Education Day takes centre stage!

• Iris Education Day is a full house with 6 schools and 2 local groups attending

• “important for young people to see positive LGBT role models, people at the top of their game working in the film industry”
  Organisers of the Iris Prize have today (29/09/2017) confirmed that the 2017 Iris Education Day is full! The education day has become a regular fixture for The Iris Prize festival, Cardiff’s international LGBT film festival. The programme for the day includes an opportunity for the next generation of filmmakers to interview Lisa Donato and Fawzia Mirza (pictured left) (Signature Moves) on how they developed their careers. The young audience will also get a chance to be judges as they choose the 2017 Iris Prize Youth Award winner sponsored by Cardiff University. Mark Williams, Project Facilitator, Iris in the Community, commented: “This is the first time we’ve been in this position and I’m thrilled. We’ve got 6 schools and 2 local groups attending the education day – a full house. Next year we will need a bigger cinema!” “Iris has been engaging with young people for 8 years and during this time we’ve secured the respect and trust of the sector for delivering meaningful and entertaining education programmes. The environment you create for learning is important and sharing the talent we have attending the festival with the next generation of film makers and viewers is essential.” “Our outreach programme supported by the Big Lottery Wales, Welsh Government, Ffilm Cymru Wales and Stonewall Cymru allows us to deliver a year-round programme of activities. Our next big project will be Iris on the Move in Llandudno Junction. The confirmed dates are 24 through 26 January 2018 taking in Dydd Santes Dwynwen.” Andrew Pierce, Iris Prize Chair, commented: “I’m delighted that Iris is able to continue our important work with schools in Wales. These young people are the future and it is important for them to see positive LGBT role models, people at the top of their game working in the film industry.” The schools and groups attending the 2017 Iris Education Day are: Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn, Lewis School Pengam, Eastern High School, Stanwell School, Fitzalan High Ysgol, Gyfun Gwynllyw, Trans*form Cymru and Media Academy Cardiff. A pupil from Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn who has previously attended an Iris education day, commented: “My favourite part was speaking to the professional panel as it gave me a real insight into film making and production that I hadn’t known before and has given me inspiration for future careers.” The main festival sponsors are: The Michael Bishop Foundation, Welsh Government, BFI, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Pinewood Studios Group, Cardiff University, Cardiff BID, Gorilla Group, Co-op Respect and Cineworld. The festival also works in partnership with BAFTA Cymru and Pride Cymru.