Iris Prize announces winner of top film award
The festival is a major celebration of LGBTQ film.
The 19th edition of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival has announced its winners.
The top prize this year has been award to Alexander Farah for his film, One Day This Kid.
Based in Canada, Farah is an experienced filmmaker. He identifies as queer as also celebrates his Afghan heritage.
One Day This Kid, tells the story of Hamed, a first-generation Afghan Canadian man, through a deftly composed array of small yet pivotal moments. Hamed takes steps toward establishing an identity of his own while always conscious of his father's shadow.
“A life that flashes before our eyes, this film is a remarkable feat..." said Tom Paul Martin - chair of the jury awarding the prize. "Every scene is so richly embroidered with detail, but it never feels overwhelming. That’s because the themes - of queerness being with us before we have the words to describe it, and the longing to reconcile it with our other identities - are so universal. Hamed’s story resonated with each of us and we know it will continue to resonate with audiences worldwide."
“Every year I am amazed at the craftsmanship and storytelling skills of our winning films, and this year is no exception..." said Berwyn Rowlands, director of the festival. "One Day This Kid is a delightful piece of cinema that weaves snapshots from one man’s life from a young boy to a mature adult. It is an emotional journey that we are invited to share with the filmmaker.”
Best British Short Film Award
Blackout by Chris Urch was the jury's selection for his the Best British Short Film Award.
The film tells the story of a young man living in a high-rise apartment who is disturbed by domestic violence in the flat next door. He soon comes to realise that violence isn’t always on the outside – sometimes it’s with us all along.
Urch is a playwright and screenwriter - he was part of the writing team behind Steve McQueen's critically acclaimed series, Small Axe.
“It was an honour to be a chair once again with The Iris Prize as it allows LGBTQIA stories to be told and gives a platform to emerging talent..." said Tim Highsted - chair of the jury for this award. "Getting to watch all these amazing shorts was a pleasure. However, we could only choose one winner. The jury awarded Blackout the Best British Short for its subtle and understated power in which it tells a story about relationships, control and violence, featuring fine performances and photography.”
The jury also gave special mention to the following three films:
- Two Black Boys in Paradise, directed by Baz Sells. An animation, based on Dean Atta’s eponymous poem, sees Edan (19) and Dula (18) on a journey of self-acceptance and love – for each other and themselves.
- Demons, directed by Emmanuel Imani. A London cop returns to Lagos, risking everything to avenge his lover's death, battling corruption and confronting his own demons in a quest for justice.
- Man Enough, directed by Beru Tessema. Kaleb reunites with his sister after years apart following his transition, but to connect with each other they first must come to terms with what drove them apart.
“The 15 films shortlisted confirm that the quality of queer storytelling in the UK is in rude health..." said Berwyn Rowlands - director of the festival. "When we launched the Iris Prize we wanted to see excellence in storytelling, and we have seen that improve year on year."
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