Molly by Darius Shu is awarded the Iris Prize Best British Short Film Award sponsored by Film4 and Pinewood Studios

• Special mentions to two other British shorts
• Performance awards announced in Best Performance in a Female Role; Best Performance in a Male role; and Best Performance in a role Beyond the Binary
• “I’m thrilled that Darius is our 2026 Best British winner. It doesn’t happen often, but when you know the filmmaker well — Darius joined us as a guest for Iris on the Move a few years ago — it feels a little like celebrating a win for one of the family.” Berwyn Rowlands
The organisers of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival – celebrating global stories and Cardiff charm are thrilled to announce that the winner of the Iris Prize Best British Short Film Award sponsored by Film4 and Pinewood Studios is Darius Shu, for Molly. Darius produced Queer Parivaar, which won Best British Short at Iris Prize 2022 and had its World Premiere at BFI Flare Film Festival 2022. He is a cinematographer and producer who loves telling poetic visual stories with striking imagery.

Darius was named winner during the Best British Awards on Friday, 16 October, at 9pm, at Cineworld, Cardiff.

Molly tells the story of a chance encounter at a launderette which sparks a meaningful connection between Vinnie and Ryan. As closeness blurs into desire, they are forced to confront what love demands before it fractures everything they have built.
The winner of the Iris Prize Best British award will be invited to be part of the 2027 Iris Prize Best British Jury. All films in the Best British 2026 shortlist will be broadcast and streamed on Channel 4 for one year. A licence fee will be paid to all shortlisted Best British filmmakers.
This is what the Best British Jury – Tim Highsted, Chris Urch, Elena Schmitz, Guto Rhun, and Neil Moffatt – had to say about Molly: “With its striking visuals, sensitive performances and delicate handling of its original and less frequently examined subject matter, this is a bold and original drama. “The jury gives special mention to the documentary Life Of Kai citing its filmmaker’s dedication in bringing Kai Young’s extraordinary journey and inspiring story to audiences. Special mention also goes to Yellow Bucket for its heartfelt, joyful and quirky portrayal of parental love and its lightness of tone, whilst also raising serious questions about true freedom of choice.”

Life of Kai, directed by Fox Fisher

A decade-long chronicle of Kai, a young trans boy coming of age amidst a shifting landscape of trans rights in the UK, as he navigates the complexities of identity, acceptance, medical transition and the pursuit of happiness.

Yellow Bucket, directed by Simon Brooke

A scientific discovery shakes Connor and his family.
Berwyn Rowlands, Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival Director, said: “I’m thrilled that Darius is our 2026 Best British winner. It doesn’t happen often, but when you know the filmmaker well — Darius joined us as a guest for Iris on the Move a few years ago — it feels a little like celebrating a win for one of the family. “I’m not involved in the decision-making process — and trying to influence the jury is never a good idea! So, when the result was announced, I was genuinely delighted. I will leave the jury to explain their decision.”
Here are the Best British Performance awards winners:

Best Performance in a Female Role – Sarah Ridgeway for the role of Jan in Yellow Bucket

Best Performance in a Male Role – Eben Figueiredo for the role of Magid in Magid / Zafar

Best Performance in a Role Beyond the Binary – Lilit Lesser for the role of Noah in Bluebird

The jury included Kat Ronney, a Scottish actress and winner of the award for Best Performance in a Female Role 2025 for Hot Young Geek Seeks Bloodsucking Freaks, and Jay Newton, a Scottish actor and winner of the Best Performance in a Male Role 2025 for Sleazy Tiger. “It was an incredibly strong year, but these performances stood out in a way that really resonated for us. Eben's work displayed a sensational range between hard-hitting energy and vulnerability. Sarah's performance felt beautifully lived in and effortlessly natural. Lilit's performance was wistful, soft and felt wonderfully wise beyond their years. All were a privilege to watch."

