films selected from 14 countries for the
world’s largest gay and lesbian short film prize

• 10 US filmmakers make the final
  closely followed by 6 from Australia and 5 from the UK.

• Venezuela make the final for
  the first time joining, Canada, Germany, Brazil, Israel, France, Norway,
  Austria, Ireland, India, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, US
  and UK.

• Australian filmmakers Craig
  Boreham and Jarrah Gurrie, and Evan Roberts and Marc Saltarelli from the
  US make it to the final for the second time!

• Stories include a young boy’s
  trauma waiting for body hair to grow, a love story which develops thanks
  to a Polaroid camera, the unexpected comfort in coffee and pie especially
  when you’re being dumped, and a dramatic one night stand with a serial
  killer.

The 31 films to compete for the prize, the world’s
largest international gay and lesbian short film prize, have been announced by
festival organisers in Cardiff, UK. The winner will be offered a chance to make
a new short film with the prize valued at £25,000.

The films will screen during this year’s Iris Prize
Festival which takes place from October 10th - 14th in
Cardiff.

“Once again
the shortlist for the 2012 Iris Prize represents the best of the best. Half of
the short-listed films have been nominated by our partner festivals – film
festivals from around the world that have their fingers on the pulse of
upcoming gay and lesbian filmmaking talent. I’m confident that amongst this
year’s shortlist we have yet another winner deserving of the Iris Prize,” said
Berwyn Rowlands, Iris Prize founder.

“Iris is
recognised for supporting talented film makers from all over the world. Three
shorts, made with the prize, have been produced since we launched in 2007 and a
fourth is just about to start production. Iris is more than just a trophy that
gathers dust or a certificate that yellows on the wall. Iris is what film
makers need – funding, support and guidance,” added Berwyn.

“It’s great
to see films from all over the world represented in the shortlist with entries
from Canada, Germany, Brazil, Israel, France, Norway, Austria, Ireland, India,
New Zealand, Spain, and Switzerland all making it through to the final. The US
has got the largest number of films in competition with an impressive 10 out of
the final 31,” said Berwyn.

http://www.irisprize.org/short-list/year-2012/