- Peccadillo Pictures MD to take over the role as festival looks to the future and 20th anniversary in 2026
- Suzy Davies and Alice Blanc also appointed to the Board
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Tom Abell has been confirmed as the new Chair of the Iris Prize. The announcement was made prior to the 2021 Iris Awards in Cardiff, by outgoing Chair Andrew Pierce, who leaves the role after almost seven years.
Accepting the role, Tom Abell paid tribute to Andrew Pierce for all of his work in securing major sponsorship and funding for the festival. Tom is a popular and familiar name within the British Film world, and was appointed the inaugural Iris Prize Fellowship in 2019, which honours those who have made a significant contribution to the LGBT+ film industry.
Other appointees to the Board include: Suzy Davies and Alice Blanc.
Suzy Davies is a qualified solicitor who became a Welsh politician, and served as a Member of the Senedd for South Wales West from 2011 to 2021. She held the office of Shadow Minister for Culture and Welsh Language between 2011 and 2016. She has written for various publications and was one of the founding board members of the Welsh International Film Festival in 1989 with Iris Prize Director Berwyn Rowlands.Alice Blanc is currently working as Distribution Coordinator, French Territories at Motion Picture Solutions. Alice's past experience volunteering at film festivals, current experience in outreach and event-producing sets them in great stead for this role.Alice has demonstrated great experience in account management, business development and sales. They are looking to pursue career within distribution, acquisition and marketing (Film and TV sector). And bring international experience to Iris: 11 years spent in Asia, speak 5 languages. Currently studying at UCLA Extension ‘Business & Management in Entertainment’.
They join Carol Jones, Christopher Racster, Heather Small, Katie White and Iris Prize Company Secretary, Grant Vidgen.
Tom Abell, Iris Chair said:
“It’s an honour and a privilege to be invited to become the new Chair of Iris Prize. I wish to pay thanks to Andrew Pierce for his tireless dedication to the festival these past few years enabling it to grow and expand its activities over that time. I very much look forward to working with team Iris over the coming months in helping shape its future.”
Berwyn Rowlands, Festival Director said:
“I’ve always been a huge admirer of Tom Abell and his commitment to making sure that audiences in the UK have access to LGBT+ stories. His experience and enthusiasm is well-known within the sector and Iris will be in a strong position because of his involvement. I can’t wait to work more closely with him.”
Rheolwr-Gyfarwyddwr Peccadillo Pictures i gymryd y rôl wrth i'r ŵyl edrych tuag at y dyfodol a'r 20fed pen-blwydd yn 2026
Penodi Suzy Davies ac Alice Blanc i'r Bwrdd hefyd
Mae Tom Abell wedi’i gadarnhau fel Cadeirydd newydd Gwobr Iris. Gwnaethpwyd y cyhoeddiad cyn Gwobrau Iris 2021 yng Nghaerdydd, gan y Cadeirydd ymadawol Andrew Pierce, sy'n gadael y rôl ar ôl bron i saith mlynedd.
Wrth dderbyn y rôl talodd Tom Abell deyrnged i Andrew Pierce am ei holl waith yn sicrhau nawdd a chyllid mawr ar gyfer yr ŵyl. Mae Tom yn enw poblogaidd a chyfarwydd ym myd Ffilm Prydain, ac fe’i benodwyd yn Gymrawd cyntaf Gwobr Iris yn 2019, cymrodoriaeth sy’n anrhydeddu’r rhai sydd wedi gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol i’r diwydiant ffilm LHDT+.
Ymhlith y rhai eraill a benodwyd i'r Bwrdd mae: Suzy Davies ac Alice Blanc.
Mae Suzy Davies yn gyfreithwraig gymwys o Gymru, a ddaeth yn wleidydd, a gwasanaethodd fel Aelod o’r Senedd Gorllewin De Cymru rhwng 2011 a 2021. Roedd yn Weinidog yr Wrthblaid dros Ddiwylliant a'r Iaith Gymraeg rhwng 2011 a 2016. Mae hi wedi ysgrifennu ar gyfer cyhoeddiadau amrywiol ac roedd yn un o aelodau bwrdd sefydlu Gŵyl Ffilm Ryngwladol Cymru ym 1989 gyda Chyfarwyddwr Gwobr Iris Berwyn Rowlands.
