Thomas Leeming and Erin Ekins review the films that wowed the judges at this yearÔÇÖs Iris Prize Film Festival

Best Feature: Sex of Angels

Sex of Angels is a unique and individual story of polyamory, in particular a triad relationship.

The film begins with Bruno and Carla, a young couple very deeply in love, until a dancer named Rai comes on the scene and Bruno begins to fall for him. The relationship between the two men inevitably gets revealed, leaving Carla devastated. Bruno still loves Carla and exclaims that he will leave Rai to be with her, but he canÔÇÖt end it and his new romance with Rai continues.

Still in love with Bruno, Carla declares that he can carry on seeing Rai. Things continue relatively well until Rai and Carla develop a friendship that becomes something more. Bruno, of course, finds out and is hurt and confused. Eventually, they all decide to be together as a threesome, before Rai then finds it all too much and leaves, but the others convince him to stay. The story ends with the three happily in love.

Sex of Angels is a breakthrough from traditional two-person relationships and even pushes the boundaries of existing LGBT+ films. Ending the film without disaster promotes the idea that a threesome such as this can work out and that it is even possible.

The normality of the relationship is a joy to watch and highlights the important fact that weÔÇÖre all different and that love can happen in many different ways. ItÔÇÖs no wonder it won the best feature film.

Thomas Leeming

Best Short: The Wilding

A beautifully ugly, violent and yet affectionate short, there is no question that The Wilding deserves its winning title. An unflinching depiction of the consequences of love between two cellmates in a juvenile prison, director Grant Scicluna manages to recreate the claustrophobic environment of the wider prison whilst capturing the freedom that their locked cell provides them. The violence of prison life, and the personas the boys must create in order to survive in it, is superbly contrasted to the tender and loving nature of their relationship.

There are some incredibly affecting moments, as well as many which are very difficult to watch, but each scene acts as a necessary and significant brushstroke to create the final canvas. Taking the old trope of love in an impossible environment and injecting it with poignancy and relevance, The Wilding is a brilliant testament to survival, to loyalty, and to love.

Erin Ekins

Best UK Short: A Stable for Disabled Horses

A strikingly modern take on hidden feelings and potential love, Fabio YounissÔÇÖ black and white film (a cinematographic decision which imbues it with a timeless warmth) is full of colour and vibrancy which springs from dialogue and performance. The characters are utterly believable (Benny, a supermarket shelf stacker, throws a one-man farewell party for his colleague, Kanoute, who is returning to Norway) and the situation perfectly awkward (Benny has something to tell Kanoute, but he struggles to find the words).

There are moments of laughter and moments of tearful smiles in equal measure, drawing in the audience as the drinks flow and, as is to be expected, so do the words. It is a funny and intelligent film which throws the onus onto the audience, never giving them too much and allowing them to spin their own story. Winner of ÔÇÿBest UK ShortÔÇÖ, A Stable for Disabled Horses is a touching and funny film which succeeded in warming even the darkest of nights.

Erin Ekins