Two Black Boys in Paradise is a movingly tender stop-motion animation that tells the story of Eden (19) and Dula (18) - two young Black boys on a journey of self-acceptance as their love for each other, and their refusal to hide it, lands them in a paradise free from shame and judgement. Based on Dean Atta’s poem from his acclaimed poetry collection There is (still) Love Here, and narrated by narrated by musician, actor and writer Jordan Stephens, it explores themes of homophobia and racism, and tackles the real-life struggle of identity, sexuality and belonging. Actor Arun Blair-Mangat (Kinky Boots, In the Heights) provides non-verbal sounds for the film, alongside Stephens’ narration.
Ben Jackson, producer of Two Black Boys in Paradise said: “We are incredibly honoured to have been part of this festival which celebrates and champions LBGTQ+ storytelling and ensures inclusivity with audience initiatives such as its captioned screening with BSL Q&A for deaf people and audio-described film options. From the very start of this project, we wanted our film to reach as wide an audience as possible, and we will be forever grateful to Iris for helping us towards that goal. To have won the 2025 Iris Prize Co-op Audience Award which has been voted for by the festival-goers themselves has made the whole experience even more special.”
Baz Sells, director of Two Black Boys in Paradise added: “Even before finishing production on Two Black Boys in Paradise, we had hoped that our film would find a place amongst the Iris Prize programmes. For that to happen this year was a huge honour, and to now receive the Iris Prize, Co-op Audience Award is an absolute dream. We are privileged to become part of the Iris family and have been incredibly moved by the exceptional queer films that we’ve played alongside - we’d like to thank our fellow filmmakers and the Iris Prize audience and staff for making our experience so special. This award belongs to everyone who helped us take Dean Atta’s vital poem from the page to the screen."
The Iris Prize Co-op Audience Award was presented this evening (27 November) at the The Theatre, Atrium, University of South Wales at the Iris Prize Closing Credits event, which was an opportunity to look back at the festival highlights and thank our partners and sponsors who made Iris 2025 such a fantastic success.
Baz Sells Acceptance speech
Neil Moffatt, Commercial Delivery Manager with Co-op, said: “We are really proud to sponsor the Iris Prize Co-op Audience Award, celebrating films that inspire empathy and inclusion. It’s the sixth year for this award and the audience this year have voted for a beautiful poem that’s been brought to life in a wonderful animation.”
Berwyn Rowlands, Iris Prize Festival Director said: "I recognise that the Co-op Audience Award is a direct link between the Iris Prize and the general public. It is a valuable reminder of what the wider community is thinking and is very popular with filmmakers as it reminds them that they know something about excellence in storytelling."
Two Black Boys in Paradise is available to stream on Channel 4
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/two-black-boys-in-paradise
Full details about Iris can be found here: www.irisprize.org
Iris Prize will return in 2026 for the 20th edition on Monday 12 October until Sunday 18 October.
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; Transport for Wales; Stadium Plaza; and OUTflix. The festival also works in partnership with BAFTA Cymru and Pride Cymru.
Two Black Boys in Paradise yn ennill Gwobr Cynulleidfa’r Co-op Gwobr Iris
- Two Black Boys in Paradise wedi'i gyfarwyddo gan Baz Sells yn ennill Gwobr Cynulleidfa'r Co-op Gwobr Iris
- Bydd Channel 4 yn ffrydio pob un o'r 15 ffilm fer ar restr fer Gorau Ym Mhrydain– gan gynnwys Two Black Boys in Paradise – am 11 mis arall
- “Rydym yn hynod o anrhydeddus o fod wedi bod yn rhan o'r ŵyl hon sy'n dathlu ac yn hyrwyddo adrodd straeon LHDTQ+ ac yn sicrhau cynhwysiant gyda mentrau cynulleidfa fel ei dangosiad gyda chapsiynau gyda chwestiynau ac atebion Iaith Arwyddion Prydain i bobl fyddar ac opsiynau ffilm â disgrifiad sain.” Ben Jackson, cynhyrchydd Two Black Boys in Paradise
- “Rwy'n cydnabod bod Gwobr Cynulleidfa'r Co-op yn gyswllt uniongyrchol rhwng Gwobr Iris a'r cyhoedd yn gyffredinol. Mae'n atgof gwerthfawr o'r hyn y mae'r gymuned ehangach yn ei feddwl ac mae'n boblogaidd iawn gyda gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau gan ei fod yn eu hatgoffa eu bod yn gwybod rhywbeth am ragoriaeth mewn adrodd straeon." Berwyn Rowlands
Mae Two Black Boys in Paradise yn animeiddiad stop-symudiad tyner a chyffrous sy'n adrodd hanes Eden (19) a Dula (18) - dau fachgen Du ifanc ar daith o hunan-dderbyniad wrth i'w cariad at ei gilydd, a'u gwrthodiad i'w guddio, eu glanio mewn paradwys sy'n rhydd o gywilydd a barn. Yn seiliedig ar gerdd Dean Atta o'i gasgliad barddoniaeth clodwiw There is (still) Love Here, ac wedi'i hadrodd gan y cerddor, actor ac awdur Jordan Stephens, mae'n archwilio themâu homoffobia a hiliaeth, ac yn mynd i'r afael â'r frwydr bywyd go iawn rhwng hunaniaeth, rhywioldeb a pherthyn. Mae'r actor Arun Blair-Mangat (Kinky Boots, In the Heights) yn darparu synau di-eiriau ar gyfer y ffilm, ochr yn ochr â naratif Stephens.
