Organisers of Iris Prize, Cardiff’s International LGBT+ Film Festival, are delighted to announce the full programme of screenings and events for its 15th year, which runs in Cardiff from 5th to 10th October and online until 31st October. The shortlist of 35 international filmmakers competing for £30,000 prize money is unveiled along with 15 filmmakers who are nominated for the Best British Short film prize. Remarkably this year’s nominees reflect a 50/50 divide of male and female filmmakers representing the full diversity and gender, including trans and non-binary individuals, actively engaging across the LGBT+ community.
Among the features films are UK premieres of new films from Bruce LaBruce and Todd Stephens along with critically acclaimed Firebird and Rebel Dykes. There are also a wide range of talks, panel discussions and a special awards ceremony on Saturday night. There’s also live music from HYYTS, the up-and-coming young synth pop band from Glasgow, who have also provided music for the festival montage trailers.
Screenings will take place for the first time in Premiere Cinemas Cardiff, marking an exciting new partnership with the festival, which is close to the heart of Cardiff’s LGBT+ nightlife, along with the ever-popular Chapter. So, plenty of reasons to celebrate.
The festival plans to offer an in-person extravaganza and after the success of last year’s virtual event, most of the 2021 programme is also being made available on-line throughout October for wider UK audiences to enjoy.
Here is the link to the 2021 Iris Prize International Trailer: https://youtu.be/b08P6O7Mok4
Berwyn Rowlands, Iris Prize says:
“This year's programme offers those who are ready to re-connect and meet likeminded people to watch amazing films in person a lot of choice. Our venues, including our new city centre home Premiere Cinemas are ready to put on a show. And although we are still living in a different world to when we last came together in 2019 – there will be much which is familiar, and fingers crossed a few new surprises. However, we are mindful that for some of our audience watching our 15th edition on-line works best. And looking at the numbers from last year, I’m sure that presenting the festival in person and on-line will become the norm.” Berwyn adds, “We have so much to enjoy this year I’m predicting many will take advantage of catching up with the films they missed in Cardiff during the festival week by taking advantage of the festival on-line which runs till the end of October. The best of both worlds!”Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, said:
“I’m delighted that Creative Wales is able to support Iris Prize again this year, in what will be the Festival’s 15th year. We are champions for inclusivity and diversity across the creative industries in Wales, and are proud to support an initiative that showcases Welsh creative talent within the LGTBQ+ community and takes this to a global stage. I’d like to wish participants the best of luck and congratulate them on their creative journeys so far.”
IRIS PRIZE 2021 INTERNATIONAL SHORTS, sponsored by The Michael Bishop Foundation
The Iris Prize, supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation have today announced the 35 shortlisted films in competition for the world’s largest international LGBT+ short film prize. Iris Prize has many international partner festivals who nominated 20 of the shortlisted films, with the remainder chosen by a pre-selection jury from a record number of films entered through open submissions. Filmmakers hail from Canada, Brazil, Philippines and for the first time, Iran and Russia. They are competing alongside Sweden, Spain, Czech Republic and UK counterparts. offering dramatically diverse representations within the global LGBT+ community, championing trans power, the exuberance of youth, and the complexity of emotionally personal stories. The one uniting factor in all 35 films is an exhilarating celebration of lives of LGBT+ people across the world.
IRIS PRIZE 2021, BEST BRITISH SHORTS, SPONSORED BY FILM 4 AND PINEWOOD STUDIOS
Iris Prize has also announced the 15 filmmakers who are competing for this year’s Iris Prize Best British Short supported by Film4 and Pinewood Studios. Additionally, UK audiences can join in the experience by watching all the nominated shorts for free online* All the nominated films are eligible for consideration for BAFTA and can automatically be entered by the filmmakers. You can view all the shortlisted films with extra details about the directors and images by following this link: irisprize.org/best-british-2021 HYYTS also provide the track DWY for the Best British montage which is unveiled on 16th September. Iris has brought together a strong line up of international feature films to complement its shorts programmes. This year includes two UK prestigious premieres by popular filmmakers. Firstly, there’s Bruce LaBruce’s Saint-Narcisse (2020) with Canadian actor Fėlix Antoine-Duval playing identical twins, separated at birth. who meet years later unaware of their shared past. Todd Stephens (Another Gay Movie) returns with Swan Song (2021) which won the audience award at Monte Carlo Comedy Film Festival. It stars the legendary German actor Udo Kier alongside Linda Evans (Dynasty) and Michael Urie (Ugly Betty). Both films are due to be released in UK by Peccadillo Pictures next year.
