News
27 Aug 2008
2008 Jury Announced
The International Jury for the Iris Prize has been announced by Iris Prize Patron Andrew Pierce (pictured right). The Iris Prize, the world’s largest gay and lesbian short film prize, is part of the Iris Prize Festival which takes place from 2nd – 4th October 2008 at Cineworld and Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, Wales (UK).
"The International Jury, Chaired by Elan Closs Stephens a former Governor of the British Film Institute, is made up of a cross section of people at the top of their game. It includes the hugely talented Simon Russell Beale (pictured right) whose performance of Hamlet at The National Theatre in 2000 was voted the best ever by The Daily Telegraph. Who am I to disagree!" said Andrew Pierce, Assistant Editor, The Daily Telegraph and Iris Prize Patron.
"The jury also includes many of the directors and writers of the feature films we screen as part of the festival. The full list of jury members are: Elan Closs Stephens (Chair), Dee Rees (Iris Prize winner 2007), Simon Russell Beale (Actor, UK), David Pearce (Programmer, Australia), Gwion ap Rhisiart (Film reviewer, Wales), Johann Hari (Journalist, UK), Tom Abell (Distributor, UK), Lewis Tice (Distributor, US), Casper Andreas (Director, US), Yair Hochner (Director, Israel), Nia Dryhurst (Director, Wales), Jonah Blechman (Actor, US), Todd Stephens (Director, US)," he added.
"It is a great honour to have been invited to chair this year’s Iris Prize jury. It will be a privilege for us to see lesbian and gay film making at its best on the big screen," said Elan Closs Stephens, Professor of Communications and Creative Industries at
"I’m also very excited at the make-up of the international jury, with people travelling from the