Well, team Peccadillo have just about managed to pull through the resulting exhaustion, mania, joy and hangovers that resulted from last week's Iris Prize Festival in Cardiff. It was a thrill to be so involved in this tight-knit, smoothly-run and challenging, exciting film festival. There was a huge selection of short films, and it would be impossible to list them all here. Go to
irisprize.org to find out more!
The festival kicked off in serious style, with previous Iris Prize winner Dee Rees' new film COLONIAL GODS. Anticipation was high for this film and everybody was surprised at the quality and heart that the film exuded. That Rees can come to the UK from another continent and portray sensitive issues in a way that is informative, challenging, respectful and heart-driven, all with an eye that never conforms to type (we've all seen American directors fawn over British niceties via obsessions with conveying cliché) is a real breath of fresh air.
Afterwards, Peccadillo invite and guest to the festival Brent Corrigan partook in a cheeky contest at Pulse nightclub where boys from a baying crowd were required to compete in a series of outrageous tasks in order to win a session at the local tanning salon. It was all utterly bonkers.
Over the next few days, shorts and feature films were shown and indulged in. The jury remained tight-lipped throughout, while guests and festival-goers chatted up a frenzy. The line-up was so strong and varied that few could predict a winner. Meanwhile, Peccadillo cat Bam Bam was brought back from the grave and made an appearance on many a carrier bag...
On Saturday Peccadillo hosted a drinks and finger food event at the Cardiff Chapter cinema to celebrate the launch of the HERE COME THE GIRLS 1 and BOYS ON FILM 3 short film compilations. Tom's speech outlined Peccadillo's history, aspirations and the sad passing away of mascot and company logo Bam Bam the cat, who died on February 24th. Huge posters and trailer projections adorned the walls, 80's music was blaring, old friends and new ones were in attendance - the only thing missing was an appetite for alcohol, as everyone was pretty much exhausted. We are now expecting 40 unopened bottles of wine to be sent to Peccadillo HQ - what on earth shall we do with all of it? (suggestions on a postcard, please)
Back at the Cineworld cinema, the prizes were announced. Eldar Rapaport's STEAM won best short, while short film jury member and actor Matthew Montgomery presented the best feature film prize, which was chosen by the friends of Iris, to... Matthew Montgomery for REDWOODS! David Fardmar was given an honorable mention for his unsettling short film MY NAME IS LOVE. Once the prizes were handed out, the Peccadillo team went on to party the night away with Till Kleinert (COWBOY), Brent Corrigan (IN THE CLOSET), Pascal Vincent (GIVE ME YOUR HAND), Joseph Galliano (ex GAY TIMES editor and writer), Brian Krinsky (DISH), Abbé Robinson (PRIVATE LIFE), Eldar Rapaport (STEAM), Matthew Montgomery (PORNOGRAPHY: A THRILLER), Aleem Khan and Neeraj Singh (DIANA), Sybil Mair (THE CHEF'S LETTER), Dann Finkle (Passport Magazine), David Fardmar (MY NAME IS LOVE), David Bonneville (HEIKO), Jason Bushman (HOLLYWOOD JE T'AIME), Michael Tringe (SHATTERCANE), Tomer Velkoff (THE TRAITOR), Mark Pariselli (AFTER), Eddie Tapero (DEEP RED) and Berwyn and the rest of the Iris team. Simon meanwhile celebrated a private party in the women's loo with the team behind lesbian short film LUCHA (below). Rumours are already circulating...
Since returning to London, we have hit the ground running. THE GAY BED AND BREAKFAST OF TERROR and HERE COME THE GIRLS 1 were released this week, while the London Film Festival has just started, with EYES WIDE OPEN premiering next Monday at the Vue West End. Bring it on!
Thanks so much to the Iris Festival team. We all had an absolute blast - here's to Iris 2010!
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