🎬 Iris Prize 2025: 35 Short Films, 21 Countries, One Unmissable Week in Cardiff
The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival is back and it’s bigger, bolder, and more beautifully diverse than ever. This October, Cardiff once again rolls out the rainbow carpet for the 19th edition of the world’s most generous LGBTQ+ short film prize, offering a whopping £40,000 to one lucky filmmaker to create their next cinematic gem.
From 13–19 October, the Welsh capital becomes a global stage for queer storytelling, with 35 short films from 21 countries competing for the coveted Iris Prize. And this year, history is made: Turkey and Pakistan join the shortlist for the very first time, proving that powerful LGBTQ+ narratives are thriving in places where visibility is often hard-won.
Festival Director Berwyn Rowlands puts it best: “Sharing LGBTQ+ stories, often ignored by the mainstream, is an important part of what Iris is all about.” And with more filmmakers than ever confirming their attendance, Iris isn’t just a screening event — it’s a week-long celebration of connection, creativity, and Cardiff charm.
🌍 Stories Without Borders
The 2025 shortlist is a kaleidoscope of emotion, humour, and heartache. From drag queens in Istanbul to witches in futuristic Rio, the films explore love, loss, identity, and resistance in ways that are deeply personal and universally resonant.
Highlights include:
🇵🇰 Cats Can Teach You To Die Alone (Dir: Hanuš, Pakistan) — A haunting meditation on memory and regret, sparked by a phone call from an ex-lover.
🇹🇷 Hi Mom, It’s Me, Lou Lou (Dir: Atakan Yilmaz, Turkey) — A drag performer returns home after his mother’s death, confronting grief and tradition.
🇺🇸 Rainbow Girls (Dir: Nana Duffuor, USA) — Three Black trans women stage a luxury brand heist in San Francisco. Robin Hood, but make it fabulous.
🇮🇳 Jasmine That Blooms in Autumn (Dir: Chandradeep Das, India) — A tender tale of love between two elderly women in a care home, blooming quietly against the odds.
🇬🇧 Sweetheart (Dir: Luke Wintour, UK) — Set in 1723 London, this Best British contender whisks us into a Molly house, where Thomas Neville finds refuge and revelry after being caught cruising.
And that’s just scratching the surface. Whether it’s cerebral palsy and longing (Damp, Taiwan), queer foster teens in 1970s LA (Dandelion, USA), or a priest on the brink (Fr. Brennan is Having a Breakdown!, Ireland), the Iris shortlist is a masterclass in storytelling that refuses to be boxed in.
🎟️ How to Join the Celebration
The box office opens 18 September (11 September for members), with Full Festival Passes, Industry Day Passes, Day Passes, and Weekend Passes all up for grabs. Can’t make it to Cardiff? No worries, all shortlisted films will be available to watch online, and audiences worldwide can vote for their favourite to win the Iris Prize Co-op Audience Award.
🏆 More Than a Trophy
The Iris Prize isn’t just a shiny accolade. It’s a launchpad. The winner receives £40,000 to make their next LGBTQ+ short and a seat on the 2026 Iris Prize Jury, a chance to shape the future of queer cinema.
So whether you’re a film buff, a culture vulture, or simply someone who loves a good story well told, Iris 2025 promises a week of unforgettable moments. Cardiff’s calling, and the world is watching.