The much anticipated and highly entertaining UK documentary, Rebel Dykes (2021), directed by Harri Shanahan and Sian A. Williams, offers an energetic celebration of a group of punk lesbian collective who found their own unique form of activism fighting for LGBT rights during the 70s and 80s, taking in Greenham Common and the abseiling into the House of Lords. The film is also the centrepiece of a full day of related activities and talks at Chapter Cinema.
The festival recognises the power of actors who brings these stories to life with awards for Best Performance in A Male Role, sponsored by Attitude, and Best Performance in a Female Role, sponsored by Diva.
OPENING NIGHT, Tuesday 5th October
There’s a wealth of creative talent flourishing in Wales reflecting the diversity of the community and so Iris will reflect this with its Opening Night activities. There’s a screening of Lara Zeidan’s new short A Beautiful Form To See that’s a celebration of the female body. Shot in Wales, this is the film that Lara made after winning the Iris Prize in 2018 with Three Centimetres. We also have the first screening of Mathew David’s new film Skinny Fat, about a gay man who confronts his belly fat in a shop changing room, triggering him to relive an abusive past relationship. The film stars Welsh acting legend Ruth Madoc, who will be joined on the night by Iris Patron, Heather Small and other guests who will be entertained by festival partners the Co-op and offered a chance to taste some amazing food created by David Llewellyn from the Co-op’s Delicious Food Team. All-inclusive tickets to the films and party are available for only £12.
EVENTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
The continual success of Iris has been in developing a strong friendly community environment to share stories. This year is no exception as we encourage our audience to “watch, talk and listen” during the festival and we have ample opportunity for that with the Iris Film Academy and associated talks. Iris Live! returns – our daily roundup of interviews, gossip and much more.
The Iris Club in partnership with Diffusion: Cardiff’s International Festival of Photography will be located in the Queen’s Arcade. Be ready for some exciting work that will complement the moving images of Iris.
The Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival 2021 runs 5th to 10th October in person in Cardiff and will be available on-line in the UK for the full month of 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, Film 4, University of South Wales, Cardiff University, Co-op Respect, Bad Wolf, Gorilla Group, Peccadillo Pictures, Pinewood Studios, Attitude Magazine, Diva Magazine and The Ministry of Sound. The festival also works in partnership with BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru and Stonewall Cymru.
Mae'n bleser gan drefnwyr Gwobr Iris, Gŵyl LHDT+ Ryngwladol Caerdydd, gyhoeddi'r rhaglen lawn
- 19 o wledydd yn cael eu cynrychioli ar restr fer Gwobr Iris gan gynnwys Iran, Brasil, Y Philipinau, Bwlgaria a De Korea
- 3 gwneuthurwr ffilm o Gymru ymhlith yr enwebiadau Gorau Ym Mhrydain
- Ffilmiau nodwedd yn cynnwys premières y DU o ffilm Todd Stephens Swan Song a Saint Narcisse gan Bruce LaBruce, yn ogystal â digwyddiad arbennig ffilm Rebel Dykes
- Cyfoeth o ddigwyddiadau byw gan gynnwys gweithdy cerdd gyda band synthpop yr Alban, HYYTS a bwyd arbennig gan Chef y Co-op, David Llewellyn.
- “Er ein bod yn dal i fyw mewn byd gwahanol i pan ddaethom at ein gilydd ddiwethaf yn 2019 - bydd llawer o bethau cyfarwydd, a chroesi bysedd am ychydig o bethau annisgwyl newydd”.
