About This Event
Iris, Cardiff's LGBTQ+ film festival, centers on the Iris Prize, a £40,000 award for short film supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation. The first festival took place in 2007 at Cineworld Cardiff, with Berwyn Rowlands at the helm as festival director.
It's a week-long event in October. This year, the 20th edition, it's 12–18 October 2026, back at Cineworld Cardiff. The international shorts competition is the main draw, with 35 films from 22 countries competing. There are also 15 British shorts in the running for the Best British Short award, sponsored by Film4 and Pinewood.
You'll catch feature screenings, some with director Q&As, and talks - a few of these are in Welsh, with translation.
Desert Hearts screens, with director Donna Deitch in attendance, and Andrew Haigh gives a talk on his film Weekend. After the festival, Iris Online picks up, streaming the shorts across the UK from 13–31 October.
The 2027 dates haven't been announced yet.
Where to stay during Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival
via Stay22Schedule & Sub-Events
+ Add EventDetailed schedule coming soon.
Check the official website for the latest programme.
Practical Tips
Book in advance
Members' Box Office opens on Thursday 3 September, and individual tickets go on general sale on Monday 7 September. Booking online is the quickest and easiest way to secure your tickets.
Consider a Festival Pass
Full Festival Passes (£160) offer access to all screenings and events, including parties and industry day. Weekend Passes (£100) and Online Passes (£10) are also available.
Cashless Payments
The festival is cashless, so all payments must be made by card or contactless.
Explore the Pop-Up
Visit the Iris Prize pop-up at St David's Dewi Sant for a mini cinema, art installation, and community activities.
Videos
Iris Prize 2025: What Happened This Year?
