Here are the winners of the lucrative LGBTQ Iris Prize

October 25, 2022 Queer Forty Staff 5 min read

As previously reported by Queer Forty, the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival returned in person this year from October 11-16 with 36 international shorts competing for the prestigious prize.

After a massively successful event, the winners have been announced.

Iris Prize

The winner of the Iris Prize, supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation is Tarneit, directed by John Sheedy (Australia).

Tarneit tells the story of Tyrone who lives with his mother and her boyfriend Pommy, a lowlife drug dealer who despises immigrants and homosexuals. Tyrone’s best friend Clinton, a refugee, lives with his older brother Shaker, who also has similarly firm ideas about race and sex. Despite these obstacles, the boys share a bond, both deaf, both neglected by family, and each dreaming of escaping from the brutal violence that surrounds them.

Bård Ydén, Chair of the Iris Prize Jury, said: “A number of films stood out, however, and in particular, Tarneit. It touched us in numerous ways, through exceptional storytelling and performances. This is a multi-layered film that will stay with you and we can’t wait to see what the filmmaker will present us with in the future.”

As winner of the £30,000 that comes along with the Iris Prize, director John Sheedy will now make a new short film in Wales.

Best British Short

The winner of the Iris Prize Best British Short supported by Film4 and Pinewood Studios is Queer Parivaar, directed by Shiva Raichandani.

Queer Parivaar tells the tale of Madhav and Sufi who are forced to confront secrets from the past when a mysterious gatecrasher turns up at their wedding.

Tim Highsted, Channel 4, and Chair of the Iris Prize Best British Short jury, said: “This year’s British shorts at Iris once again reveal an array of talented filmmakers – from the joyful and warm winning short, Queer Parivaar, directed by Shiva Raichandani – through to all the films that were shortlisted.”

Shiva Raichandani will receive a package of services sponsored by Pinewood Studios Group and all of the nominated films in the category are now eligible for consideration for BAFTA and can automatically be entered by the filmmakers.

BEST BRITISH PERFORMANCE AWARDS SUPPORTED BY OUT AND PROUD

Awards were also given out to actors for outstanding performances of the Best British Short nominees:

Best Performance in a Female Role: Claudia Jolly – for the role of ‘Lydia Willis’ in Tommies

Best Performance in a Male Role: Gary Fannin – for the role of ‘Jim’ in Jim

James Bell and Leo LeBeau, judges for the Best British Performance Awards said: “Awarding a performance is no easy task, as all actors bring incredible work to the table and have our utmost respect for what they do. When watching the Best British Shorts we looked for the actors that we believed through and through, who were able to fully utilise every moment that they had on screen.

We thought Gary Fannin gave a phenomenal performance in Jim, taking us on a believable rollercoaster of emotions that elevated the story. Claudia Jolly gave a powerful and realistic performance in Tommies. Her star power lifted the piece and it was a true joy to watch.”

FEATURE FILM AWARDS

This year’s Best Feature was chosen by a jury of students from the University of South Wales Film and TV School Wales

The Feature Film Jury have awarded in four categories:

Iris Prize Best Feature Award sponsored by Bad Wolf

Metamorphosis, Jose Enrique Tiglao, (Philippines)

Raised as a boy, fifteen-year-old Adam harbours a secret: he has both male and female genitalia. Experiencing menstruation for the first time, his whole life is thrown into turmoil. As he discusses the possibility of gender reassignment surgery with doctors, tensions begin to build between the teenager and his devout Christian parents, but he forms a surprising bond with Angel, an older transfer student at his high school who harbours a secret of her own.

Iris Prize Best Performance in a Male Role sponsored by Attitude Magazine

Giancarlo Commare as Antonio in Mascarpone

Iris Prize Best Performance in a Female Role sponsored by DIVA Magazine

Lacey Oake as Izzy in Before I Change My Mind

Iris Prize Best Performance in a role Beyond the Binary, sponsored by Peccadillo Pictures

Gold Azeron as Adam in Metamorphosis

YOUTH AWARD

The winner of the Youth Award is Breathe, directed by Harm van der Sanden (Netherlands)
A lyrical coming of age film which follows two school friends from childhood to young adulthood, as their friendship matures into something more romantic.