Channel 4 Streaming

From midnight on Friday 16 October / early Saturday 17 October, all 15 Best British shortlisted films will be available to watch on Channel 4 as part of three Best British compilation programmes. The individual films will also be added to Channel 4 streaming, although these may appear at slightly different times following the initial launch.

Channel 4 Broadcast

The first Best British compilation/programme is currently scheduled to air on Channel 4 at 1:15am on Saturday 17 October.

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.

Molly, gan Darius Shu, yn ennill Gwobr Iris am y Ffilm Fer Orau Ym Mhrydain a noddir gan Film4 a Pinewood Studios

  • Crybwylliadau arbennig i ddwy ffilm fer Brydeinig arall
  • Cyhoeddi gwobrau perfformio ar gyfer y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Fenywaidd; y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Wrywaidd; a’r Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl y Tu Hwnt i’r Deuaidd
  • “Rwyf wrth fy modd mai Darius yw ein henillydd Gorau Ym Mhrydain ar gyfer 2026. Nid yw’n digwydd yn aml, ond pan rydych chi’n adnabod y gwneuthurwr ffilm yn dda — ymunodd Darius â ni fel gwestai ar gyfer Iris ar Grwydr ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl — mae’n teimlo braidd fel dathlu buddugoliaeth i rywun o’r teulu.” Berwyn Rowlands
Mae trefnwyr Gŵyl Ffilm LHDTQ+ Gwobr Iris – dathlu straeon byd-eang a swyn Caerdydd yn falch iawn o gyhoeddi mai enillydd Gwobr Ffilm Fer Orau Ym Mhrydain Gwobr Iris a noddir gan Film4 a Pinewood Studios yw Darius Shu, am Molly. Cynhyrchodd Darius Queer Parivaar, a enillodd y Ffilm Fer Orau Ym Mhrydain yng Ngwobr Iris 2022 ac a gafodd ei Première Byd yng Ngŵyl Ffilm Flare BFI 2022. Mae’n sinematograffydd a chynhyrchydd sydd wrth ei fodd yn adrodd straeon gweledol barddonol gyda delweddau trawiadol. Enwyd Darius yn enillydd yng Ngwobrau Gorau Ym Mhrydain ddydd Gwener, 16 Hydref, am 9pm, yn Cineworld, Caerdydd. Mae Molly yn adrodd hanes cyfarfod ar hap mewn golchdy sy'n tanio cysylltiad ystyrlon rhwng Vinnie a Ryan. Wrth i agosrwydd gymylu i awydd, cânt eu gorfodi i wynebu'r hyn y mae cariad yn ei ofyn cyn iddo dorri popeth y maent wedi'i adeiladu. Bydd enillydd Gwobr Ffilm Fer Orau Ym Mhrydain Gwobr Iris yn cael ei wahodd i fod yn rhan o Reithgor Gorau Ym Mhrydain Gwobr Iris 2027. Bydd yr holl ffilmiau ar restr fer Gorau Ym Mhrydain 2026 yn cael eu darlledu a'u ffrydio ar Channel 4 am flwyddyn. Bydd ffi'r drwydded yn cael ei thalu i'r holl wneuthurwyr ffilm Prydeinig Gorau sydd ar y rhestr fer.
Dyma a ddywedodd y panel beirniaid ar gyfer y wobr Gorau Ym Mhrydain – Tim Highsted, Chris Urch, Elena Schmitz, Guto Rhun a Neil Moffatt – am Molly: “Gyda’i delweddau trawiadol, ei pherfformiadau sensitif a’r modd cain y mae’n ymdrin â’i thestun gwreiddiol – un nad yw’n cael ei archwilio mor aml – mae hon yn ddrama feiddgar a gwreiddiol. “Mae’r panel yn rhoi sylw arbennig i’r ffilm ddogfen Life Of Kai, gan nodi ymroddiad y gwneuthurwr ffilm i rannu taith anhygoel a stori ysbrydoledig Kai Young â’r gynulleidfa. Rhoddir sylw arbennig hefyd i Yellow Bucket am ei phortread calonog, llawen ac unigryw o gariad rhieni ac am ei naws ysgafn, tra hefyd yn codi cwestiynau difrifol ynghylch gwir ryddid i ddewis.”
