Now in our 18th year of celebrating LGBTQ+ film, Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival brings filmmakers from around the world to Cardiff, Wales, UK. Iris is home to the largest short film prize in the world - the coveted £30,000 Iris Prize, supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation, which allows the winner to make their next LGBTQ+ short film here in Cardiff.

As well as the chance to see the very best in current LGBTQ+ short and feature filmmaking, the festival shares panel discussions, special events and legendary parties. We are renowned for our open, friendly and collaborative atmosphere, which sees hundreds welcomed into our worldwide Iris Family every year.

Iris Prize is a BAFTA qualifying festival for short film and has been identified as one of the "50 film festivals worth the entry fee" by MovieMaker Magazine 5 times. For a fifth year running, all 15 Best British shortlisted films will be broadcast on Film4 after the festival, and available to stream on Channel 4 for one year.

Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Festival is planned to take place in person 8th - 13th October 2024 and online across the UK throughout October..

Films of all types are accepted, including animation and documentary. We have no premiere requirements.

We offer a 100% fee waiver to all Iris Alumni. If you have screened a film at Iris previously, please contact info@irisprize.org to obtain the waiver code.

Iris Prize supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation
The largest LGBTQ+ short film prize in the world with £30,000 to make your next LGBTQ+ short and an invitation to sit on the 2025 International Jury.

Iris Prize Best British Short supported by Film4
The winner will receive an exclusive screening of their film at Pinewood Studios complete with red carpet, and a welcome reception with drinks and canapes sponsored by Pinewood Studios Group. They will also be invited to be part of the 2025 Iris Prize Best British Jury. All films in the Best British 2024 shortlist will be broadcast on Film4 and streamed on Channel 4. A licence fee will be paid to all shortlisted Best British filmmakers. After the end of the Channel 4 window the Best British Short nominated films will be offered a non-exclusive second window on OUTTv's global platforms.
Best Performance in Female Role in a British short - £250 cash to the performer, sponsored by Out & Proud
Best Performance in a Male Role in a British short - £250 cash to the performer, sponsored by Out & Proud
Best British Performance Beyond the Binary - £250 cash to the performer, sponsored Out & Proud

Iris Prize Best Feature, sponsored by Bad Wolf
Best Performance in a Female Role in a feature film, sponsored by DIVA Magazine
Best Performance in a Male Role in a feature film, sponsored by Attitude Magazine
Best Performance Beyond the Binary in a feature film, sponsored by Peccadillo Pictures
Youth Jury Award sponsored by Cardiff University

The following awards are sponsored by Mark Williams in memory of Rose Taylor.
Community Award - £250 to enable the community group to make more films
Education Award - £250 to enable the education/youth group to make more films
Micro Short Award - £100 to make more films

RULES - Iris Prize, Best British, Best Feature
1. All entries should be for, about or of significant interest to LGBTQ+ audiences, and must have been completed within 2 years prior to the submission deadline. Films which do not fit this criteria will not be considered. Films of all types are accepted, including animation and documentary. We have no premiere requirements.

2. All short films must have a runtime of 39 minutes or less. Any work with a longer runtime will be considered a feature. (Please note: the Iris Prize is for short films only.)

3. We have NO restrictions regarding films that have previously been, or are currently available online, or which have been broadcast on television.

4. To be eligible for the Iris Prize Best British Short you should be a UK citizen or have been resident in the UK for at least three consecutive years prior to submitting your film. All British films will automatically be considered for the Iris Prize.

5. All 15 films accepted into the 2024 Best British Shortlist will screen on Film4 at a date after the festival and be streamed on Channel 4 for one year. This is a condition of festival acceptance - If your film is selected for the Best British shortlist you MUST agree to screen on Film4 and be streamed on Channel 4. Also, you MUST supply us with all the film assets by 15 July 2024 . A license fee will be paid by Film4 to each filmmaker. After the Channel 4 window has ended you'll enjoy a non-exclusive window for your film to stream with Out Media Group (OMG / Froot.tv) on their worldwide platforms.

• As part of this agreement, filmmakers must assign these rights to Film4:
- Exclusive right for Channel 4 Television Corporation to exploit the films in the UK & Ireland on their linear licensed services including internet transmission for one year
- Exclusive right for Channel 4 Television for streaming and temporary download on demand in the UK & Ireland for one year
- Exclusive right for Channel 4 Television Corporation to temporary sideload films via their platforms, approved third party platforms and any devices with the appropriate functionality for one year

• Filmmakers are still free to do the following:
- Screen online everywhere (apart from UK & Ireland – streaming must be geolocked)
- Exhibit the film theatrically anywhere
- Distribute the film on physical media for home entertainment
- Make the film available on a Transactional Video on Demand service
- Make the film available on a Download-to-Own basis

6. By submitting your work to the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, you grant The Festivals Company Limited a non-exclusive licence to exhibit your work (if selected) theatrically and online (UK geolocked) at Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival. In addition, you also grant The Festivals Company Limited a non-exclusive licence to use an excerpt of your submission up to two minutes in length for promotional purposes only, and without limitation as to time in all media including but not limited to internet and television broadcast.

