PARK INN HOTEL WEDNESDAY 12TH - SUNDAY 16TH OCTOBER
JON POUNTNEY “I’m really excited and thrilled to be rustling through the archives from the last ten years, to pick out the best of my stills from our Iris Prize winners films. Having been with Iris right from the first event, I have been an intimate witness to all the success that Iris has enjoyed, documenting each festival, and following the creative process behind each film. “In this tenth year I think it’s right that Iris looks back over her achievements, and I’m flattered that my photographs are deemed to be of a high enough quality to tell that story. I’m proud and amazed that these photos will find their way to film festivals around the world. Here’s to the next ten years!” Jon Pountney.
BUZZ 2
“Rwy’n llawn cyffro am y cyfle i chwilio drwy archifau’r deng mlynedd diwethaf i ddewis fy lluniau llonydd gorau o waith cynhyrchu ffilmiau enillwyr Gwobr Iris. Roeddwn i gydag Iris o’r digwyddiad cyntaf un, ac rydw i wedi bod yn dyst personol i’w holl lwyddiant, gan ddogfennu pob gŵyl, a dilyn y broses greadigol y tu ôl i bob ffilm. “A ninnau wedi cyrraedd y ddegfed flwyddyn, rwy’n credu ei bod hi’n deg edrych yn ôl ar lwyddiannau Iris, ac rwy’n ddiolchgar am ffydd pobl bod fy lluniau o ansawdd digonol i gael dweud y stori honno. Rydw i’n falch ac yn rhyfeddu y bydd y lluniau yma yn cael eu dangos mewn gwyliau ffilm o gwmpas y byd. Amdani ar gyfer y deng mlynedd nesaf!” Jon Pountney.
ffotogallery
exhibitions · publications · learning · international www.ffotogallery.org info@ffotogallery.org @ffotogallery
Image: ‘Skinny Mothers’ from Clear of People © Michal Iwanowski, 2012
Working on Iris and Me has been an emotional experience.
SPONSORS
I knew we wanted the focus of the 10th anniversary celebrations to be on the Iris Prize winners and Jon’s photography has allowed us to do just that. Thanks to the creative contributions of Adrian Naik, Dai Shell, David Drake, Mark Arkless, Chantal Harrison-Lee, Tom Abell and not forgetting the great man himself Jon Pountney, we have created a fitting series of events to celebrate both Jon’s work and the Iris Prize an exhibition of photography, a library of short films, special archive screenings, a printed programme and last but not least a special immersive experience of Jon’s pictures through short films accompanied by soundscapes in the Park Inn Hotel. I hope you enjoy Iris and Me as much as I’ve enjoyed working on this 10th anniversary celebration. Berwyn Rowlands
THE KEY CREATIVES Berwyn Rowlands, Adrian Naik, Dai Shell, David Drake, Chantal Harrison-Lee, Mark Arkless, Tom Abell and Jon Pountney.
ffotogallery
This was the first film produced, and I was excited to explore the locations it was shot in, around the Corporation Road area of Newport. I had a look at the work of Dean Rogers, who did stills on ‘Control’ and ‘This Is England’, and it really helped me to get started.
Followers featured a classic Wolseley, which I absolutely loved! I sat in it a lot in between takes.. I can’t say I made ‘brrrum’ noises but I wasn’t far off! I found Valmai, who played Lynn, absolutely fascinating. Her character is deeply religious, and so much of her performance was down to small gestures and guarded expressions. I asked her to close her eyes here, as if in prayer, and it’s one of my favourite pictures.
BUZZ 5
I was really pleased with this shot, which I thought looked like an album cover! Again it’s a case of me having the advantage of shooting pictures on a set that has been lit by very talented and gifted artists.
This is the latest film shot from ‘D-Ice and Pansy’, and one of my favourites, before I’ve even seen it! I found the lighting and production design very clever, and definitely well within the realm of what makes my photography brain come to life. I loved the mix of light, mimicking the strong sodium lighting of an LA night time.
The motel we were in for ‘D-Ice...’ was a great location. You really felt like you were in one of the endless suburbs you see depicted in films like ‘Tangerine’. With a bit of lighting genius thrown in, my job was made very easy!
I felt a strong affinity with Till, the director of ‘Boys Village’. We have a very similar sense of humour, and I really enjoyed ‘Cowboy’, his winning film. I took him up to see the Boys Village by St Athan, a place that I have documented since around 2000, knowing he would love it. By the time we left he already had the idea for his film!
‘Hurts Rescue’ is a claustrophobic and disconcerting film, which mixes the reality within its narrative with moments of tension like waking dreams. It is the only film so far in black and white, and I took it upon myself to do the stills in the same style. Imola Gaspar plays the lady in this frame; so friendly in ‘real’ life, in character she really was spine chilling!
‘Burger’ was a bit different in that it was shot in one night, rather than over a few days. It was very interesting to see the crew and cast get to grips with this over the hours. The weather did not help matters, it was freezing rain all night!
Iris films always take you to new and interesting places on location, that are often under your very nose. This is the Kymin, just outside Monmouth, and it really is an idyllic and sublime spot. It really added to the poignancy of this scene... no spoilers, you’ll just have to watch it yourself!
“I would like to see the films?”, “How can I get to see the films?”, “Are the films available on-line?” - these are just some of the questions we get asked at Iris HQ almost every other day! So as part of our 10th anniversary celebrations we are delighted to be working with our partners Peccadillo Pictures to bring you the BEST OF IRIS! Peccadillo Pictures are delighted to make available the award winning collection of short films made by winners of the Iris Prize. The seven short films which includes the Sundance Award winner Burger have been produced by the Iris Prize, which continues to be the world’s largest LGBT short film prize thanks to The Michael Bishop Foundation. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/irisproductions https://vimeo.com/ondemand/iriswinners
BUZZ 11
Taking Wales to the wor ld and brin ging the wor ld to Wales
Iris Prize ad 190x275mm (print).indd 1
19/08/2016 11:44