Iris Prize: HIGHLIGHTS
Looking over the Iris Prize’s feature film programme for 2013, James de Gruyther explores some of the highlights of this year’s festival.
Burger
A film by returning 2012 Iris winner, Magnus Mork, who has crafted this lovingly made character study. Beautifully shot on location in Cardiff at a (yes you’ve guessed it) burger bar, Mork’s Iris funded film revolves around the observation of an eclectic group of people who circle the surreal twilight world of the late-night burger bar. Be they gay, straight, single or married – it’s all focused on good old-fashioned character interaction. Being the product of the Iris Prize 2010 you can almost guarantee that Burger will be something special. cheese is what would have happen if Giles from Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Edward Cullen of Twilight fame had a lovechild together, and kept it in a dark basement for 20 years feeding it only Haribo and Bizarre Magazine.
Cupcakes (pictured below left)
Vampire: Lucas Rising
What can I say about the sequel (or should I say SEXqual, get it?) to cult film and TV series Vampires: Brighter In Darkness? Is there anything more to say other than it is being touted as the “Gay Twilight Saga”? Normally a comment like that would stand up on its own, but for the sake of artistic integrity I’ll go on to say that this pulpy mash up of 90s
This year’s opening film Cupcakes looks to be a treat for both fans of film and cheesy Eurovision songs alike. This Israel-based feel-good movie revolves around a group of fed-up friends who, irked by the terrible entries for televised music competition Universong (see what they did there?) as a laugh decide to write their own song and enter the video for it, recorded on their phone, into next year’s contest. Obviously, the video is a massive hit and against all odds becomes Israel’s competition entry. All in all, Cupcakes is a touching and heartfelt tale about a group of neighbours who love each other, with the promise of a good song.
message. Obviously many can relate and should watch this short film.
Barry’s Bespoke Bakery (pictured above)
This lovingly crafted short film by Irish director Denis McArdle is the surreal and charmingly represented tale of the titular Barry, a prim and proper baker, and his relationship with his talented but messy employee Brian. Beautiful from start to finish, the short was filmed in a painstakingly recreated bakery, with hundreds of individual cakes both donated from local bakeries and created especially for the film by five-star pastry chef Paul Kelly. Shot with a dream-like haze which is reminiscent of the more lucid films, Barry’s Bespoke Bakery promises to be a treat from start to finish (also more cakes).
The First Date
This quirky rom-com takes the formulaic ins and outs of past entries into the old genre and gives it new life, and not just because the two lovebirds involved are a lesbian couple. This piece from young filmmaker Janella Lacson perfectly captures the sweet awkwardness of new love which will be genuinely funny and touching to fans of the genre, and for anyone who has ever regretted hitting send on a text
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