious Iris Prize

• Hindman is the third UK winner of the £40,000 Iris Prize
• “This film burst onto the screen and swept the jury along with its dynamic and energetic story.” Iris Prize Jury
The organisers of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival – celebrating global stories and Cardiff charm are proud to announce that Luís Hindman has won the prestigious Iris Prize supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation for his film Magid / Zafar. The announcement was made this morning (18 October) at the BBC Cymru Wales studios in Cardiff.
Luís Hindman (He/Him/His) is a BAFTA-nominated and BIFA-winning writer/director of South Asian and Northern Irish descent. His early short films were first recognized in 2015 when he received the One to Watch award from Into Film, sponsored by the BFI and EON Productions. The jury included Alan Parker, David Yates, and Peter Kosminsky.
Luís spent the following years directing music videos, most notably the UKMVA nominated Permanent Damage project for soul pop artist Joesef. He returned to narrative work with Magid / Zafar (2025), backed by the BFI and FILM4 as part of the inaugural Future Takes scheme. The film premiered in competition at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival, went on to earn a BAFTA nomination, and won the BIFA for Best British Short. He is now developing his debut feature with BFI and FILM4.
Luís’s winning film, Magid / Zafar, depicts a story unfolding amid rising tensions inside a Pakistani British takeaway. The film layers several conflicts — modernity versus tradition, Pakistani identity versus Western expectations — and expresses them through music, costume, and an emotionally charged narrative. As Magid confronts the future laid out before him, he must decide whether he can step away from the life he has always known, or whether the pressure of competing worlds will leave him stranded between them.
Sara Peacock chair of the 2026 Iris Prize jury said: “This film burst onto the screen and swept the jury along with its dynamic and energetic story. The jury praised the storytelling, which was carefully eked out through dialogue and never spoon-fed, as well as the craft that used pace and tempo to pull the audience into the characters’ emotions. A clear winner.”
Berwyn Rowlands, Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival Director said: “This is only the third time a British filmmaker has won the Iris Prize, so our 20th anniversary feels like the perfect year to celebrate another home-grown winner. In truth, though, Luis Hindman’s powerful short, Magid / Zafar, would have been a worthy winner in any year.”
Three films were given a special mention:
  • A Cappella by Marcin Kluczykowski (Poland, 2024).
Karol and Henryk are a long-time elderly couple, but outside their apartment, the two men pretend to be single. One day, they receive an invitation that shakes their meticulously hidden everyday life.
“The jury was delighted to see an established older couple being represented, and felt this film portrayed the realness of a relationship in its beauty and mundaneness. Beautiful cinematography, subtle storytelling, excellent performances and moments of truth that connected with many of us.”
  • Black Shawl  by Kamila Boichenko (Poland, 2025)
Lesya is living in a refugee camp, where she reconnects with her old friend Maria, who, like Lesya, is haunted by the loss of a loved one. As their bond deepens, the women find solace in each other’s shared grief.
“This was a film that created a lasting impression on a number of the jury. It was a story that skilfully wove threads of war, desire and sexuality to create a story that felt universal despite its unique setting.”
  • Seahorse by Leo Tabosa (Brazil, 2024)
On the eve of the Feast of St. John, Francisca, who is a widow about to turn 75, is on the verge of exploding like fireworks.
“This was a beautifully crafted story that negotiated its subject matter with a light touch, moving away from trauma towards love and acceptance. Many felt this was a heartwarming story we hadn’t seen before, made with the right beat and pace, and an absence of melodrama or cliché.”

The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival is supported by the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery Good Cause funding.

The main festival sponsors are: The Michael Bishop Foundation; Creative Wales, a Welsh Government agency that supports the creative sectors in Wales; the BFI awarding funds from The National Lottery; Ffilm Cymru Wales; Film4; University of South Wales; Co-op Respect; Ymddiried - Media Grants Cymru, Bad Wolf; S4C; Gorilla Group; Pinewood Studios; Attitude Magazine, Diva Magazine; Movie Marker; The Ministry Venues, British Council Wales, and Transport for Wales. The festival also works in partnership BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru, and Visit Cardiff.

