Palestinian Filmmaker Wins Major LGBTQ+ Short Film Award
Dima Hamdan Awarded the 2024 Iris Prize
Palestinian filmmaker Dima Hamdan has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Iris Prize, valued at £30,000, marking it as the largest LGBTQ+ short film award globally. Hamdan expressed her deep appreciation, referring to the prize as the “Oscars of LGBTQ+ short films.” She also highlighted how meaningful the award was, given the growing support for Palestine within the LGBTQ+ community in recent years.
Blood Like Water: A Story from Palestine
Adam Price, former leader of Plaid Cymru and chair of the international jury, praised Hamdan’s film, Blood Like Water, for its important message. He emphasized that the film serves as a reminder that queer individuals exist everywhere, including in Palestine, even in the midst of war and occupation.
Hamdan, a self-taught filmmaker and journalist now based in Berlin, created a compelling narrative in Blood Like Water. The story revolves around Shadi, who embarks on a secret adventure that places his family in a precarious situation. They are left with two choices: cooperate with the Israeli occupation or face dishonor within their own community.
Reflecting on the Prize During Conflict
While expressing her gratitude, Hamdan also acknowledged the difficulty of celebrating personal accomplishments in the context of ongoing conflict in Palestine. She stated, “It’s hard to celebrate personal achievements when the most broadcast and live-streamed war in history has been ongoing for over a year with no end in sight.” Hamdan shared that she draws strength by envisioning a future beyond the current hardships, and she expressed her appreciation for the Iris Prize for giving a platform to voices like hers.
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Festival Shines Light on Serious LGBTQ+ Issues
Festival director Berwyn Rowlands expressed pride in showcasing stories that are often overlooked by mainstream media. He noted that many films in this year’s festival took on serious and challenging aspects of LGBTQ+ life, but despite the heavy themes, many still conveyed hope.
Louisa Connolly-Burnham Wins Best British Short
Louisa Connolly-Burnham, a filmmaker from Birmingham, won the Best British Short award for her film Sister Wives at the same festival. In addition to writing and directing the film, she also produced and starred in it. Sister Wives is set in Utah in 2003 and tells a multi-layered love story within a strict, polygamous society, dealing with themes of rebellion and forbidden love.
Tim Highsted, who chaired the jury for the Best British Short category, described Sister Wives as a “beautifully nuanced and performed drama,” depicting two women defying their community’s religious and social restrictions to find love.
Shortlisted Films to Be Streamed
All 15 films shortlisted in the Best British Short category will be available to stream on Channel 4 for a year, giving audiences access to these powerful stories.
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