15 LGBTQ+ Films Coming To Channel 4 As Iris Prize Reveals Best British Shortlist 2026
Iris Prize reveals 15 LGBTQ+ films competing for Best British Short 2026, with every shortlisted film heading to Film4 and Channel 4.
Fifteen new LGBTQ+ short films from across Britain are heading towards a much wider audience after the Iris Prize revealed its Best British Short shortlist for 2026.
The films were officially unveiled in Manchester on 22 August during SCENE LGBTQ+ Film and TV Festival, with productions from Wales, Scotland and England making the final selection. Every shortlisted film will later be broadcast on Film4 and streamed on Channel 4 for a full year, giving the filmmakers and their stories a major national platform.
15 LGBTQ+ films make the 2026 shortlist
The selection covers a wide range of LGBTQ+ lives, relationships and identities.
Between Breath & Silence follows a young gay man confronting years of family silence when his terminally ill father returns home, while Bluebird follows Noah as they leave London and travel towards the industrial banks of the Thames.
Life of Kai follows a young trans boy across a decade of his life in Britain, exploring identity, acceptance, medical transition and his pursuit of happiness. Please Mistress, which represents Wales on the shortlist, follows Ayesha through online sex work as she begins discovering her own power as a trans woman.
Sapphic representation features in Notice Me, where aspiring podcaster Em moves to East London and quickly becomes distracted by her attractive neighbour AJ. Requirements also centres a queer relationship, following immigrant Elena as a controlling government introduces technology capable of examining citizenship applicants’ thoughts and values, putting the future she has created with her girlfriend at risk.
Other shortlisted titles include Every Time I See A Cock I Go Funny, Hugged People, Hug People, Keith, Magid / Zafar, Making It Fit, Meet Frankie, Molly, None Of Us? and Yellow Bucket.
Together, the films cover gay and sapphic relationships, trans experiences, masculinity, family, grief, community, culture and identity.
Channel 4 gives the films a wider audience
One of the biggest benefits for viewers is the continuing partnership with Film4 and Channel 4. Following the festival, all 15 Best British films will receive a Film4 television broadcast and remain available to stream on Channel 4 for one year.
Festival Director Berwyn described the partnership as an opportunity for more people to experience LGBTQ+ stories that can sometimes be overlooked by the mainstream.
The winning Best British Short filmmaker will also receive an exclusive screening at Pinewood Studios and be invited to join the Best British jury in 2027.
Iris Prize celebrates 20 years in Cardiff
The shortlist arrives during a major anniversary year for the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, which celebrates its 20th edition in 2026.
The festival takes place in Cardiff from 12 to 18 October, with the Best British competition taking centre stage on 16 October. The wider programme will once again showcase LGBTQ+ short and feature films from around the world.
The international Iris Prize is separate from the Best British competition and carries a £40,000 production award, allowing the winner to create another LGBTQ+ short film in Cardiff.
For people unable to attend in person, Iris Online will also be available in the UK from 13 to 31 October.
Why this representation matters
What makes the Best British shortlist particularly interesting is the range of stories being told. LGBTQ+ representation here is not restricted to one kind of character or relationship.
Viewers will see sapphic attraction, gay romance, trans coming of age stories, family tensions, British Pakistani experiences and speculative science fiction alongside stories about grief, remembrance and finding acceptance.
Making all 15 films available through Channel 4 also means these stories have the opportunity to reach audiences far beyond the traditional festival circuit.
All 15 Best British shortlisted films will subsequently be broadcast on Film4 and streamed on Channel 4 for one year.
Keep checking SoapLandTV.co.uk for more LGBTQ+ film, television, culture and entertainment coverage.
Sources: Iris Prize official 2026 Best British shortlist announcement, Iris Prize Festival information and official Best British award information. Follow irisprize.org for more updates