Ar hyn o bryd mae Alice Blanc yn gweithio fel Cydlynydd Dosbarthu, Tiriogaethau Ffrainc yn Motion Picture Solutions. Mae’r profiad blaenorol o wirfoddoli mewn gwyliau ffilm, profiad cyfredol mewn gwaith maes a digwyddiadau yn gosod Alice mewn lle gwych ar gyfer y rôl hon. Mae gan Alice brofiad gwych mewn rheoli cyfrifon, datblygu busnes a gwerthu. Mae Alice yn gobeithio dilyn gyrfa ym maes dosbarthu, caffael a marchnata (Sector Ffilm a Theledu). A daw â phrofiad rhyngwladol i Iris: treuliodd 11 mlynedd yn Asia, ac mae’n siarad 5 iaith. Ar hyn o bryd mae Alice yn astudio Busnes a Rheolaeth mewn Adloniant yn UCLA Extension.
Maent yn ymuno â Carol Jones, Christopher Racster, Heather Small, Katie White ac Ysgrifennydd Cwmni Gwobr Iris, Grant Vidgen.
Dywedodd Tom Abell, Cadeirydd Iris:
“Mae’n anrhydedd ac yn fraint cael fy ngwahodd i fod yn Gadeirydd newydd Gwobr Iris. Hoffwn ddiolch i Andrew Pierce am ei ymroddiad diflino i'r ŵyl yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf gan ei galluogi i dyfu ac ehangu ei gweithgareddau dros yr amser hwnnw. Edrychaf ymlaen yn fawr at weithio gyda thîm Iris dros y misoedd nesaf i helpu i lunio ei dyfodol."
Dywedodd Berwyn Rowlands, Cyfarwyddwr yr Ŵyl:
“Rwyf bob amser wedi bod yn edmygydd enfawr o Tom Abell a’i ymrwymiad i sicrhau bod cynulleidfaoedd yn y DU yn gallu cyrchu straeon LHDT+. Mae ei brofiad a'i frwdfrydedd yn adnabyddus o fewn y sector a bydd Iris mewn sefyllfa gref oherwydd ei ymrwymiad. Ni allaf aros i weithio'n agosach gydag ef.”
Y prif noddwyr yr Ŵyl yw:
Sefydliad Michael Bishop, Cymru Greadigol – asiantaeth Llywodraeth Cymru sy’n cefnogi’r sectorau creadigol yng Nghymru, BFI yn dyfarnu arian o’r Loteri Genedlaethol, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Film4, Prifysgol De Cymru, Prifysgol Caerdydd, Co-op Respect, Bad Wolf, Grŵp Gorilla, Peccadillo Pictures, Pinewood Studios, Cylchgrawn Attitude, Cylchgrawn Diva, a The Ministry of Sound. Mae'r ŵyl hefyd yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru a Stonewall Cymru.
Other appointees to the Board include: Suzy Davies and Alice Blanc.
Suzy Davies is a qualified solicitor who became a Welsh politician, and served as a Member of the Senedd for South Wales West from 2011 to 2021. She held the office of Shadow Minister for Culture and Welsh Language between 2011 and 2016. She has written for various publications and was one of the founding board members of the Welsh International Film Festival in 1989 with Iris Prize Director Berwyn Rowlands.
Alice Blanc is currently working as Distribution Coordinator, French Territories at Motion Picture Solutions. Alice's past experience volunteering at film festivals, current experience in outreach and event-producing sets them in great stead for this role. Alice has demonstrated great experience in account management, business development and sales. They are looking to pursue career within distribution, acquisition and marketing (Film and TV sector). And bring international experience to Iris: 11 years spent in Asia, speak 5 languages. Currently studying at UCLA Extension ‘Business & Management in Entertainment’.
They join Carol Jones, Christopher Racster, Heather Small, Katie White and Iris Prize Company Secretary, Grant Vidgen.
Mae Tom Abell wedi’i gadarnhau fel Cadeirydd newydd Gwobr Iris. Gwnaethpwyd y cyhoeddiad cyn Gwobrau Iris 2021 yng Nghaerdydd, gan y Cadeirydd ymadawol Andrew Pierce, sy'n gadael y rôl ar ôl bron i saith mlynedd.
Wrth dderbyn y rôl talodd Tom Abell deyrnged i Andrew Pierce am ei holl waith yn sicrhau nawdd a chyllid mawr ar gyfer yr ŵyl. Mae Tom yn enw poblogaidd a chyfarwydd ym myd Ffilm Prydain, ac fe’i benodwyd yn Gymrawd cyntaf Gwobr Iris yn 2019, cymrodoriaeth sy’n anrhydeddu’r rhai sydd wedi gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol i’r diwydiant ffilm LHDT+.
