Big name speakers come to Cardiff to set this year’s Iris Industry Day alight

Tuesday, 18 August 2026

 

  • Iris Industry Day features some of the biggest names in British and global media, including Bad Wolf, Film4, BBC Writers, BFI Network, Boiling Point producer, Stefan D’Bart, and previous Iris Prize winner, Daniel Ribeiro
  • HBO/BBC Industry creators Konrad Kay and Mickey Down take a break from production to visit Iris Industry Day
  • Allison Dowzell, Chair of RTS Cymru Wales, and Managing Director of Screen Alliance Wales, has boarded the Industry Day as Chair of the Steering Group
  • Buy an Industry Pass at a discounted rate until 11.59pm on Tuesday 18 August – buy yours now to secure access to all screenings, exclusive events, and unforgettable moments
  • “I’m all for Wales proudly and passionately celebrating its talent and Industry Day in Cardiff is a great way to inspire the creatives of our nation.” Lisa Baker, writer of Madfabulous

The organisers of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival – celebrating global stories and Cardiff charm, supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation are proud to present the Iris Industry Day programme. Big industry names such as Bad Wolf, Film4, BFI Network, BBC Writers, Stefan D’Bart (producer of Boiling Point), and HBO/BBC Industry creators Konrad Kay and Mickey Down, will be taking part in the star-studded industry-specific event on Thursday 15 October 2026 at the Majestic Hotel Cardiff, a stone’s throw from Cineworld. There is a short window to buy a pass at a discounted rate as the programme goes live today (17 August).

This year, Allison Dowzell, Chair of RTS Cymru Wales, and Managing Director of Screen Alliance Wales, has boarded the Industry Day as Chair of the Steering Group: “We are looking forward to welcoming the industry to Cardiff this October. We’ve also moved the event from the cinema to a local hotel. This move will allow the film festival to show more films and offer our delegates a better environment to network and do business.”

Now in its second edition following its relaunch in 2025, Industry Day brings together filmmakers, producers, writers, and industry leaders for a day of keynotes, panel discussions, and breakout sessions aimed at those working to get film and television projects made. The programme is designed around practical insight and networking, with input from award-winning creatives, production companies, funding bodies, distributors, and industry support initiatives.

Lewis Bayley, Industry Day Programmer at Iris Prize, said: “Access to funders, production companies, distributors, and established filmmakers is so often gate kept. It’s a real privilege to curate a programme that breaks down that barrier for new voices entering the industry — demystifying the process and providing tangible, practical advice on getting their projects off the ground and their stories to the screen.”

Lisa Baker is the writer of the acclaimed Madfabulous, and she is one of several women taking part in the 2026 Industry Day: “I’m looking forward to the Iris Prize Industry Day and sharing my experience with other writers. Iris Prize hosted the Welsh premiere of Madfabulous this year and it was great to celebrate in my homeland – and in my ex-student postcode!  I’m all for Wales proudly and passionately celebrating its talent and Industry Day in Cardiff is a great way to inspire the creatives of our nation.”

Alice Whittemore, Development Executive, Film4, will be taking part in two panel discussions. Film4 is also a sponsor for the Iris Prize Best British Short Award: “As a former Cardiff resident, I’ve experienced firsthand how significant the Iris Prize is to the Welsh and LGBTQ+ filmmaking community. Celebrating the 20th anniversary makes this year’s celebration especially meaningful, particularly as Film4 continues to support the Best British Award. I’m also looking forward to meeting this year’s Industry Day talent and following the journey of their projects.”

Also joining two panel discussions will be Stefan D’Bart, producer of the acclaimed Boiling Point (4x BAFTA-nominated, 4x BIFA-winning, starring Stephen Graham), and A Violent Man and Gassed Up, which won Best Feature Audience Award at BFI LFF 2023. “Short films carry intensity and passion, just some of the things I look for in a story, often raw, extremely real and impossible to ignore. I’m looking forward to Industry Day 2026 and hearing from filmmakers who are ready to bring these same traits into their first features, as I share what I’ve learnt along the way creating those very stories myself.”

