by FilmInk Staff
Written and directed by Mohammad Awad, the Western Sydney-set film joins 35 international finalists competing at the 20th anniversary edition of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Cardiff, Wales.
Australian short film Inheritance, written and directed by Mohammad Awad, has been selected as one of just 35 international finalists competing for the prestigious £40,000 Iris Prize, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ short film prize.
Selected from filmmakers representing 22 countries, Inheritance will make its international premiere at the 20th anniversary Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, held from 12–18 October 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. Supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation, the prize provides £40,000 towards the production of a new short film, making it a significant international platform for emerging filmmaking talent.
Set in Western Sydney, the 15-minute drama follows Ameen, a queer Muslim man who returns to his childhood home following the death of his estranged father. Cast out as a teenager, Ameen must confront the family and memories he left behind, accompanied by Kai, his not-quite-boyfriend, for moral support. Combining dark humour with an exploration of grief, faith and belonging, Inheritance examines what it means to return to a place that once rejected you.
The nomination follows an impressive Australian debut for Inheritance, which won Queer Screen’s national Pitch-Off before premiering at the 2026 Mardi Gras Film Festival, where Awad received the Panavision Emerging Filmmaker Award. His previous short Bikes premiered at the Sydney Opera House, while Inheritance marks his first narrative short through his production company, Full Fat Productions. Speaking about the nomination, Mohammad Awad said:
“As a Queer Arab filmmaker from Western Sydney, to have Inheritance nominated for the world’s biggest LGBTQ+ short film prize is extraordinary. International recognition is crucial to the success of Australian stories, particularly those from communities historically underrepresented on our screens. From winning Queer Screen’s national Pitch Prize to our world premiere at Mardi Gras where won the Panavision Emerging Filmmaker Prize and now Iris, this journey demonstrates that there is a global audience hungry for bold, culturally specific storytelling.
To be recognised alongside Australian filmmakers like Grant Scicluna and John Sheedy, who have used their success at Iris to build international careers and transition into features, is incredibly encouraging. We have ambitious plans for Full Fat Productions, including developing Inheritance into a feature film, and this nomination is an important step towards finding the international audiences, collaborators and financing partners to help bring those stories to the screen.”
Produced by Mohammad Awad, Rizcel Gagawanan and Patrick Abboud, Inheritance brings together an exceptional ensemble of Australian talent including Claude Jabbour (Last King of the Cross, Optics, Stateless), Zoe Terakes (Talk to Me, Ironheart, The Office), Safia Arain (Bump, House of Gods), Fayssal Bazzi (Stateless, The Twelve, Late Night with the Devil) and Violette Ayad. The film screens as part of the festival’s Cultural Crossroads programme, with Awad attending as a festival guest for screenings and Q&As throughout the week.
Australia has a remarkable history at the Iris Prize, having produced four international winners, including three consecutive victories between 2012 and 2014. Previous recipients include Grant Scicluna (The Wilding) and John Sheedy (Tarneit), whose wins helped advance their international filmmaking careers.
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Iris Prize has become a major international showcase for LGBTQ+ cinema, connecting emerging filmmakers with global audiences and industry opportunities. Awad’s nomination continues Australia’s strong presence at the festival and marks another step towards bringing Inheritance to the international feature film market.
More information: https://irisprize.org/film/inheritance/
About Mohammad Awad
Mohammad Awad (he/they) is an award-winning Australian writer, director, poet, playwright, producer, musician and author whose multidisciplinary practice explores identity, culture and the complexities of contemporary life. Their previous short film, Bikes, premiered at the Sydney Opera House. Their latest film, Inheritance, won the national Queer Screen Pitch-Off and premiered at the 2026 Mardi Gras Film Festival, where Mohammad received the Emerging Filmmaker Award. The film is now nominated for the £40,000 Iris Prize at the festival’s 20th anniversary edition in Cardiff, Wales.
About Inheritance
Inheritance (2026) is a 15-minute Australian short film written and directed by Mohammad Awad and produced by Mohammad Awad, Rizcel Gagawanan and Patrick Abboud with their Western Sydney based Full Fat Productions.
Following his estranged father’s death, Ameen returns to the family home he was expelled from as a teenager, bringing his situationship Kai along for emotional support. Set in Western Sydney, the film is an intimate, darkly funny exploration of grief, queer identity, cultural expectations and the difficult bonds of family. Starring Claude Jabbour (Last King of the Cross, Optics, Stateless) and Zoe Terakes (Talk to Me, Ironheart, The Office), Safia Arain (Bump, House of Gods), Fayssal Bazzi (Stateless, The Twelve, Late Night with the Devil) and Violette Ayad, Inheritance premiered at Mardi Gras Film Festival 2026 and is an official finalist for the 2026 Iris Prize. Watch the trailer here.
About the Iris Prize
Established in 2007, the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival is an internationally recognised celebration of LGBTQ+ cinema, held annually in Cardiff, Wales. The festival’s flagship Iris Prize, supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation, provides £40,000 towards the production of a new short film, supporting the development of emerging filmmaking talent. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, the festival brings together filmmakers and audiences from around the world through competitive screenings, industry events and year-round initiatives championing LGBTQ+ storytelling.