Dywedodd Ben Jackson, cynhyrchydd Two Black Boys in Paradise: “Mae’n anrhydedd fawr i ni fod wedi bod yn rhan o’r ŵyl hon sy’n dathlu ac yn hyrwyddo adrodd straeon LHDTQ+ ac yn sicrhau cynhwysiant gyda mentrau cynulleidfa fel ei dangosiad gyda chapsiynau gyda sesiwn holi ac ateb Iaith Arwyddion Prydain i bobl fyddar ac opsiynau ffilm gyda disgrifiad sain. O ddechrau’r prosiect hwn, roedden ni eisiau i’n ffilm gyrraedd cynulleidfa mor eang â phosibl, a byddwn ni’n ddiolchgar am byth i Iris am ein helpu ni tuag at y nod hwnnw. Mae ennill gwobr Cynulleidfa’r Co-op Gwobr Iris 2025, a bleidleisiwyd drosto gan fynychwyr yr ŵyl eu hunain, wedi gwneud y profiad cyfan hyd yn oed yn fwy arbennig.”
Cyflwynwyd Gwobr Cynulleidfa’r Co-op Gwobr Iris heno (27 Tachwedd) yn Theatr yr Atriwm, Prifysgol De Cymru yn nigwyddiad Credydau Cloi Gwobr Iris, a oedd yn gyfle i edrych yn ôl ar uchafbwyntiau'r ŵyl a diolch i'n partneriaid a'n noddwyr a wnaeth Iris 2025 yn llwyddiant mor wych.
Dywedodd Neil Moffatt, Rheolwr Cyflenwi Masnachol gyda’r Co-op: “Rydym yn falch iawn o noddi Gwobr Cynulleidfa’r Co-op Gwobr Iris, gan ddathlu ffilmiau sy’n ysbrydoli empathi a chynhwysiant. Dyma’r chweched flwyddyn ar gyfer y wobr hon ac mae’r gynulleidfa eleni wedi pleidleisio dros gerdd hardd sydd wedi dod yn fyw mewn animeiddiad gwych.”
Dywedodd Berwyn Rowlands, Cyfarwyddwr Gŵyl Gwobr Iris: "Rwy'n cydnabod bod Gwobr Cynulleidfa'r Co-op yn gyswllt uniongyrchol rhwng Gwobr Iris a'r cyhoedd yn gyffredinol. Mae'n atgof gwerthfawr o beth mae'r gymuned ehangach yn ei feddwl ac mae'n boblogaidd iawn gyda gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau gan ei fod yn eu hatgoffa eu bod yn gwybod rhywbeth am ragoriaeth mewn adrodd straeon."
Mae Two Black Boys in Paradise ar gael i'w ffrydio ar Channel 4 https://www.channel4.com/programmes/two-black-boys-in-paradise
Mae manylion llawn am Iris i'w cael yma: www.irisprize.org
Bydd Gwobr Iris yn dychwelyd yn 2026 am yr 20fed rhifyn ddydd Llun 12 Hydref tan ddydd Sul 18 Hydref.
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; Plaza’r Stadiwm; ac OUTflix. Mae'r ŵyl hefyd yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â BAFTA Cymru a Pride Cymru.