Enwi Magid / Zafar gan Luís Hindman yn enillydd 2026 yng Ngŵyl Ffilmiau LHDTQ+ Iris Prize

  • Luís Hindman yw enillydd Gwobr Iris a gefnogir gan Sefydliad Michael Bishop – am Magid / Zafar
  • Hindman yw’r trydydd enillydd o’r DU i ennill Gwobr Iris, sy’n werth £40,000
  • “Ffrwydrodd y ffilm hon ar y sgrin a swyno’r rheithgor gyda’i stori ddeinamig ac egnïol.” – Rheithgor Gwobr Iris
Mae trefnwyr Gŵyl Ffilmiau LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris – sy’n dathlu straeon byd-eang a swyn Caerdydd – yn falch o gyhoeddi bod Luís Hindman wedi ennill Gwobr Iris a gefnogir gan Sefydliad Michael Bishop, am ei ffilm Magid / Zafar. Gwnaed y cyhoeddiad y bore yma (18 Hydref) yn stiwdios BBC Cymru Wales yng Nghaerdydd.
Mae Luís Hindman yn awdur a chyfarwyddwr o dras De Asiaidd a Gogledd Iwerddon; mae wedi cael ei enwebu am wobr BAFTA ac wedi ennill gwobr BIFA. Cafodd ei ffilmiau byrion cynnar eu cydnabod am y tro cyntaf yn 2015, pan dderbyniodd wobr ‘One to Watch’ gan Into Film, a noddwyd gan y BFI ac EON Productions. Roedd y panel beirniaid yn cynnwys Alan Parker, David Yates, a Peter Kosminsky.
Treuliodd Luís y blynyddoedd dilynol yn cyfarwyddo fideos cerddoriaeth, yn fwyaf nodedig y prosiect Permanent Damage – a enwebwyd ar gyfer gwobr UKMVA – ar gyfer yr artist soul pop Joesef. Dychwelodd at waith naratif gyda Magid / Zafar (2025), a gefnogwyd gan y BFI a FILM4 fel rhan o gynllun cyntaf Future Takes. Cafodd y ffilm ei dangos am y tro cyntaf mewn cystadleuaeth yng Ngŵyl Ffilm BFI Llundain yn 2025; aeth ymlaen i ennill enwebiad BAFTA, ac enillodd wobr BIFA am y Ffilm Fer Brydeinig Orau. Ar hyn o bryd, mae'n datblygu ei ffilm nodwedd gyntaf gyda'r BFI a FILM4.
Mae ffilm fuddugol Luís, Magid / Zafar, yn adrodd stori sy'n datblygu yng nghanol tensiynau cynyddol mewn bwyty tecawê Pacistanaidd Prydeinig. Mae'r ffilm yn gosod sawl gwrthdaro - moderniaeth yn erbyn traddodiad, hunaniaeth Pacistanaidd yn erbyn disgwyliadau'r Gorllewin - ac yn eu mynegi trwy gerddoriaeth, gwisgoedd, a naratif llawn emosiwn. Wrth i Magid wynebu'r dyfodol a osodwyd o'i flaen, rhaid iddo benderfynu a all gamu i ffwrdd o'r bywyd y mae wedi'i adnabod erioed, neu a fydd pwysau bydoedd cystadleuol yn ei adael yn sownd rhyngddynt.
Dywedodd Sara Peacock, cadeirydd rheithgor Gwobr Iris 2026: “Ffrwydiodd y ffilm hon ar y sgrin a sgubo'r rheithgor gyda'i stori ddeinamig ac egnïol. Canmolodd y rheithgor yr adrodd straeon, a gafodd ei lunio'n ofalus trwy ddeialog a heb ei fwydo â llwy, yn ogystal â'r grefft a ddefnyddiodd gyflymder a thempo i dynnu'r gynulleidfa i emosiynau'r cymeriadau. Enillydd clir.”
