Co-op in the “frame” for Iris Film Festival Partnership

25 September 2018

The Co-op is proud to be confirmed as a partner for this year’s Iris Prize Festival - a six-day celebration of LGBT+ film taking place in Cardiff between 9 – 14 October.

Now in its 12th year, the Iris Prize Award is a BAFTA qualifying festival identified as one of the top 50 film festivals in the world by Movie Maker Magazine for four years in a row.

With equality among the Co-op’s founding values, the community retailer is committed to bringing people together, building stronger communities and promoting a culture of respect and inclusion.

This year, Brit Award and Mercury Prize winning singer Heather Small – a Co-op Respect Network Partner - will return to the Iris Prize Festival with involvement on the judging panel.

Heather Small, said: “I jumped at the chance of returning to Cardiff to take part in the Iris Prize Festival – it is a wonderful and vibrant celebration of diversity, inclusivity and creativity, and I am looking forward to immersing myself in the array of talent which I know will again provoke discussion and debate, and make judging an incredibly difficult process.”

Hazel Remeika, Co-chair of the Co-op’s Respect Network and a member of this year’s Iris judging panel, explained: “The Co-op is proud to partner with Iris. With a comprehensive programme which includes screenings of 35 short films competing for the Iris Prize, networking opportunities and, education and awareness sessions, there is much to celebrate.

“At the Co-op we champion a culture of respect, raising awareness to ensure that inclusion and diversity is at the heart of what we do. We are a community retailer, dedicated to operating at the heart of local life and, making a difference. Bringing people together and building stronger communities is important to us, and we are delighted to support this Festival which works to bring issues of discrimination into focus.”

A number of the Co-op’s local Welsh suppliers are also joining in the celebrations, including: Aber Falls Distillery, Llanfairfechan; Authentic Curry Co; Hirwaun; Barti Rum, Pembroke Dock; Boss Brewing, Swansea; Daioni Organic, Boncath; Edwards of Conwy; Radnor Hills from Heartsease, Knighton; Samosaco, Pontyclun; Village Bakery, Wrexham and Village Dairy of Llannefydd, Denbigh.

Find out more at https://www.irisprize.org/

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Further information Andrew Torr
Co-op Press Office
M: 07702 505 551
E: andrew.torr@coop.co.uk