GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING TO THE IRIS PRIZE

Submissions to the 2012 Iris Prize are open!

All entries should be by, for, about or of significant interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex audiences and must have been completed within 2 years prior to the submission deadline. (That is they must have been completed between 3 July 2010 and 6 July 2012.)

Any short film of 39 minutes or less which meets these criteria will be eligible for The Iris Prize 2012. The winner of The Iris Prize 2012 will be invited to make another short film using a package of services and facilities valued at £25 000.

Any short film of 39 minutes or less which is made by a film maker who is a United Kingdom citizen or who has been resident in the United Kindgom for at least three years prior to the submission deadline will also be eligible for the Best UK Short Award.

Any feature film will be eligible for the Iris Prize Best Feature Award which is a £1 000 cash prize kindly sponsored by Martin Briggs Independent Financial Adviser. The recipient of this Award is decided by a ballot of the Friends of Iris

A shortlist of 30 short films and upto 8 features films will be selected to screen as part of the Iris Prize Festival, which will be held in Cardiff, Wales (UK) from 10 - 14 October 2012 incluslive.

All short film entries must be no longer than 39 minutes in length.

We’re sorry but any short film shortlisted for Iris 2011 is ineligible to compete.

A fully completed entry form and submission fee must accompany each submission (short or feature). If you are submitting more than one film, please complete a separate submission form for each entry.

The quickest and cheapest way for you to submit is through our partner Withoutabox. 

For 2012 direct submissions via this web site must pay a fee of £20.00 GBP which covers our processing and submission management costs.  This is a non-refundable fee and you will be taken to our secure payment pages (payment is powered by WorldPay) after completing the online submission form.

DVD is the preferred format for submission viewing copies (but we are also able to view Blu-Ray or digital media files). All viewing copies must be clearly labelled with the title of the work, running time, filmmaker’s name and contact details. Please test consumer burned DVDs on several DVD players prior to submitting your work.

If shortlisted, you must be able to submit your work to be exhibited as a Digital Cinema Package or digital media files (HD Quicktime using h264 preferred).  Work submitted in other formats may not be projected at the quality we'd all like.  Contact us as soon as possible if you are unable to meet either of these delivery formats.  

Please ensure that you submit everything listed on the Check List noted at the bottom of the submission form. Production information, Director’s Biography and image, and film stills are essential publicity materials. Please ensure that all images are of the highest quality possible. Any images emailed must be JPEG or TIFF format and at least 1200 x 900 pixels .

Updated versions of submitted short films will not be accepted after the submission deadline date, Friday 5 July 2012

The Festivals Company Limited and the Iris Prize accept no responsibility for the loss or damage of any submission viewing copies or supporting materials, or any exhibition material whilst in transit.

Works in languages other than English must be subtitled for exhibition. English subtitles are strongly preferred for submission viewing copies, but works without subtitles will be accepted for consideration.

Successful entrants will be informed that their work has been shortlisted by early September 2012.

All shortlisted work will be exhibited during the Iris Prize Festival in Cardiff over the period 10 - 14 October 2012 and as part of a video-on-demand programme within the United Kingdom for one month after the theatrical screnning.

All shortlisted entrants are strongly encouraged to attend the Iris Prize Festival in Cardiff and every effort will be made to provide them with accommodation.

The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

If you wish to have your preview DVD/Blu-Ray, or any supporting promotional material, returned to you, please include a stamped addressed envelope or international reply coupon along with your submission. Viewing by the pre-selection jury will take place in July 2012 and no material can be returned before the completion of the pre-selection. (Please note the Iris Prize will retain submission copies of shortlisted entries).

Entries should be sent to: The Iris Prize, c/o The Festivals Company Limited, Ty Cefn, Rectory Road, Canton, Cardiff. CF5 1QL. Wales, UK.

The Iris Prize will send an acknowledgement email once your entry has been received.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 5 July, 2012.  No work will be accepted after this date.