Dywedodd Berwyn Rowlands, Cyfarwyddwr Gŵyl Ffilmiau LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris: “Dyma’r trydydd tro yn unig i wneuthurwr ffilmiau o Brydain ennill Gwobr Iris; felly, mae ein 20fed pen-blwydd yn teimlo fel y flwyddyn berffaith i ddathlu enillydd arall o’r wlad hon. Yn wir, fodd bynnag, byddai ffilm fer bwerus Luis Hindman, Magid / Zafar, wedi bod yn enillydd teilwng mewn unrhyw flwyddyn.”
Cafodd tair ffilm eu crybwyll yn arbennig:
  • A Cappella gan Marcin Kluczykowski (Gwlad Pwyl, 2024).
Mae Karol a Henryk yn gwpl oedrannus ers amser maith, ond y tu allan i'w fflat, mae'r ddau ddyn yn esgus bod yn sengl. Un diwrnod, maen nhw'n derbyn gwahoddiad sy'n ysgwyd eu bywyd bob dydd cudd manwl.
“Roedd y rheithgor wrth eu bodd yn gweld cwpl hŷn, sefydledig yn cael eu cynrychioli, ac roeddent o’r farn bod y ffilm hon yn portreadu realiti perthynas – yn ei harddwch ac yn ei natur gyffredin, bob dydd. Sinematograffi hardd, adrodd stori cynnil, perfformiadau rhagorol ac eiliadau o wirionedd a gafodd effaith ar lawer ohonom.”
  • Black Shawl gan Kamila Boichenko (Gwlad Pwyl, 2025)
Mae Lesya yn byw mewn gwersyll ffoaduriaid, lle mae hi'n ailgysylltu â'i hen ffrind Maria, sydd, fel Lesya, yn cael ei phoeni gan golli anwylyd. Wrth i'w cwlwm ddyfnhau, mae'r menywod yn dod o hyd i gysur yng ngalar ei gilydd.
“Roedd hon yn ffilm a adawodd argraff barhaol ar nifer o aelodau'r rheithgor. Roedd yn stori a blethodd edafedd rhyfel, chwant a rhywioldeb yn fedrus, gan greu stori a deimlai'n gyffredinol er gwaethaf ei lleoliad unigryw.”
  • Seahorse gan Leo Tabosa (Brasil, 2024)
Ar drothwy Gŵyl Sant Ioan, mae Francisca, sy'n weddw sydd ar fin troi'n 75 oed, ar fin ffrwydro fel tân gwyllt.
“Roedd hon yn stori wedi’i llunio’n hyfryd, a oedd yn ymdrin â’i phwnc mewn ffordd ysgafn, gan symud oddi wrth drawma tuag at gariad a derbyniad. Teimlai llawer ei bod yn stori gynnes, o fath nad oeddem wedi’i weld o’r blaen; roedd ganddi’r rhythm a’r cyflymder cywir, ac nid oedd unrhyw arwydd o melodrama nag ystrydebau.”

Cefnogir Gŵyl Ffilmiau LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris gan Gronfa Prosiectau Cynulleidfa'r BFI (Loteri Genedlaethol), sy'n dyfarnu cyllid Loteri Genedlaethol ar gyfer Achosion Da.

Prif noddwyr yr ŵyl yw: Sefydliad Michael Bishop; Cymru Greadigol, un o asiantaethau Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n cefnogi'r sectorau creadigol yng Nghymru; y BFI sy'n dyfarnu arian gan y Loteri Genedlaethol; Ffilm Cymru Wales; Film4; Prifysgol De Cymru; Co-op Respect; Ymddiried - Media Grants Cymru; Bad Wolf; S4C; Grŵp Gorilla; Pinewood Studios; Cylchgrawn Attitude; Cylchgrawn Diva; Movie Marker; The Ministry Venues; Trafnidiaeth Cymru; a Chyngor Prydeinig Cymru. Mae'r ŵyl hefyd yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru a Croeso Caerdydd.