A Palestinian woman has won the world’s most significant LGBTQ+ short film award. In an interview, Dima Hamdan said, “I am extremely honored to win this prize. I think this film talks about the diversity of people across humanity. It is the Oscars for LGBTQ+ short films and comes from a community that has shown more support for Palestine in the last few years.”.

Adam Price, former leader of Plaid Cymru and chair of the international jury, commented: “Blood Like Water” by Hamdan will forever remind queer people that they exist everywhere, from Palestine during the time of war and occupation. Louisa Connolly-Burnham won Best British Short at the Cardiff-based festival with Sister Wives. Hamdan is a Berlin-based, self-taught filmmaker and journalist.

The film is based on the experience of Shadi, who goes on a secret adventure and puts his family in an awkward situation by placing them in the position of choosing between collaborating with the Israeli occupation and shame and humiliation from their people.

Speaking on winning the prize, Hamdan said: “It is tough to celebrate personal achievements when the most televised and live-streamed war in human history has entered its first year with no end. To survive these dark times, I find strength by imagining a future when all this will end. In that vision, I take comfort in knowing that the Iris Film Prize and its wonderful team will always hold a special place in my heart for standing with us and helping to amplify our voices.”

He explained that he was proud to hold an event that included “stories not necessarily covered by the mainstream.” This time around, the filmmakers told stories that reflected the serious and harsh realities of the LGBTQ+ community, though they understood that most of their stories would be dark. However, that did not mean there was no hope.

Sister Wives, described as a “multi-layered love story” about young women living in a strict, fundamentalist, polygamous society in 2003 Utah, USA, was written, directed, produced, and co-starring from Birmingham Connolly-Burnham. Tim Highsted, chairing the jury for the Best British Short, described it as “beautifully nuanced and performed drama” about two women rebelling against their community’s social and religious restrictions and finding love for each other. Channel 4 will broadcast all 15 of the shortlisted films in the Best British Shorts category across the entire year that follows the festival.

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