The 15-strong short list for the Iris Prize Best British Short has been announced. The films were selected from a record number of more than 100 submissions.
Five of the films have been nominated by five UK LGBT festival partners - BFI Flare, Liverpool Pride, Scottish Queer International Film Festival, Queer Vision in Bristol, and Outburst in Belfast.
The winner will receive a post-production package to help with the making of their next film, comprising of sound mixing, sound track lay and dub plus layback. The package is worth an amazing £20,000 and is sponsored by Pinewood Studios Group.
Festival director Berwyn Rowlands said: “This award allows Iris to have a direct link with our indigenous filmmakers supporting LGBT film making talent across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The eclectic mix of topics to be seen on screen also suggest that we have an abundance of LGBT stories to share with the world. If you think you know what a gay short film is all about, think again. I’m always surprised, sometimes shocked but always entertained by what our film makers present on screen.”
Andrew Pierce, Chair of Iris Prize, added: “Since the creation of the award for the best British short, this has become a prize of increasing significance to the filmmakers. The £20,000 sponsorship from Pinewood Studios has been a major factor in its success, and this year, the recent announcement that all nominated films are eligible for BAFTA consideration only serves to strengthen the recognition of LGBT film talent in Britain”.
The shortlist is:
Ariel (2016) Dir: Macéo Bhardwaj
Acceptance (2016) Dir: Justin Groves
Balcony (2015) Dir: Toby Fell-Holden
Crossroad (2016) Dir: Leon Lopez
Dawn (2016) Dir: Jake Graf
G O'Clock (2015) Dir: Mitch Marion
High Heels Are Compulsory (2015) Dir: Annabel Cooper
Oh-Be-Joyful (2015) Dir: Susan Jacobson
Parting (2016) Dir Dimitris Toulias
Queen's Mile (2016) Dir: Martin Delaney
Sauna The Dead (2016) Dir: Tom Frederic
Souls (2016) Dir: Daniel Gage
Spilt Milk (2016) Dir: James Dunstan
Take Your Partners (2015) Dir: Siri Rødnes
The Carer (2106) Dir: Christine Parker
In addition, for the first time all of the nominated films are eligible for consideration for BAFTA and can automatically be entered by the filmmakers.
The organisers have also confirmed the names of the 35 short films competing for the Iris Prize, read more.
