THE IRIS PRIZE, in partnership with British Council Wales, welcomed film enthusiasts to the USW Atrium last night for an exclusive screening of two acclaimed short films from this year’s global Five Films for Freedom selection.
Five Films for Freedom is a partnership between the British Council and BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival that runs from March 19-30, 2025, sharing five LGBTQIA+ short films online for free to audiences worldwide, with this year’s films coming from Indonesia, New Zealand, China, Switzerland, and the UK.
The Cardiff event showcased the UK and Chinese films from this year’s collection: “DragFox,” directed by Lisa Ott, tells the story of eleven-year-old Sam, who struggling with their gender identity, feels lost—until a mischievous fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) leaps through their window, leading them on a musical journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
While, “If I Make it to the Morning,” directed by Andre Shen, follows Chinese teen Ziyi who on the final night of her college tour stays with her cool aunt in New York, dreaming of studying there—until an unexpected revelation stirs tension between them.
The screening was followed by a panel Q&A chaired by Berwyn Rowlands who said: “It’s been great to recognise the amazing work of the British Council with Five Films for Freedom. The world feels like a very scary place for LGBTQ+ people at the moment, and sharing these stories is an important reminder that we are not alone and there is always hope.”
Joining Berwyn on the panel were Briony Hanson, Director of Film at the British Council, Ivy Kelly, journalist at ITV, and Owen Thomas, producer of “DragFox.” The panel spoke about film as a powerful form of representation and force in shaping perceptions and pushing society forward.
Regarding the film being featured, Owen Thomas said: “With this film it was lightning in a bottle, we knew what we wanted to say and the story we wanted to tell.
“Our goal with Dragfox was to create a film that speaks to young people struggling with identity – something creative and warm and what we would’ve liked to see as kids.
“It’s been wonderful to showcase in Cardiff with the Iris prize who are doing so much to spark important conversations and create spaces where people feel seen and understood.”
Elena Schmitz, Head of Arts at British Council Wales, added: “Bringing Five Films for Freedom to Cardiff and collaborating with the Iris Prize represents exactly what this initiative is about — creating local connections while sharing global stories.
“Iris is such a brilliant organisation who have championed and promoted international LGBTQIA+ stories in Wales for decades. Together, we are delighted to be able to share this year’s films more widely with audiences in Wales.”
“These films transcend borders and speak to universal experiences of identity, love, and belonging. As we celebrate 11 years for ‘Five Films’, events like this remind us of the power of film to foster understanding and community action, particularly vital in regions where LGBTQIA+ rights face increasing challenges,”.
The 2025 Five Films for Freedom programme is now in its 11th year and has reached over 26 million people in more than 200 countries.
