Aussie ‘Gorilla’ named world’s best LGBT short film
An Australian thriller about a newly-in-love gay couple who have a masked woman come between them while away on a camping trip has taken out the world’s biggest LGBT short film prize following a festival in Wales earlier this month.
The short film ‘Gorilla’, by writer and director Tim Marshall, was awarded the Iris Prize at a ceremony in Cardiff on October 13 after a five-day festival comprised of some of the best new LGBT films over the past year, including a number of feature films.
Judges paid homage to the team behind Gorilla for its originality and artistry, saying that Marshall’s unique style holds him in good stead for future projects.
Along with the highly-vaunted prize, Marshall was given $40,000 to make another film.
“As a queer film maker, I am also really passionate about telling a truthful and honest story with queer characters that follow no stereotypes and can be related to by all audiences no matter their gender, age or sexual preference,” Marshall said when describing ‘Gorilla’.
Another Australian short, ‘The Last Time I Saw Richard’, was one of two films to be highly commended by judges. The film by Nicholas Verso – which depicts two young men forming a relationship in a mental hospital – was picked out for its outstanding acting and direction.
‘The Language of Love’, written by Sydney teen student Kim Ho and directed by Laura Scrivano, also made the final shortlist after going viral earlier this year and attracting plaudits from the likes of broadcaster Stephen Fry and talkshow host Ellen DeGeneres.
The Iris Prize is sponsored by the Michael Bishop Foundation with other festival sponsors including Cineworld, Peccadillo Pictures, BFI Films, the Welsh Government and the Film Agency for Wales.
