Frances Hendron has always loved film. Though 20 years in Glasgow, she comes from Northern Ireland.  For 13 of these she ran the Celtic Media Festival.  She has been a juror for film festivals in Canada and the UK.  Recent projects include work with the Scottish Poetry Library, the Empire Café and the Scottish Civic Trust.

I have watched the Iris Prize Festival grow since 2007 when I chaired the first jury.  That was a huge honour; all of us on the jury that first year knew this was a special event – a wonderful, big, business risk and without doubt one of the most creative film festival templates ever.  Now 10 years on, I’m returning to chair the British jury – 15 short films vying for £20K of support.  I am proud, happy and a little anxious to make a great decision, knowing it will be a hard decision to make.  And very much looking forward to a week in warm, sunny Cardiff.  Expectations are high and I’m excited to be there, watching films and catching up with Iris friends.