9 feature films included in 2013 film festival which also awards the world’s largest gay and lesbian short film prize!
- Vampires: Lucas Rising– a dark adult fairytale to receive World Premiere
- G.B.F.– the witty American Festival hit to receive UK premier.
Organizers of Cardiff’s Iris Prize Festival, which is best known for presenting the world’s largest LGBT short film prize, have announced the full line up for 2013. The programme is an eclectic mix of stories which includes sexy vampires, Gay Best Friends, first love, old love, dance love and some traditional leather sex!
Vampires: Lucas Rising is the latest chapter in what has become known as the 'Gay Twilight' and will receive its world premiere in Cardiff.
“The success of the first film has made it possible to finance a much larger production, helping to bring even more of my vision to the screen. More sexy Vampires, greater makeup/special effects and a larger world in which the gay Vampire lovers, Toby and Lucas, can live, Love and feed!” said the films director and writer Jason Davitt.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to Cardiff for the World Premiere of Vampires: Lucas Rising. I’m very proud of this second film and can’t think of a better festival to present the finished story. Iris is a great cross over festival with a strong straight following which gives it a very different feel to most LGBT festivals,” he added.
The festival’s mid-point is celebrated with the UK premier of G.B.F. or to the uninitiated, Gay Best Friend. With witty lines like “What’s a sodomite? “I think it’s like a dust mite but with sod.” and “Did you know that webflix has an entire gay and lesbian section? Blew my mind!” the hit US comedy has been described as a mix between ‘Mean Girls’ and ‘Pretty in Pink’.
“I’ve had the most amazing time selecting these 9 features and I’m hoping that our loyal audience will find something new and exciting in this year’s programme. When you get to see a film and all you can think about is sharing it with your audience, that’s when you know you have something special,” said Festival Director Berwyn Rowlands.
Other highlights include Silent Youth written and directed by Diemo Kemmesies (Germany), Two Mothers directed by Anne Zohra Berrached (Germany), Interior: Leather Bar directed by James Franco & Travis Matthews (US), Five Dances directed by Alan Brown (US) and Margarita directed by Dominique Cardona & Laurie Colbert (Canada). The festival opens with Cupcakes (Israel) directed by Eytan Fox and closes with Simon Savory’s Bruno & Earlene Go To Vegas (UK).
“We’ve got so much taking place this year and I’m looking forward to sharing more news about our programme over the coming weeks. But for today I’m just happy and pleased to share the details of our fabulous features programme,” he added.
All 9 feature films are up for the Iris Prize Best Feature Award which is sponsored by Martin Briggs. Two awards for acting, Best Actor in a Feature and Best Actress in a Feature are sponsored by The London Women’s Clinic and chosen by Gay Star News. The awards are presented, together with the £25,000 Iris Prize supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation for best short film, during the Iris Awards presented by Amy Lamé.