Join SCENE and Iris Prize as we unveil the shortlisted films competing for the 2026 Iris Prize Best British Award, sponsored by Film4 and Pinewood Studios.
In this exclusive event, SCENE will reveal which film from their shortlist has been selected as part of this year's Best of British programme alongside the other success nominees. Plus get the chance to meet and celebrate the filmmakers behind the short films before the overall winner is announced on 16th October 2026 at the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Cardiff.
All 15 shortlisted films will be available to stream across the UK on Channel 4 for one year following the Awards Show in October.
Born in Cardiff and loved around the world, the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival is a global celebration of LGBTQ+ storytelling where filmmakers, dreamers, and audiences come together to share the power of film. In 2026, Iris turns 20, marking two decades of laughter, love, and unforgettable stories that have shaped a worldwide family. At the heart of Iris is the £40,000 Iris Prize, the largest short film prize in the world, supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation. Each year, the winner is invited to create their next LGBTQ+ short film in Cardiff.
SCENE LGBTQ+ TV & Film Festival became a nominating festival in 2025, selecting one short film from a filmmaker in the Northern region to be part of the Best of British selection.
FILMS SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRIS PRIZE
Between Breath & Silence (2026)
Directed by Nicole Pott (@directornicpott)
Written by Thomas Sargeant (@thomas_sargeant90 / @twentythreefiftystudios)
Produced by Paul Mortlock (@pjmortlock), Sam Retford (@samretford) & Thomas Sargeant
Set across one day, ‘Between Breath and Silence’ follows Tom as he sits with his dying father. Surrounded by family and the quiet presence of a palliative care worker, Tom is forced to confront the love, guilt, and unspoken truths that have shaped his relationship with his father. Inspired by a true story, the film explores how connection can exist even when words fail.
Acting Up! Forty Years of George House Trust (2025)
Directed by Nathaniel J Hall (@nathanieljhall)
Edited by Georgiana Ghetiu (@georgianaghetiu)
Staff, volunteers, and activists reflect on forty years of Manchester-based HIV charity George House Trust (@georgehousetrust) in this powerful short documentary.
Skate Like A Lass (2026)
Directed by Juliet Klottrup (@julietklottrup)
Shines a light on peripheral skateboarding communities for women, marginalised genders, and LGBTQIA+ people in the North West of England.
TIMINGS
12.00pm: Doors
12.30pm: Feature starts
Event duration: 1 hour 30 mins
2.00pm: Event ends
TICKETS
Tickets are free, booking is required.
MORE information
Content Guidance: Contains moderate language, crude humour, sexual references, smoking, alcohol use, and jokes reflecting outdated attitudes around class, gender and family life.
Age rating: 18
Accessibility: For access and facilities information, please visit New Century Hall
WHY NOT MAKE A NIGHT OF IT?
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🎁 Freebies and surprisesStay and Join the Celebration!