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10 Oct 2007
Pariah is named as the winner of the inaugural Iris Prize

PariahAmerican director Dee Rees has been named the winner of the inaugural Iris Prize competition at a glittering award evening in Cardiff, Wales (UK).

Her film Pariah (pic, left) was chosen by the 10 strong International Jury as the best entry of the 30 short-listed films in the competition. Dee will now be invited to the United Kingdom to make a new short film.

The film is about a lesbian teenager who unsuccessfully juggles multiple identities to avoid rejection from her friends and family.

The 27-minute film was also named Best Narrative Short story at New York’s gay and lesbian film festival, NewFest, earlier this year.

Announcing the winner of the prize at the awards show at Cardiff’s Cineworld, Frances Hendron, Jury Chair said: "This film was impactful. It is a personal story told in a universal manner. The film maker displays excellent film making skills from the direction of the actors, the integral music sound track and a natural control of its subject.

"One scene in particular stays with me. It's when the main character - a young teenage lesbian slowly asserts her identity on the late night bus trip home. The director's thoughtful observation is poignant - we needed no script at this point"

Abbe Robinson receiving her prizeThe winner of the best UK entry was Private Life by film-maker Abbé Robinson (left, with Lisa Gornick) who studied her craft at International Film School Wales, Newport. Abbe receives £1,000 from Skillset towards training.

The film is set in Yorkshire in the 1950s and tells the story of Ruth Ackroyd who leaves her father’s textile mill on a Friday evening, takes the train to Manchester where she lives a secret double life.

The judges also commended four films: For the Love of God by British film-maker Joe Tucker, Peace Talk by Swedish director Jennifer Malmqvist,  Hello, My Name is Herman by Canadian Karine Silverwoman and Le Weekend by Timothy Smith.

"We've demonstrated during this inaugural festival that Iris has many friends located through out the world. Film makers who joined Iris in Cardiff, Wales (UK) came from the Bahamas, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Berlin, Paris and London. I can confirm that plans are underway for the 2008 event when we will once again welcome the global film making community to Wales," said Berwyn Rowlands, as Iris left the building.

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