Iris Rising: Wales Welcomes a New Wave of Queer Cinema
Every autumn, Cardiff pulses with stories that refuse to be silenced. The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival — now in its 19th year — continues to cement itself as a cultural anchor for both Wales and the wider UK creative sector. Founded by Berwyn Rowlands in 2006, Iris was born from a radical vision: to build a cinematic stage that championed LGBTQ+ narratives with authenticity, urgency, and artistic excellence.
At its heart lies the world’s largest short film prize (£30,000), but Iris has become so much more. It is a community incubator, a talent accelerator, and an international beacon for queer creativity. Through Iris, Wales isn't just the host—it’s a collaborator.
🌟 A Platform Rooted in Place
Unlike many festivals rooted in industry glitz, Iris speaks directly to Wales's artistic soul. It elevates local voices while opening its doors to global talent. With Chapter Arts Centre as its home and Iris Online expanding access across the UK, the festival nurtures connection between emerging artists and the audiences who need their stories most.
Wales is not merely a backdrop—it’s a participant. From fringe-theatre-trained directors to community cinema organisers, the 2025 Iris lineup proves this. And for creatives in rural communities or marginalised spaces, Iris offers legitimacy, celebration, and reach.
🎬 The 2025 Best British Shortlist: Urgent, Electric, and Unapologetically Diverse
The introduction of Best British Day marks a seismic shift. For the first time, Iris dedicates an entire day to UK-based LGBTQ+ shorts—spotlighting homegrown work with international potential.
Backed by Film4 and Pinewood Studios, the 15 shortlisted films will stream for a full year on Channel 4 and qualify for BAFTA consideration. Rowlands notes: “In the early years, finding ten excellent short films was a challenge. Finding 15 this year was easy. We could have screened more.”
Among the standout selections:
🎭 BLACKOUT by Chris Urch — A celebrated playwright making his directorial debut, Urch captures tense intimacy in a city plunged into literal and emotional darkness. With Mawaan Rizwan in the lead, the film has already made waves at LSFF and BFI Flare.
🪄 Bury Your Gays by Charlotte Serena Cooper — Cooper’s leap from script supervision on Barbie and Mission: Impossible to directing is bold and deeply self-aware. Her debut interrogates narrative tropes with biting wit and heart.
🧕 Trailblazers by Sobia Bushra — A queer Bangladeshi refugee living in Cardiff, Bushra’s documentary profiles South Asian LGBTQ+ artists with intimacy, defiance, and cultural reclamation.
🎃 Hot Young Geek Seeks Blood Sucking Freak by Heath Virgoe — A surreal, irreverent horror comedy that embraces incel vampires, gender fluidity, and geekdom. Virgoe’s voice is fresh, witty, and gloriously strange.
✊ Two Black Boys in Paradise by Baz Sells — Using delicate stop-motion, Sells weaves a lyrical reflection on masculinity, identity, and longing. The film’s visual craftsmanship stands out in a list already rich with texture.
Other directors bring heavyweight credentials: Matthew Jacobs Morgan (Lisbon) writes for BBC’s Dope Girls and Amazon’s The Rig; Caleb J. Roberts (Purebred) explores class and queerness in Northern Ireland; James Ley (Sleazy Tiger) transitions from Fringe First-winning theatre to bold short-form screen work.
And still, the essence of Iris is in its support for first-time directors like Charlotte Serena Cooper, rising voices like Stuart Armstrong (Meat Raffle), and those crafting experimental magic like Penn Bálint (Soviet Fantasia), whose surreal lens reflects on disability and cultural hybridity.
🧵 Weaving Community Into Culture
Beyond the screen, Iris creates space for intergenerational exchange, activist filmmaking, and unscripted connection. With new award categories such as Best British Performance Beyond the Binary and juries made up of young people and elders, Iris bridges gaps and builds dialogue.
Its role in Wales’s arts sector can’t be overstated. As funding grows uncertain and small venues face existential pressure, Iris offers a clear example of how local creativity — backed by strategic support and visionary leadership — can go global.
This year’s celebrations, including a curated lunch and surprise activations on Best British Day, will honour not only the films but the people and communities behind them.
🔭 Where Wales Goes Next
Looking ahead, Iris doesn’t just showcase stories—it creates infrastructure. Through industry partnerships, community outreach, and an expanding online footprint, it turns possibility into permanence.
For Wales, Iris is more than a festival. It’s proof that culture can thrive on the margins, radiate from the grassroots, and still reach the stars.
Iris Prize 2025 runs from 13–19 October, with Best British Day taking place on Friday 17 October. Learn more or book tickets Here