Iris Prize: ‘Queer joy’ hard to find – director Russell T Davies: I want to do darker LGBTQ+ dramaCardiff first UK city to host LGBTQ+ EuroGamesHamdan is a self-taught filmmaker and journalist based in Berlin. Iris Prize director Russell T Davies: I’m interested in darker LGBTQ+ dramas. Cardiff is the first UK city to host LGBTQ+ EuroGames. Hamdan is a self taught filmmaker and journalist who lives in Berlin. I find strength in imagining a future when all of this will be over. Iris Prize”In order to survive these dark times, I find strength by imagining a future when all of this will be over. “Festival director Berwyn Rowlands expressed his pride that the event shared stories “not necessarily covered by mainstream media“. He added: “This is the first year that the filmmakers have focused more on the serious side of LGBTQ+ life. There is still hope, even though many are dark. “Iris PrizeConnolly-Burnham, who is from Birmingham, wrote, directed, produced and co-starred in her film.Sister Wives is described as a “multi-layered love story that tells the tale of young women living in a strict, fundamentalist, polygamous society in 2003 Utah, USA”. Tim Highsted, who chaired the jury for the Best British Short, called it a “beautifully nuanced and performed drama about two women rebelling against their community’s social and religious constraints and finding love for each other”.Channel 4 will stream all 15 films shortlisted in the Best British Shorts category for a year after the festival.How a gay TV drama changed people’s livesHow supporting miners led to same-sex marriageGay woman aims to found LGBT-accepting churchWalesIsrael-Gaza warFilmmakingLGBT