Iris on the Move 2024 is a UK wide touring programme that aims to bring LGBTQ+ films to a wider audience across the UK. It's the largest short film festival prize in the world.
It'll be showcasing two different programmes called Best of Iris 2023 and Falling in Love with Iris. Held on Friday 23 February and Saturday 24 February respectively, ending each day with a feature film.
The festival celebrates the re-opening of the Palace Court Theatre as a cinema and theatre venue after 40 years.
Best of Iris 2023 – Friday 23 February
Best of Iris 2023 is a curated selection of remarkable short films that were recognised and applauded during the 2023 Iris Prize Film Festival.
The films include Realness With A Twist, a project that involved several AUB alumni, including co-writer and producer David Giles and director of photography Charlie Jenkins. Directed by Cass Virdee, the film won at the 2023 Youth Jury Awards.
The first day will also feature Ted and Noel, directed by Julia Alcamo, winner of 2023 Co-op Audience Award; F**KED, directed by Sara Harrak, winner of 2023 Best British; and Scaring Women At Night, directed by Karimah Zakia Issa, winner of 2023 Iris Prize.
At 16.00, there'll be the Shorts to Features talk, with BAFTA-nominated director Sam H. Freeman. Sam's feature film debut, FEMME, which he co-directed with Ng Choon Ping, will conclude the day's festival.
Falling in Love with Iris – Saturday 24 February
The second day of the festival presents Falling in Love with Iris, a programme of short films that delve into the themes of desire, finding love and the multifaceted exploration of human connection.
This time around, the films are Bubbling, directed by Chang Che Ming; Malwa Khushan directed by Preeti Kanungo and Sourav Yadav; Single: Meat Cutes directed by Tilly Robba and Steph Jowett; and Diomysus, directed by Emily Elizabeth Morus-Jones.
The feature film Queen of my Dreams, directed and written by debutante Fawzia Mirza and starring Amrit Kaur, is a coming-of-age story exploring the dynamic between mother-and-daughter relationships across different cultures. As the young migrate to western societies and parents stay back, this film explores memories of the real and imagined.
At 16.00, there'll be an exclusive Q&A session with the filmmakers behind Realness with a Twist.
Venue
Palace Court Theatre
Hinton Road, Bournemouth
Dorset
BH1 2ET
United Kingdom
Find the Palace Court Theatre: what3words: ///steep.turns.keep
