A couple of weeks ago Cardiff’s Iris Prize festival announced the line-up that will be competing for its main LGBT Short Film award this year, along with those hoping to be named Best British Short. However, alongside the fest’s impressive showcase for gay-themed short film – for which it is justly acclaimed – it will be screening 14 features.
They’ve announced their opening movie, and it’s very apt considering it will be screening during the Rugby World Cup, only a short distance from the Millennium Stadium where many of the most important matches will take place (incidentally, the Welsh Rugby Union also allowed the festival to film their cinema advert at the stadium).
The film is a documentary called Scrum, which focuses on the 2014 gay rugby world cup – The Bingham Cup. Aussie director Poppy Stockell will head to Cardiff for the screening on October 7th (with the fest running until October 11th).
She says, “I’m thrilled that Scrum has been selected to open the 2015 Iris Prize Festival. Wales is known throughout the world as a rugby loving nation and I just can’t wait to see what they think of the film. Gareth Thomas has already made a huge contribution as the first openly gay rugby union player. Coupled with the pioneering work of out gay ref Nigel Owen, you get the impression Wales is a progressive country.
“If this was not enough we also have the added thrill of screening during the Rugby World Cup – I’m obsessed with hearing the Welsh crowds sing and hoping to get a chance to see some games, especially the Ireland v France match on the closing night of the Iris Festival.”
The full feature programme includes the Award winning Fourth Man Out (US – director Andrew Nackman will be attending the screening); lesbian comedy Floating (Germany – director Julia Kaiser is also scheduled to be in Cardiff for the festival), and Darker Than Midnight (Italy – whose director Sebastiano Riso is also visiting Iris to introduce his film).
“I honestly believe we have this year the best of the best. Many of the films in this year’s programme arrive in Cardiff with awards for best film, best performance from festivals all over the world. One of them will leave Cardiff with the Iris Prize Best Feature Award and two awards for performances in a feature will also be distributed. I think the juries have a difficult task ahead of them,” said festival Director and feature film programmer Berwyn Rowlands.
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