Blackpool Film Festival: Iris Prize 2025 Best Bits +When Love Broke the Law

Experience the Best Bits from the 2025 Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival alongside When Love Broke the Law: two short films that celebrate desire, protest, and the power of those who refused to live by anyone else’s rules.

Berwyn Rowlands (Iris Prize Festival Director) will introduce the screening and take part in a Q&A taking about Iris Prize and it’s 20th anniversary, the Iris Prize Documentary Film Fund (from which Jackie originated), Iris Prize Productions (Never Never Never, made by the winner of the Iris Prize).

Award winners, audience favourites from the opening night - unforgettable stories from the 2025 Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

From a haunted tollhouse to a high-rise reckoning, from quiet self-discovery to a love song by the sea, these films capture the brilliance, beauty, and bravery that define Iris. Featuring Y Tolldy, Blackout, One Day This Kid and Never, Never, Never, this programme celebrates the very best of Iris 2025 — films that moved audiences, impressed juries, and reminded us why Iris has never been just a festival.

Dir. Dan Thomas. Wales, UK.10 mins. (2025 Opening Night)
Welsh with English Subtitles

When Emyr visits his hometown with his partner, a decade after vowing not to return, a chance meeting with his old school bully turns into a terrifying battle against forces they cannot explain.

Dir. Chris Urch. UK. 15 mins. (2025 Best British Winner)
English, No Subtitles

When a young man living in a high-rise is disturbed by domestic violence in the flat next door, he comes to realise that violence isn’t always on the outside – sometimes it’s with us all along.

Dir. Alexander Farah. Canada. 18 mins. (2025 Iris Prize Winner)
English & Farsi with English Subtitles

As told by filmmaker Alexander Farah through a deftly composed array of small yet pivotal moments, a first-generation Afghan Canadian man takes steps toward establishing an identity of his own while always conscious of his father's shadow.

Dir. John Sheedy. UK/ Australia. 18 mins. (2025 Opening night)
English & Welsh with English Subtitles

A poignant and heartwarming story set in a Welsh fishing village. Henrick (Ché) and Arwyn (Iwan) share a bond that transcends friendship, filled with unspoken longing and love. Henrick's love for Shirley Bassey's music is his way to overcome the conservative views of their community. The film explores the struggles of Henrick and Arwyn as they navigate their feelings for each other in a society that may not fully accept them.

From forbidden kisses to real-life revolution, this double bill shows that love has always been our greatest act of defiance.

In Two People Exchanging Saliva, affection itself is a crime — and yet, someone dares to kiss. In Jackie, the fearless story of a pioneering lesbian activist reminds us that real change begins with small acts of courage.

Dir. Natalie Musteata & Alexandre Singh
France/USA, 36 mins. (2025 Iris Prize Highly Commended)
French with English Subtitles

In a farcical world where kissing is punishable by death, a personal shopper threatens the status quo.

Dir. Emily Sargent/
Scotland, UK, 2025. 20 minutes. (2025 Opening Night)
English, No Subtitles

A short documentary about the life of Jackie Forster; a groundbreaking, outrageous — and largely unknown — LGBT+ rights campaigner whose underground donor sperm operation helped the first queer women to have children. This is the third film to be made with the Iris Prize Documentary Film

Finance Fund sponsored by OUTFlix.

Great film should be for everyone, and nobody should have to struggle to experience the magic of cinema. That's why Blackpool Film Festival offers a range of ticket prices for our events, making cinema affordable for everyone.

Everyone is welcome to attend our Pay What You Can (PWYC) events and pay… whatever you can. Free, £2.50, £5, £10 – whatever you can afford to give, that’s what the tickets cost for that event.

You simply choose the price that works best for you from a range of options.

There limited number of PWYC tickets. Once a particular price option has sold out, you won’t be able to purchase tickets at that price, and the list of amounts you can decide between may change.

When Love Broke the Law is presented by Iris on the Move in partnership with Diva Film Festival.

Iris on the Move is the annual touring showcase from the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, bringing award-winning short films to venues across the UK.

In 2026, Iris celebrates its 20th anniversary — marking two decades of sharing global LGBTQ+ stories & Cardiff Charm with audiences everywhere.

Before the main festival (12–18 October 2026, Vue Cinema Cardiff), Iris is on the road once again and we’d love you to be part of it.

More about Iris.

REFUNDS

• If you can no longer attend, please request a refund using the link in your confirmation email.
• Orders can be refunded up to 7 days before the event.
• Refunds will be subject to the Eventbrite booking fee of 6.95% + £0.59 per ticket.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Arc Cinema - Blackpool, Houndshill Shopping Centre, Blackpool, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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