Four short films curated by the Iris Prize to screen at Chapter Cardiff in early September

Friday, 14 August 2026

 

  • Four shorts chosen by Team Iris will feature at an event on 5 September at Chapter in Cardiff

  • Chapter in Canton has been part of the Iris family since the festival was established 20 years ago
     
  • 2026 marks 20 years of global storytelling at the prestigious BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festival for British short film, which opens on Monday 12 October

  • “As we look forward to our 20th edition, it is totally appropriate that Chapter has decided to share some shorts from the Iris Prize Archive before a selection of feature films this September.” Berwyn Rowlands 

The organisers of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival – celebrating global stories and Cardiff charm are pleased to share the news that on Saturday 5 September one of Iris’ original partners, Chapter, will be screening four short films from the Iris Prize archive. This will be followed by a short Q&A about the 2026 Iris Prize Programme, marking just over a month before the 20th edition of the BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festival opens. 

Chapter is based in the Canton area of Cardiff and has been an important venue and partner for the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival since the first edition in 2007. It is fitting that the 20th anniversary programme is launched here given the long and prosperous relationship between Iris and Chapter. 

The following short films will be shown on Saturday 5 September, and then for the remainder of the month they will ‘open’ the screenings of four feature films: 

  • Bearable 
    Dir. David James Holloway. UK. 2016. 4 mins.
    What if your tribe within the gay community defined you? What if the labels we attach to ourselves were literal? What if you lived with an actual bear? 
  • Great Escape 
    Dir. Sal Bardo. USA. 2016. 6 mins. 
    A woman considers an alternate path her life might take if she follows her heart.
  • Rage Consumes Me 
    Dir. Felix Waverley-Hudson. UK. 2023. 
    A poetic and provocative exploration of anger, identity and queer experience.
  • Taste of Love 
    Dir. Paul Scheufler. Austria. 2017. 5 mins.
    An aromatic journey exploring the sensations and meanings of love.  

The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival has hosted hundreds of filmmakers, producers, acting talent, big industry names, and this year will be no different, with the full programme unveiled on 5 September.  This year, Iris has delivered its strongest number of open submissions to date, combining record-breaking volume with a broad international spread and a carefully balanced access strategy. 

Berwyn Rowlands, Iris Prize Festival Director, said: “I’m old enough to remember the short films you would get to see if you arrived early at the cinema back in the day. So, as we look forward to our 20th edition, it is totally appropriate that Chapter has decided to share some shorts from the Iris Prize Archive before a selection of feature films this September. 

“This is not only a nostalgic look back in the cinema which screened the first Iris films in 2007, but also a great way to reach a new audience. The extra bonus short might be your first opportunity to see an LGBTQ+ story on the big screen. I’m hoping the experience might open the door for many to consider watching even more amazing films at the Iris Prize festival this October.” 

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.