People

Patrons

The Iris Prize is indebted to its four patrons who offer invaluable support. They are...

Andrew PierceAndrew Pierce, Assistant Editor, The Daily Telegraph
Feared and revered in equal measure, Andrew Pierce is a tenacious political hack with a talent for breaking stories about the great and good. Pierce, 46, was brought up on a Swindon council estate, attended his local comp, never went to university and cut his teeth on local papers. As assistant editor of The Telegraph he is the most senior out gay journalist in British newspapers. He is also a seasoned broadcaster, has appeared in Question Time, and regularly makes the top 100 in the influential gays list.

 

 

 

Christopher Racster, ProducerChristopher Racster
Christopher Racster founded Archer Productions in 1994, an event and brand marketing company serving clients such as MTV, DreamWorks, Fox and Project Angel Food. He subsequently became Executive Director of marketing, advertising and PR for AsSeenIn.com. In 2000, Christopher joined BWR Public Relations as SVP charged with the creation of an event marketing division for global corporations such as BMW, Nike and Qantas. In 2002 he moved into filmmaking, producing award winning, globally distributed short films (including an official Sundance selection) and three features for the LGBT audience. As head of production for MG, Christopher's most recent film is Save Me.

 

 

 

Matthew RhysMatthew Rhys, Actor
Matthew plays the regular role of Kevin Walker in the ABC series Brother and Sisters and recently played the role of Dylan Thomas in the film The Edge of Love, which opened the 2008 Edinburgh International Film Festival. Born in Cardiff, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and was the first recipient of the Lady Rothermere Award, presented at the 1993 Evening Standard Drama Awards. On stage, he garned rave reviews as Romero in Peter Gill’s RSC production of Romeo and Juliet and in the role of Bejamin opposite Kathleen Turner in the stage adaptation of The Graduate. His other film credits include Love and Other Disasters and the forthcoming Virgin Territory.

 

 

Sara Sugarman, Director Sara Sugarman
Born in Rhyl, Wales, Sara Sugarman began her career as an actress appearing in television programmes such as Grange Hill and Juliet Bravo as well as the film Sid and Nancy. She made a name for herself behind the camera with a number of award-winning short films and made her feature debut with Mad Cows in 1999. Two years later she wrote and directed Very Annie Mary, which displayed the dark sensibility and unique Welsh humour of her earlier work. The film’s success brought Sugarman to the attention of Walt Disney who hired her to direct Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. Although she now lives in L.A, Sugarman remains one of Wales’ most unique talents.