Iris Prize 2025: First Award Winners Announced in Community, Education and Micro-short Categories
The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival has officially unveiled its first round of winners for 2025, celebrating outstanding contributions in the Community, Education, and Micro-short categories. These awards shine a spotlight on emerging talent, grassroots creativity, and the power of storytelling in its most concise form — and this year’s recipients are nothing short of inspiring.
🎥 Community Award: Dysgu Hedfan Taking home the Community Award is Dysgu Hedfan, directed by Juliette Manon. Commissioned by S4C in partnership with It’s My Shout, the film exemplifies the spirit of community-led filmmaking. This category honours work created by non-professionals, grassroots groups, and projects without full funding — and Dysgu Hedfan stands as a testament to what can be achieved with passion, vision, and local support.
🎓 Education Award: After Everything The Education Award, reserved for films made within educational settings by creatives aged 21 and under, has been awarded to After Everything, directed by Olivia Phillips and Connie Beck. This poignant piece showcases the depth and maturity of young filmmakers, proving that age is no barrier to crafting emotionally resonant and technically accomplished cinema.
⏱️ Micro-short Award: The Gardener In the Micro-short category, which celebrates films under two minutes in length, The Gardener by Efa Blosse-Mason and Sofie Marsh has emerged victorious. Despite its brevity, the film delivers a powerful punch, demonstrating how even the shortest stories can leave a lasting impression.
🏆 A Celebration of Emerging Voices These awards not only recognise artistic excellence but also reaffirm Iris Prize’s commitment to nurturing new voices and expanding the reach of LGBTQ+ storytelling. Whether through community collaboration, educational platforms, or bite-sized brilliance, each winning film contributes to a richer, more inclusive cinematic landscape.
To explore these films and discover more about the Iris Prize 2025 programme, visit the official website: irisprize.org.