Life of Kai, cyfarwyddwyd gan Fox Fisher Cronicl degawd o hyd am Kai, bachgen traws ifanc sy'n dod i oed yng nghanol tirwedd newidiol o hawliau traws yn y DU, wrth iddo lywio cymhlethdodau hunaniaeth, derbyniad, trawsnewid meddygol a mynd ar drywydd hapusrwydd. Yellow Bucket, cyfarwyddwyd gan Simon Brooke Mae darganfyddiad gwyddonol yn ysgwyd Connor a'i deulu.
Dywedodd Cyfarwyddwr Gŵyl Gwobr Iris, Berwyn Rowlands: “Rwyf wrth fy modd mai Darius yw enillydd y wobr Gorau Ym Mhrydain ar gyfer 2026. Nid yw’n digwydd yn aml, ond pan rydych chi’n adnabod y gwneuthurwr ffilmiau yn dda — ymunodd Darius â ni fel gwestai ar gyfer Iris ar Grwydr ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl — mae’n teimlo braidd fel dathlu buddugoliaeth i rywun o’r teulu. “Dydw i ddim yn rhan o’r broses o wneud penderfyniadau — ac nid syniad da yw ceisio dylanwadu ar y rheithgor! Felly, pan gyhoeddwyd y canlyniad, roeddwn i wirioneddol falch. Gadawaf i’r rheithgor egluro eu penderfyniad.”
Dyma enillwyr y gwobrau am y Perfformiadau Gorau Ym Mhrydain:
  • Y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Fenywaidd – Sarah Ridgeway am rôl Jan yn Yellow Bucket
  • Y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Wrywaidd – Eben Figueiredo am rôl Magid yn Magid / Zafar
  • Y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Tu Hwnt i'r Deuaidd – Lilit Lesser am rôl Noah yn Bluebird
Roedd y rheithgor yn cynnwys Kat Ronney, actores o'r Alban ac enillydd y wobr am y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Fenywaidd yn 2025 ar gyfer Hot Young Geek Seeks Bloodsucking Freaks, a Jay Newton, actor o'r Alban ac enillydd y wobr am y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Wrywaidd yn 2025 ar gyfer Sleazy Tiger. “Roedd yn flwyddyn hynod gref, ond roedd y perfformiadau hyn yn sefyll allan mewn ffordd a darodd tant arbennig i ni. Dangosodd gwaith Eben ystod anhygoel, yn amrywio o egni dwys i fregusrwydd. Roedd perfformiad Sarah yn teimlo fel rhywbeth sydd wedi’i fyw’n ddwfn ac yn hollol naturiol. Roedd perfformiad Lilit yn hiraethus ac yn dyner, ac yn dangos doethineb rhyfeddol sy’n mynd y tu hwnt i’w hoedran. Roedd gwylio pob un ohonynt yn fraint.”

Ffrydio Channel 4

O hanner nos ddydd Gwener 16 Hydref / oriau mân dydd Sadwrn 17 Hydref, bydd pob un o'r 15 ffilm sydd ar y rhestr fer ar gyfer y wobr Gorau Ym Mhrydain ar gael i'w gwylio ar Channel 4, fel rhan o dair rhaglen sy'n casglu'r ffilmiau hyn at ei gilydd. Bydd y ffilmiau unigol hefyd yn cael eu hychwanegu at wasanaeth ffrydio Channel 4, er y gallent ymddangos ar adegau ychydig yn wahanol yn dilyn y lansiad cychwynnol.

Darlledu ar Channel 4

Mae'r rhaglen gyntaf sy'n casglu'r ffilmiau Gorau Ym Mhrydain wedi'i hamserlennu i gael ei darlledu ar Channel 4 am 1:15am. ddydd Sadwrn 17 Hydref.

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.