RULES - Iris Prize, Best British, Best Feature
1. All entries should be for, about or of significant interest to LGBTQ+ audiences, and must have been completed within 2 years prior to the submission deadline. Films which do not fit this criteria will not be considered. Films of all types are accepted, including animation and documentary. We have no premiere requirements.
2. All short films must have a runtime of 39 minutes or less. Any work with a longer runtime will be considered a feature. (Please note: the Iris Prize is for short films only.)
3. We have NO restrictions regarding films that have previously been, or are currently available online, or which have been broadcast on television.
4. To be eligible for the Iris Prize Best British Short you should be a UK citizen or have been resident in the UK for at least three consecutive years prior to submitting your film. All British films will automatically be considered for the Iris Prize.
5. All 15 films accepted into the 2025 Best British Shortlist will screen on Film4 at a date after the festival and be streamed on Channel 4 for one year. This is a condition of festival acceptance - If your film is selected for the Best British shortlist you MUST agree to screen on Film4 and be streamed on Channel 4. Also, you MUST supply us with all the film assets by 15 July 2025 . A license fee will be paid by Film4 to each filmmaker. After the Channel 4 window has ended you'll enjoy a non-exclusive window for your film to stream with Out Media Group (OMG / Froot.tv) on their worldwide platforms.
• As part of this agreement, filmmakers must assign these rights to Film4:
- Exclusive right for Channel 4 Television Corporation to exploit the films in the UK & Ireland on their linear licensed services including internet transmission for one year
- Exclusive right for Channel 4 Television for streaming and temporary download on demand in the UK & Ireland for one year
- Exclusive right for Channel 4 Television Corporation to temporary sideload films via their platforms, approved third party platforms and any devices with the appropriate functionality for one year
• Filmmakers are still free to do the following:
- Screen online everywhere (apart from UK & Ireland – streaming must be geolocked)
- Exhibit the film theatrically anywhere
- Distribute the film on physical media for home entertainment
- Make the film available on a Transactional Video on Demand service
- Make the film available on a Download-to-Own basis
6. By submitting your work to the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, you grant The Festivals Company Limited a non-exclusive licence to exhibit your work (if selected) theatrically and online (UK geolocked) at Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival. In addition, you also grant The Festivals Company Limited a non-exclusive licence to use an excerpt of your submission up to two minutes in length for promotional purposes only, and without limitation as to time in all media including but not limited to internet and television broadcast.
7. It is the intention of the Iris Prize to compile a selection of the shortlisted films for the Prize (Best of Iris 2025) and similar programmes to be made available as a package to festivals worldwide to promote Iris and the shortlisted films. By entering your work, you agree to have your entry included as part of the package (exceptions can be made if requested, please contact info@irisprize.org)
We also undertake education and outreach work throughout the year to combat homophobia and develop audiences for LGBTQ+ film. As part of this work we would like you, if selected for the shortlist, to grant us a non-exclusive licence to exhibit your film in programmes offered as part of this activity (exceptions can be made if requested).
8. The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival and The Iris Prize are trading styles of The Festivals Company Limited. The Festivals Company Limited reserves the right to vary the programme and detail of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival and Iris Prize competition in the light of commercial, economic or other operating requirements.
9. The juries will comprise of filmmakers, film industry personnel and figures from the LGBTQ+ community, invited by the festival to fulfil the duties allocated to them. The decision of the juries and the festival will be final.
10. All terms and conditions will be interpreted according to the laws of Wales.
11. All entrants must certify that appropriate copyright clearance for public exhibition of the work in the United Kingdom has been obtained. Failure to do so will result in the entry being disqualified.
12. The Festivals Company Limited and Iris Prize Outreach Ltd accept no responsibility for the loss or damage of any exhibition material whilst in transit.
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RULES - Community Award, Education Award, Micro Short
1. All entries should be related to or be of interest to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTQ+) audiences and completed within 2 years prior to the submission deadline
2. Community and Education short films must have a running time of 20 minutes or less. Films submitted for the Micro Short category must be 2 minutes or less. Any films that exceed these limits will not be viewed by the pre-selection panel.
3. The Iris Prize Community Award is open to UK based community groups. We consider a Community Group to be a group (a charity, an unincorporated association, community sports club or similar) which works for the public benefit or the benefit of its members or a group who share a common interest. Charities or public sector organisations can submit under this category, but we do not accept submissions from commercial businesses.
4. The Iris Prize Education Award is open to schools/colleges/other education establishments or youth groups based in the UK. At least 90% of participants involved in making the film must be under the age of 20 years.
5. The Iris Prize Micro Short Award is open to any individual or group based in the UK.
6. All entrants must certify that appropriate copyright clearance for public exhibition of the work in the United Kingdom has been obtained.
7. By submitting your work to the Iris Prize Festival, you grant The Festivals Company Limited a non-exclusive licence to exhibit your work (if selected) theatrically during the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival and at other Iris-branded events in the year following the festival. In addition, you also grant The Festivals Company Limited a non-exclusive licence to use an excerpt of your submission for promotional purposes only, and without limitation as to time in all media including but not limited to internet and television broadcast.
8. Iris Prize Outreach also undertakes education and outreach work throughout the year to challenge discrimination of LGBTQ+ people and to develop an audience for LGBTQ+ film. By submitting your film to us you grant us a non-exclusive licence to exhibit your film in programmes offered as part of this activity.
9. The Iris Prize Festival and The Iris Prize are trading styles of The Festivals Company Limited. The Festivals Company Limited reserves the right to vary the programme and detail of the Iris Prize Festival and Iris Prize competition in the light of commercial, economic or other operating requirements.
10. The juries will comprise of film makers and film industry personnel. The decision of the juries and the festival will be final.
11. The prize money will be payable to the school/college/education establishment/youth group or community group and not to any individual with the exception of the Micro Award category.
12. All terms and conditions will be interpreted according to the laws of Wales.