Dywed Berwyn Rowlands, Gwobr Iris,
“Mae rhaglen eleni yn cynnig llawer o ddewis i’r rhai sy’n barod i ail-gysylltu a chwrdd â phobl debyg i wylio ffilmiau anhygoel wyneb-yn-wyneb. Mae ein lleoliadau, gan gynnwys ein cartref newydd yn Sinemâu Premiere, yng nghanol y ddinas, yn barod i’n croesawu. Ac er ein bod yn dal i fyw mewn byd gwahanol i pan ddaethom at ein gilydd ddiwethaf yn 2019 - bydd llawer o bethau cyfarwydd, a chroesi bysedd am ychydig o bethau annisgwyl newydd. “Fodd bynnag, rydym yn ymwybodol bod gwylio ein 15fed rhifyn ar-lein yn gweithio orau i rai o'n cynulleidfa. Ac o edrych ar y niferoedd o’r llynedd, rwy’n siŵr y bydd cyflwyno’r ŵyl wyneb-yn-wyneb ac ar-lein yn dod yn arfer.” Ychwanegodd Berwyn, “Mae gennym gymaint i’w fwynhau eleni rwy’n rhagweld y bydd llawer yn manteisio ar ddal i fyny gyda’r ffilmiau y gwnaethon nhw eu colli yng Nghaerdydd yn ystod wythnos yr ŵyl trwy fanteisio ar yr ŵyl ar-lein sy’n rhedeg tan ddiwedd mis Hydref. Y gorau o'r ddau fyd!”Dywedodd Dirprwy Weinidog y Celfyddydau a Chwaraeon, Dawn Bowden,
“Rwy’n falch iawn bod Creative Wales yn gallu cefnogi Gwobr Iris eto eleni, yn yr hyn fydd 15fed flwyddyn yr Ŵyl. Rydym yn hyrwyddwyr am gynhwysiant ac amrywiaeth ar draws y diwydiannau creadigol yng Nghymru, ac rydym yn falch o gefnogi menter sy'n arddangos talent greadigol Cymru yng nghymuned LHDTQ+ ac sy'n mynd â hyn i lwyfan byd-eang. Hoffwn ddymuno pob lwc i'r cyfranogwyr a'u llongyfarch ar eu teithiau creadigol hyd yn hyn."
GWOBR IRIS FFILMIAU BYRION RHYNGWLADOL 2021, a noddir gan Sefydliad Michael Bishop
Heddiw, mae Gwobr Iris, gyda chefnogaeth Sefydliad Michael Bishop, wedi cyhoeddi’r 35 ffilm ar y rhestr fer mewn cystadleuaeth am wobr ffilm fer LHDT+ ryngwladol fwyaf y byd.
Mae gan Wobr Iris lawer o wyliau-partner rhyngwladol a enwebodd 20 o'r ffilmiau ar y rhestr fer, gyda'r gweddill yn cael eu dewis gan reithgor cyn-ddethol o'r nifer uchaf erioed o ffilmiau a gofnodwyd trwy gyflwyniadau agored.
Mae gwneuthurwyr ffilm yn hanu o Ganada, Brasil, Y Philipinau, ac am y tro cyntaf, Iran a Rwsia. Maent yn cystadlu ochr yn ochr â chymheiriaid o Sweden, Sbaen, y Weriniaeth Tsiec a'r DU, gan gynnig dehongliadau dramatig ac amrywiol o fewn y gymuned LHDT+ fyd-eang, gan hyrwyddo pŵer traws, gorfoledd ieuenctid, a chymhlethdod straeon personol emosiynol. Yr un ffactor sy'n uno ym mhob un o'r 35 ffilm yw dathliad gwefreiddiol o fywydau pobl LHDT+ ledled y byd.
Gellir gweld montage Gwobr Iris, gyda thrac cerddoriaeth SOS gan ddeuawd alt-pop o’r Alban, HYYTS yma Trelar Gwobr Ryngwladol Iris
GWOBR IRIS 2021, FFILMIAU BYRION GORAU YM MHRYDAIN, a noddir gan FILM4 a Pinewood Studios
Mae Gwobr Iris hefyd wedi cyhoeddi’r 15 o wneuthurwyr ffilm sy’n cystadlu am Wobr Iris Gorau Ym Mhrydain eleni a noddir gan Film4 a Pinewood Studios. Yn ogystal, gall cynulleidfaoedd y DU ymuno yn y profiad trwy wylio'r holl ffilmiau byrion enwebedig am ddim ar-lein. Mae pob un o'r ffilmiau a enwebwyd yn gymwys i'w hystyried ar gyfer BAFTA a gall y gwneuthurwyr ffilm gael mynediad iddynt yn awtomatig. Gallwch weld yr holl ffilmiau ar y rhestr fer gyda manylion ychwanegol am y cyfarwyddwyr a'r delweddau trwy ddilyn y ddolen hon: irisprize.org/bestbritish Mae HYYTS hefyd yn darparu'r trac DWY ar gyfer y montage Gorau ym Mhrydain a ddatgelir ar 16 Medi.
