IRIS PRIZE FELLOWSHIP AWARD CEREMONY đłď¸âđ

We attended the first ever âIris Fellowship Awardâ ceremony, which was hosted at the prestigious private members club, the âMinistryâ in central London. The ceremony was to highly commend an individual, who has worked tirelessly campaigning for LGBT+ rights along with really making a difference in the gay community with their work.
TOM ABELL WITH HUSBAND KAHLOON LOKE
The winner of this extremely honourable award was âTom Abellâ who is managing director and owner of âPeccadillo Picturesâ.
For nearly half a century âTom Abellâ has showcased his LGBT+ short films here in the UK and internationally. Abell actually launched the first ever UK-based LGBT film production company, called âDangerous To Knowâ in the early 1990s and inspired many people with his VHS film collection. Abellâs titles included âTwo Of Usâ (which was originally made for the BBCâS education unit), along with the 1971 erotic fantasy âPink Narcissusâ.
PECCADILLO PICTURES
Abellâ then launched âPeccadillo Picturesâ in 2000, which engaged in sharing world cinema in conjunction with LGBT titles. Peccadillo Pictures then released âWeekendâ in 2011, which after initial apprehension from UK cinemas, went on to take over ÂŁ220,000 at UK cinema box officeâs and had wonderful success.
CHRIS NEW
Weekend actor âChris Newâ was in attendance and paid huge tribute to Abellâs work, along with thanking him for bringing the world âPeccadillo Picturesâ along with perosnally thanking him for being choosen to play the part ‘Glen’ in ‘Weekend’.
CAMPBELL X
The âStud Lifeâ director Campbell X also payed huge homage to âAbellâ and said he is extremely proud of how âPeccadillo Pictures, are at the forefront for distributing LGBT+ films.

LORD GLENDONBROOK
Presenting âTom Abellâ with this prestigious award, was the honourable âLord Glendonbrook CBE, who highly commended âAbellâ on all his work and was the founder of âThe Michael Bishop Foundation, who are huge supporters of the âIris Prize Festival.
ANDREW PIERCE
Daily Mail consultant editor âAndrew Pierceâ, who is also the chair person of âIris Prizeâ and a huge LGBT+ rights activist here in the UK and internationally, stated that he was delighted to be involved in such a momentous occasion and highly commended âAbellâ on his incredible contributions to the LGBT+ film community.

MARK HARRIOTT
London-based freelance Production Designer & Art Director specialising in Commercials, Film and TV. ‘Harriott’ was involved with producing the Art, for Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated hit 2014 film ‘Pride’
He Stated that he was extremely proud of Abell’s accomplishments and was honoured to have been involved with Abell’s work and privileged call him a friend.
NICKY GALLANI
Nicky Gallani has worked in the film industry for many years in roles spanning distribution, exhibition and production including stints at the ICA Cinema, LFF/BFI and as a freelance consultant to Italian Cinema London and Peccadillo Pictures. ‘Gallini also highly commended ‘Abell’ for his work and thanked him for such imortant awareness work.
FOUNDING IRIS MEMBER BERWYN ROWLANDS
Irisâ founding member and festival director made this commentâŚ..
âThere are moments in life when you come across a person and think, heâs a really nice man. Tom Abell is one of those people! But he is much more than just a nice man. Britain would be a very different place today without his commitment to sharing LGBT+ films. His commitment over four decades at the helm of companies like Dangerous to Know, Millivres Multimedia and Peccadillo Picture, who will shortly be celebrating their 19th birthday, is almost impossible to measure. He has influenced generations of movie-goers by distributing and sometimes financing LGBT+ films.
Iâm confident there must be thousands of LGBT+ people across the UK who have been emotionally nourished with his films. The back catalogue of titles holds a mirror to our lives, confirming we are alive and exist in many complex ways, in communities across the world, celebrating happy and sad times.â
TOM SELWAY
The event was hosted by festival support âTom Selwayâ, who did a superb job of presenting the evening and is truly a fantastic support to the âIris Prize Festivalâ.
TOM ABELL
In his acceptance speech âAbellâ stated that it was an incredible honour to receive this award and he thanked the âIris Prize Festivalâ for organising such a superb event. âAbellâ also spoke of his sheer gratitude to the late âMark Finchâ, (BFI Programme Advisor) for allowing him access to all his âBFIâ LGBT files. He also spoke of his huge passion for his very own âPeccadillo Picturesâ and thanked everyone involved in building this hugely important platform. âAbellâ also highly commended âIrisâ founding member and festival director âBerwyn Rowlandsâ, for such an important film festival, in the LGBT+ community and highly commended âLord Glendonbrook for all his sensational support, for the LGBT+ community and the âIris Prize Festivalâ.