News

17 Aug 2007
Iris Prize Shortlist Announced

Iris Patron Sara Sugarman

The shortlist of 30 short films competing for the Iris Prize, the International Gay and Lesbian Short Film Prize, has been announed today. The winner of the inaugural prize, who will be invited to make their next short film in the UK, will be announced during a three day festival held in Cardiff, Wales (UK) from October 4th.

"I am thrilled to announce the names of the 30 short films competing for this year’s Iris Prize. This impressive line-up confirms that there is a wealth of talent out there waiting to be discovered. I’ve no doubts that the international jury will find it very difficult choosing an overall winner. However, all the film makers who’ve reached the final stage in Cardiff are already winners for getting this far" said Sara Sugarman (pictured, right), Festival Patron.

Sugarman will be joined on the International Jury by Andrew Pierce, Assistant Editor of The Daily Telegraph, renowned Welsh designer Angela Gidden MBE, Ceri Sherlock, Commissioning Executive, Arts, BBC Wales, award winning British filmmaker Lisa Gornick, American filmmakers Christopher Racster, Brent Gorski and Jaymes Thompson, and Paul Smith from the UK’s leading independent film distribution company Tartan Films who’ve championed and promoted such renowned gay filmmakers as Todd Haynes, Gregg Araki and Gus Van Sant.

The international support for the inaugural event has been extensive with submissions received form countries around the globe including Hong Kong, the Philippines, USA, Ireland, Australia, the UK and the Bahamas, amongst many others. This level of interest is mirrored by the global network of Partner Festivals who have nominated half of the thirty films shortlisted for the prize.

"This global network of support has been key to the success of the competition allowing Iris to make new friends by reaching the international gay and lesbian film making community. Our focus now is to make the festival in October a memorable event for all the competing film makers, members of the public and our international jury who have been charged with choosing the 2007 Iris Prize winner," added Prize Founder, Berwyn Rowlands.

The full line-up for the Iris Prize Festival, which will include screenings of all the 30 shortlisted films, as well as feature films (including European Premieres), workshops and the closing night award ceremony, will be announced on Friday, August 31st.

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