The Iris Prize, Cardiff’s LGBT short film prize, provides a platform for filmmakers to explore LGBT issues, with the winner given the opportunity to produce a new film. This year’s Iris Prize Festival isn’t until October, but in the meantime the organisation are doing important work in the community.
Iris have launched a library of short films for free on YouTube as part of their education outreach project. The films were produced by young people across Wales dealing with LGBT bullying, and tackle the issues they face on a daily basis. Over half of all young gay people experience homophobic bullying, with a staggering 41% having attempted or considered suicide. 56% deliberately self-harmed, which rose to 61% if subjected to bullying. Ranging from light-hearted comedy to dark drama, the films’ messages are the same, highlighting that we are all just people.
Iris Prize’s seventh short film Spoilers will also be shortly released, with its premiere taking place at Cineworld before general broadcast on BBC Two and starting its international festival journey. Written and directed by Brendan McDonall, Spoilers tells the story of Leon and Felix, who meet unexpectedly and hit it off. Inspired by the spoiler phenomenon in films, television and literature, the film asks: what if someone ‘spoiled’ a relationship? If you knew it would lead to more suffering, would you carry on?
“The film is a kind of magic realist story about two guys who literally have matching luggage and enter into an extended date,” says McDonall. “The spoilers in the film are out there. In some ways it’s an experimental film – it breaks many rules, and there are flights of fancy and huge leaps of faith. What if a satnav had an opinion or what if a lobster was a bit homophobic? I don’t think you have to be a gay man to enjoy Spoilers, it’s very much about love.”
The Iris Prize/Iris Education Outreach. Info: www.irisprize.org; Spoilers Premiere, Cineworld, Cardiff, Wed 2 Mar. Info: www.cineworld.co.uk; Spoilers, BBC Two, Wed 9 Mar. Info: www.bbc.co.uk
words LUKE OWAIN BOULT