7. It is the intention of the Iris Prize to compile a selection of the shortlisted films for the Prize (Best of Iris 2024) and similar programmes to be made available as a package to festivals worldwide to promote Iris and the shortlisted films. By entering your work, you agree to have your entry included as part of the package (exceptions can be made if requested, please contact info@irisprize.org)

We also undertake education and outreach work throughout the year to combat homophobia and develop audiences for LGBTQ+ film. As part of this work we would like you, if selected for the shortlist, to grant us a non-exclusive licence to exhibit your film in programmes offered as part of this activity (exceptions can be made if requested).

8. The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival and The Iris Prize are trading styles of The Festivals Company Limited. The Festivals Company Limited reserves the right to vary the programme and detail of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival and Iris Prize competition in the light of commercial, economic or other operating requirements.

9. The juries will comprise of filmmakers, film industry personnel and figures from the LGBTQ+ community, invited by the festival to fulfil the duties allocated to them. The decision of the juries and the festival will be final.

10. All terms and conditions will be interpreted according to the laws of Wales.

11. All entrants must certify that appropriate copyright clearance for public exhibition of the work in the United Kingdom has been obtained. Failure to do so will result in the entry being disqualified.

12. The Festivals Company Limited and Iris Prize Outreach Ltd accept no responsibility for the loss or damage of any exhibition material whilst in transit.
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RULES - Community Award, Education Award, Micro Short
1. All entries should be related to or be of interest to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTQ+) audiences and completed within 2 years prior to the submission deadline

2. Community and Education short films must have a running time of 20 minutes or less. Films submitted for the Micro Short category must be 2 minutes or less. Any films that exceed these limits will not be viewed by the pre-selection panel.

3. The Iris Prize Community Award is open to UK based community groups. We consider a Community Group to be a group (a charity, an unincorporated association, community sports club or similar) which works for the public benefit or the benefit of its members or a group who share a common interest. Charities or public sector organisations can submit under this category, but we do not accept submissions from commercial businesses.

4. The Iris Prize Education Award is open to schools/colleges/other education establishments or youth groups based in the UK. At least 90% of participants involved in making the film must be under the age of 20 years.

5. The Iris Prize Micro Short Award is open to any individual or group based in the UK.

6. All entrants must certify that appropriate copyright clearance for public exhibition of the work in the United Kingdom has been obtained.

7. By submitting your work to the Iris Prize Festival, you grant The Festivals Company Limited a non-exclusive licence to exhibit your work (if selected) theatrically during the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival and at other Iris-branded events in the year following the festival. In addition, you also grant The Festivals Company Limited a non-exclusive licence to use an excerpt of your submission for promotional purposes only, and without limitation as to time in all media including but not limited to internet and television broadcast.

8. Iris Prize Outreach also undertakes education and outreach work throughout the year to challenge discrimination of LGBTQ+ people and to develop an audience for LGBTQ+ film. By submitting your film to us you grant us a non-exclusive licence to exhibit your film in programmes offered as part of this activity.

9. The Iris Prize Festival and The Iris Prize are trading styles of The Festivals Company Limited. The Festivals Company Limited reserves the right to vary the programme and detail of the Iris Prize Festival and Iris Prize competition in the light of commercial, economic or other operating requirements.

10. The juries will comprise of film makers and film industry personnel. The decision of the juries and the festival will be final.

11. The prize money will be payable to the school/college/education establishment/youth group or community group and not to any individual with the exception of the Micro Award category.

12. All terms and conditions will be interpreted according to the laws of Wales.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • James Berkery

    A wonderful festival - Thank you Adnan, Grant and everyone at Iris Prize.

    January 2024
  • 哲銘 章

    I Love this film festival !

    If you got selected , you have to be there .

    There are so many events at Iris .
    I met a lot of film makers and Iris hold party every night .
    It's literally a film Festival for film makers !

    November 2023
  • We were honoured to have our UK Premier at Iris! From the moment we found out our film had been selected, communication from the festival was warm and clear. Attending Iris was a truly inclusive and fun experience - all the team were so welcoming and friendly. I would definitely attend again and Iris also know how to throw a great party! Thank you for having us!

    November 2023
  • Elinor Randle

    It was amazing to have my film at Iris! Such a high quality selection of films, lovely people, parties and atmosphere. Loved it!

    October 2023
  • Thomas McDonald

    Was a real pleasure to screen our film JIM with Iris. An incredibly welcoming festival, with great networking opportunities, and a massive focus on continued support and opportunity even beyond the festival. Screening with Iris will help us get our film out there and seen in a way few other festivals could do! Huge thanks to the entire team

    October 2022