The world’s largest LGBT short film festival approves two new partners and seeks one more
LGBT film festivals in Amsterdam and Lisbon have joined The Iris Film Prize, the world’s biggest gay short film festival, and will each nominate a short film to compete.
They join the expanding international network of LGBT film festivals including Outfest, Newfest and Gaze.
Iris, supported by Gay Star News, chooses a winning film each year for the £25,000 ($39,000 €30,000) prize to support future projects.
Past winner Magnus Mork went on to create Burger, a feature shot on location in a burger bar. The film was screened internationally on BBC Wales.
Iris Prize chairman Andrew Pierce is delighted to have ‘two new nominating festivals joining the Iris Family. Their addition to our network gives us a strong base in Europe.’
Both Roze Filmdagen, for Amsterdam and Queer Lisboa, for Lisbon are excited to be joining.
Roze Filmdagen, festival director, Werner Borkes said: ‘Through our extensive links with the (short) filmmaking community we feel well placed to be one of the nominating festivals for Iris making sure that the Iris Prize continues to represent the best of the best each year.’
Anna David, the director at Queer Lisboa, said: ‘I am very pleased that our festival in Portugal is joining the Iris family. Queer Lisboa was established in 1997 and has been offering lesbian and gay films to our growing audience for almost 17 years. We are excited to be in a position to nominate a short film for the Iris Prize.’
The Iris Prize currently has a strong presence in Europe and North America and seeks to expand further.
Pierce said: ‘As we look forward we are keen to make sure that Iris is represented wherever LGBT film making takes place. This is why we are looking for one more partner festival to join us in 2013.’
Those interested in joining The Iris Prize should contact Iris HQ before June 2013.
by Suzie Shepherd
Source – Gay Star News
