School pupils premier anti-bullying films at Iris Prize Festival

School pupils premier anti-bullying films during international LGBT film festival

100 pupils from all over Wales to attend Iris Prize Education Day

7 schools represented as pupils decide who will win the Youth Jury short film award sponsored by Cardiff University
As film makers from all over the world descend on Cardiff this week for the annual Iris Prize Festival, pupils from 7 schools in Wales will also be participating in a special education day as part of the event. The day is dedicated to young people between the ages of 14 and 18, covering all things film including writing, directing and a chance to see some films and meet filmmakers. However the 2015 programme has shifted the spotlight back on the school pupils themselves, as the festival screens their anti-bullying short films. The films have been produced by the pupils as part of the festival’s education and outreach programme funded by Ffilm Cymru Wales, YouTube and UIA (insurance with principals). Dealing with LGBT bullying some of the films are hard hitting dealing with suicide head on while others have taken a lighter route to communicate their message using comedy. As part of the education day the pupils will discuss both approaches and evaluate how effective they have been. The public will get to see the work at the end of October when the films will be available on the Iris Prize Festival’s festivals YouTube channel. The schools taking part this year include one from Menai Bridge in North Wales and one from Newport in South Wales. The full list:
  • Cardiff High School
  • St Julian's School
  • Whitchurch High School
  • Woodlands High School
  • Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr
  • Ysgol David Hughes
  • Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Rhondda
“I’m delighted we will be welcoming 100 pupils from schools across Wales to a full programme discussing filmmaking and how to tackle discrimination in their schools,” said Mark Williams, who leads on Iris’ education and outreach work. “This year, as well as having the chance to interview Iris Prize 2014 winner Brendon McDonall from Australia, our young filmmakers will be able to review six films which have been written and produced by schools taking part in the Iris Outreach programme. I'm personally very proud of the films they have made and can't wait for the audience reaction,” he added. The pupils will also be voting for the Iris Prize Youth Jury award sponsored by Cardiff University. The pupils will watch and review 4 films – one each from Australia and the UK and two from Denmark. The winning film will be announced during the 2015 Award Show presented by Amy Lamé and will be used in schools as part of the festival’s outreach work in 2016.