Team Iris is proud to present this year’s Industry Day programme

10.00 Lessons from the Feature Frontline (Panel discussion) A panel of feature filmmakers share the hard-won lessons from making their films — what they’d do differently, what surprised them, and the moments that nearly broke the project (and how they pushed through). An honest, practical look at the realities behind the credits.

With writer Lisa Baker (Madfabulous), producer Stefan D’Bart (Boiling Point) and directors Gabriel Ordonez (Sunday Boyfriends) and Daniel Ribeiro (I Am Going to Miss You).

11.00 Navigating Funding and Development (Panel discussion) Representatives from some of the UK’s biggest players in funding and development break down the process: what organisations look for, common pitfalls in applications, and how to get your project noticed and supported from page to production. With Alice Cabañas (BFI Network), Celi Fowler (BBC Writers), Emma Obank (Bad Wolf) and Alice Whittemore (Film4).

12.00 Building a Winning Feature: Craft, Choices and Collaboration (Panel Discussion and Roundtables) A focused conversation on what separates a feature that gets made — and seen — from one that doesn’t: the creative choices, the collaborations, and the decisions that shape a project long before it reaches an audience. Followed by a breakout roundtables where attendees can dig deeper with the panellists. With Alice Cabañas (BFI Network), Stefan D’Bart (Boiling Point), Daniel Ribeiro (The Way He Looks) and Alice Whittemore (Film4).

13.45 Beyond the Final Cut: Marketing and Distribution (Panel Discussion and Roundtables) 
An inside look at how films find their audience — from festival strategy and sales agents to release patterns and marketing on a limited budget. The roundtable format gives attendees the chance to ask specific questions about positioning their own projects for distribution. With Tom Abell (Peccadillo Pictures), Roberto Proia (Eagle Pictures), Joe Ursell (BFI Player) and Alice Werdine (Picturehouse).

15.00 In Conversation: Konrad Kay & Mickey Down (Interview and Q&A) Konrad Kay and Mickey Down take a break from production on the fifth and final season of their hit HBO/BBC series Industry for this special conversation. They trace their journey from their Kickstarter-funded, BIFA-nominated debut feature Gregor to building one of television’s most acclaimed dramas. A rare chance to hear directly from two creators who broke through together.

Networking Reception 
Close the day with drinks and informal conversation. A chance to connect with panellists, fellow attendees, and industry contacts made throughout the day.

Passes are available for a limited time at £50, discounted from the standard price of £75, representing a saving of £25. The offer closes at 11.59pm, 18 August. 

The Industry Day Pass includes: 

  • Registration coffee
  • Access to all keynote sessions, panels and breakout discussions
  • All Industry Day film screenings
  • Industry lunch
  • Networking reception
  • Discounted rates at a partner hotel

Tickets available here: https://irisprize.org/iris-industry-day/ 

The shortlist for the Best British Award, sponsored by Film4 and Pinewood Studios, will be revealed on 22 August 2026, at a special event hosted by Scene Festival, Manchester.

Full details about Iris can be found here:  www.irisprize.org    

Iris Prize will return in 2026 for the 20th edition on Monday 12 October until Sunday 18 October.

The main festival sponsors are: The Michael Bishop Foundation; Creative Wales, a Welsh Government agency that supports the creative sectors in Wales; the BFI awarding funds from The National Lottery; Ffilm Cymru Wales; Film4; University of South Wales; Co-op Respect; Ymddiried – Media Grants Cymru, Bad Wolf; S4C; Gorilla Group; Pinewood Studios; Attitude Magazine; Diva Magazine; Movie Marker; The Ministry Venues and Transport for Wales. The festival also works in partnership with British Council Wales, BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru, and Visit Cardiff.