Faraz Ansari’s Sisak, India’s First Silent LGBTQ Love Story, has been officially selected for the ‘Iris Prize’, popular as the Oscars of LGBT Cinema.

The festival that takes places in Cardiff, England selects 10 LGBTQ films from across the world every year. This year, Sisak has made it to the final 10 and will proudly represent India at the festival. Last year, the National Award-winning film Daaravtha was sent as India’s Official Nomination to Iris Prize by KASHISH Film Festival.

Iris Prize, which will be held from October 10-15, 2017, has been certified by BAFTA as an ‘A’ List Festival, similar to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The winner of the Iris Prize will receive £30,000 from the Michael Bishop Foundation. It is the only short film prize in the world that allows the winner to make a new film.

Director Faraz Arif Ansari

Director Faraz Arif Ansari

Talking about the selection, Director Faraz Ansari said, “Given the importance of Iris Prize, it is indeed a huge, huge honor for us to have been shortlisted for it. For Sisak, a small Indian independent film that was self-produced and partly, crowdfunded, without any producers or support from any LGBTQ groups or festivals, this is a very, very proud moment, for my entire cast & crew. It is the dream of every filmmaker who makes an LGBTQ film to make it to the Iris Prize because, after all, it is the Oscars of LGBT cinema and perhaps, the highest honor one can get. I am stoked, thrilled and honored with all the love that Sisak is garnering! Imagine, India’s First Silent LGBTQ Love Story makes it to the Academy Awards of LGBT Cinema!”

Sisak is the only Indian LGBTQ Short Film that has won 10 International Awards since its World Premiere at the Boston LGBT Film Festival, where it also won the Best Film. The film is also closing the Pride Week in Sweden on August 27,2017. This is the first time an Indian film has got such an honor. In addition to this, Sisak will also open Sweden’s biggest film festival, ‘Live at Heart’ where director Faraz has been invited as an International Jury Member too.