In 2006, Berwyn Rowlands’ idea to establish the world’s largest LGBTQIA+ short film prize in Cardiff was “laughed at,” he told Quench. Two decades later, it’s safe to say he has proved his detractors wrong. The Iris Prize has continued to platform queer creatives from across the country and beyond it, giving voice to the voiceless, all from the Welsh capital.
Black Church Bay
Headlining the 20th Anniversary celebrations was the Welsh premiere of Rhys Marc Jones’s debut feature Black Church Bay on the 18th of October. We follow Barry (Tom Cullen), a teacher who unravels after student Jasper (Joe Locke) disappears after their affair together. The chilling thriller is tense, morally ambiguous, and will keep you guessing. All of this is set before the beautiful backdrops of Anglesey, a first-time filming location for the two leads.
Quench and CUTV attended the red-carpet event before the screening. We interviewed Locke, Cullen, Jones, and co-star Rakie Ayola, who gives a standout supporting turn. You can read our full review and coverage here.
Weekend (15-Year Anniversary)
That wasn’t Cullen’s only appearance at this year’s festival, however. The star also attended a Q&A alongside director Andrew Haigh for a 15-year anniversary of their film Weekend. It’s a heartfelt, heartbreaking examination of what it means to be gay, which Haigh feels is as relevant as ever. The three-time BAFTA-nominee for All of Us Strangers explained that the landscape for queer people was very different when they first made the film back in 2011, being “pre-gay marriage and pre-PrEP.” However, the difficulty of self-expression and self-acceptance in the LGBTQIA+ community is still a prominent issue.
However, despite the challenging internal conflict, the film also perfectly depicts how tender love can be, gay or otherwise. Its quietness and simplicity only reinforce the reality of the romance. Haigh hopes his work can find appreciation with queer audiences and allies alike through its universal ideas of loving yourself and others.
Iris Prize 2026 Winners
Taking home the Iris Prize this year was Luís Hindman’s ‘Magad/Zafar’, a Boiling Point-esque short set in a British-Pakistani takeaway. It’s so intense, turbulent and engrossing that the emotional climax when things finally quieten down hits all the harder. Star Eben Figueiredo also won the award for Best Performance in a Male Role.
Other prizes included the Student Short Film Award, which went to Wyatt Carson’s ‘Mis-Angel’, a gorgeously animated tale of trans expression; and Best British Short Film Award, given to Darius Shu’s ‘Molly’, a stunningly shot laundrette love-affair featuring a thoughtful representation of asexuality in romance. ‘Black Shawl’ also received a special jury mention for feeling “universal despite its unique setting” in a refugee camp. Many short films screened at this year’s festival are now available to watch on Channel 4, including ‘Molly’.
Sunday Boyfriends
Comedy-drama Sunday Boyfriends also screened on the 14th and 18th, with director-and-lead-actor Gabriel Ordóñez in attendance on both dates. It’s a deeply frank, honest film that empathises with protagonist Domingo for his trauma but never allows him to use that as an excuse to hurt others. Ordóñez likened the filmmaking process to “therapy” for him, sharing this “very personal” story with the world. That raw authenticity shines through, and the sheer creativity in film-making makes us excited to see what he might make next.
This year’s Iris Prize Festival marks the “biggest yet,” as Rowlands told us. So much has changed since its inception, but it’s still just as important for queer people and allies alike to engage with LGBTQIA+ art where these stories routinely go unheard and ignored. With that in mind, consider checking out this festival’s films, covered in this article or otherwise. Or, maybe spend a week with Iris this time next year!
Words by Isaak Hewitt
Featured image courtesy of Juliet Sarmiento via Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image. Image licence found here.
