Iris Online

2026 Student Award Shortlist

Available in 34d 05h 04m 07s
Available October 14, 2026 6:30 PM UTC
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6 films in package
Deep End
In early-2000s China, a twelve-year-old girl joins a summer swimming class determined to reach the deep end — but she just can't let go of her float. Through an unexpected bond with a fearless classmate, she learns to overcome her fear of water — and experiences her first queer awakening.
Abracadabra
On a school bus ride that feels endless & fleeting, 12-year-old Agastya wrestles with identity & unspoken emotions when his best friend chooses to sit elsewhere. Set entirely during one afternoon, Abracadabra is a story about friendship, identity, & the invisible ways children absorb the world’s expectations.
Chaser
Chaser is a relentless thriller/drama, fearlessly delving into the anxieties and dangers of gender, nightlife & dating culture, told from the passionate perspective of a trans woman.
Mis-Angel
Mis-Angel is a love story between two people who will never meet. A transgender girl explores an overlap of gender and sexual fantasy as she recalls a brief interaction with a stranger at a bus stop.
Dirty Parrots
Dirty Parrots is an experimental documentary in which filmmaker Siân A. Williams collaborates with performance artist E.M. Parry to explore landscape, trans identity, memory, and performance
The Bet
The Bet is a heartfelt coming-out story with a sharp comedic twist, exploring love, miscommunication, and the chaos of unconditional support.
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The shortlist of six films competing for the first ever Iris Prize Student Short Film Award. A new category for the festival, targeting UK and Ireland based students as part of our 20th anniversary year. Also, eligible for the Iris Prize Co-op audience award.

Chaser is a relentless thriller/drama, fearlessly delving into the anxieties and dangers of gender, nightlife & dating culture, told from the passionate perspective of a trans woman.


Director’s bio

Jesse Williams (She/Her/Hers) is a multi-award winning, British writer/director, known for her bond & heartfelt stories centred on LGBTQIA+ community. Driven by her identity as a trans woman, and obsession with queer cinema, she aims to increase the presence of trans filmmakers worldwide, while shining light on challenging subject matter.



Mae Chaser yn ddrama gyffrous ddi-baid, sy'n ymchwilio'n ddi-ofn i bryderon a pheryglon rhywedd, bywyd nos a diwylliant detio, wedi'i hadrodd o safbwynt angerddol menyw draws.


Bywgraffiad y cyfarwyddwr

Mae Jesse Williams (Hi/Hi/Ei) yn awdur/gyfarwyddwr Prydeinig arobryn, ac sy'n adnabyddus am ei chysylltiad a'i straeon calonogol sy'n canolbwyntio ar y gymuned LHDTQIA+. Wedi'i ysgogi gan ei hunaniaeth fel menyw draws, a'i obsesiwn â sinema cwiar, ei nod yw cynyddu presenoldeb gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau traws ledled y byd, wrth daflu goleuni ar bynciau heriol.

  • Year
    2026
  • Runtime
    10 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United Kingdom
  • Director
    Jesse Williams
  • Screenwriter
    Jesse Williams
  • Producer
    Lucy Maughan
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