1. As Iris is an LGBT+ film festival, all entries should be for, about or of significant interest to LGBT+ 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.
2. All short films must have a runtime of 39 minutes or less. Any work with a longer runtime will be considered a feature.
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.
5. By submitting your work to the Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival, you grant The Festivals Company Limited a non-exclusive licence to exhibit your work (if selected) theatrically at Iris Prize LGBT+ 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.
6. All films accepted into the 2020 Best British Shortlist will screen on Film4 at a date after the festival and be hosted online on All 4 for one year from 1 November 2020. 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 hosted online by All 4.
• Film4 Rights filmmakers must assign:
- 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 from 1 November;
- Exclusive right for Channel 4 Television for streaming and temporary download on demand in the UK & Ireland for one year from 1 November;
- 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 from 1 November.
• Filmmakers are still free to:
- Screen online everywhere apart from UK & Ireland (e.g. streaming must be geolocked so that it doesn’t clash with C4’s rights);
- Exhibit the film theatrically – even in the UK;
- 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.
7. It is the intention of the Iris Prize to compile a selection of the shortlisted entries for the Prize (Best of Iris 2020) to be made available as a package to festivals worldwide to promote Iris and the shortlisted entries. By entering your work, you agree to have your entry included as part of the package (exceptions can be made if requested).
We also undertake education and outreach work throughout the year to combat homophobia and develop audiences for LGBT+ 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 LGBT+ Film Festival, The Iris Prize, and Iris Prize Outreach 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 LGBT+ Film Festival and Iris Prize competition in the light of commercial, economic or other operating requirements.
9. The juries will comprise of filmmakers and film industry personnel invited by the festival to fulfil the duties allocated to them. The decision of the juries and the festival will be final.
10. The Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival takes place in Wales – part of the United Kingdom. All terms and conditions will be interpreted according to the laws of England and 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.