FFILMIAU NODWEDD
Mae Iris wedi dwyn ynghyd casgliad cryf o ffilmiau nodwedd rhyngwladol i ategu at y rhaglenni o ffilmiau byrion. Mae eleni'n cynnwys dau premiere y DU gan wneuthurwyr ffilm poblogaidd. Yn gyntaf, mae Saint-Narcisse (2020) gan Bruce LaBruce gyda’r actor o Ganada Fėlix Antoine-Duval sy’n chwarae efeilliaid, wedi’u gwahanu adeg eu genedigaeth, sy'n cwrdd flynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach heb fod yn ymwybodol o'u gorffennol a rennir. Mae Todd Stephens (Another Gay Movie) yn dychwelyd gyda Swan Song (2021) a enillodd wobr y gynulleidfa yng Ngŵyl Ffilm Gomedi Monte Carlo. Mae'n cynnwys yr actor chwedlonol Almaeneg Udo Kier (ochr yn ochr â Linda Evans o Dynasty a Michael Urie o Ugly Betty). Disgwylir i'r ddwy ffilm gael eu rhyddhau yn y DU gan Peccadillo Pictures y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae'r rhaglen ddogfen boblogaidd a hynod ddifyr o’r DU, Rebel Dykes (2021), a gyfarwyddwyd gan Harri Shanahan a Siân A. Williams, yn cynnig dathliad egnïol o grŵp o lesbiaid pync a ddaeth o hyd i'w ffordd unigryw o actifiaeth yn ymladd dros hawliau LHDT yn ystod y 70au ac 80au, gan gynnwys Comin Greenham ac abseilio i mewn i Dŷ'r Arglwyddi. Mae'r ffilm hefyd yn ganolbwynt diwrnod llawn o weithgareddau a sgyrsiau cysylltiedig yn Sinema Chapter. Mae'r ŵyl yn cydnabod pŵer actorion sy'n dod â'r straeon hyn yn fyw gyda gwobrau am y Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Wrywaidd, a noddir gan Attitude, a'r Perfformiad Gorau mewn Rôl Fenywaidd, a noddir gan Diva.
NOSON AGORIADOL, Dydd Mawrth, 5 Hydref.
Mae yna gyfoeth o dalent greadigol yn ffynnu yng Nghymru sy'n adlewyrchu amrywiaeth y gymuned ac felly mae Iris yn bwriadu adlewyrchu hynny ar ei gweithgareddau Noson Agoriadol. Mae dangosiad o ffilm fer newydd Lara Zeidan, A Beautiful Form To See, sy’n ddathliad o’r corff benywaidd. Wedi’i ffilmio yng Nghymru, dyma'r ffilm y mae Lara wedi'i gwneud ar ôl ennill Gwobr Iris yn 2018 gyda Three Centimetres. Mae gennym hefyd y dangosiad cyntaf o ffilm newydd Mathew David, Skinny Fat, am ddyn hoyw sy’n wynebu ei fraster bol mewn ystafell newid siop ddillad, gan ei sbarduno i ail-fyw perthynas ddifrïol o’r gorffennol. Mae'r ffilm yn cynnwys yr arwres actio o Gymru, Ruth Madoc, a bydd Noddwraig Iris, Heather Small a gwesteion eraill yn ymuno â nhw ar y noson a fydd yn cael eu difyrru gan bartneriaid yr ŵyl, y Co-op, dan oruchwyliaeth y Cogydd, David Llewellyn. Mae'r tocynnau hollgynhwysfawr i'r ffilmiau a'r parti ar gael am £12.
