Nottingham-born Director’s LGBTQ+ Film Shortlisted for Iris Prize

Oscar-qualifying short film, The Second Time Around, directed by Nottingham-born Jack Howard is one of fifteen productions shortlisted for this year's Iris Prize Awards in the 'Best British Short' category. Exploring LGBTQ+ themes as well as loss, bereavement and grief, The Second Time Around is supported by LGBTQ+ mental health charity, MindOut and is set to broadcast on Channel 4 on 29th November, following it's shortlisting at the Iris Prize Festival (13^th-19^th October, Iris Online: 14^th October – 7^th November) It will then subsequently be available to watch via Channel 4's view on demand (VOD) platform for a year.

The Second Time Around is shortlisted at 2025's Iris Prize

The film stars renowned actress, Caroline Goodall (best known for her roles in Stephen Spielberg’s Schindler’s List and Hook) and British rising star, Hannah Onslow (This City Is Ours, The Doll Factory, Unicorns, Empire of Light, This Is Going to Hurt). The mysterious fantasy-drama is set “on a rainy night, while closing a café, a young waitress (Onslow) is confronted by a mysterious older (Goodall) woman.”

The Second Time Around is filmmaker Jack Howard’s debut drama short; following his success as co-founder of the British comedy duo Jack & Dean. To date, Howard’s online work has amassed more than 75 million views and a combined following of 1.5 million. As a Sundance alumni and Cannes Lion winner, his TV and commercial work has seen him direct for major brands including: Walkers, Beko and Cineworld, musician James Blunt, and broadcast networks CBBC and Comedy Central.

Speaking to Midland Rainbow, Jack Howard said: "Usually, when you hear a Midlands accent in a film, it’s all about how bleak the Midlands are. I grew up on big, high-concept movies, and I wanted to put characters who sound like me in those kinds of stories, without having to justify it. And it’s the same with it being a love story between two women - it doesn’t need a reason or an explanation. It just is."

The film, now qualified for Oscars and BAFTA contention, recently had its Los Angeles premiere at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, where it won the Best Sci-Fi Award.

​​The award-winning short has additionally already snatched a collection of awards including: Best Performance Award at Cine International Film Festival and a finalist spot at the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

It has also received screenings at Indy Shorts International Film Fest, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Women Over 50 Film Festival, Bend Film Fest, and is set to next screen at the Norwich and Leeds Film Festivals in the U.K.

The project is produced by Ash Horne (co-founder of creative studio CANTSEE, former Creative Director at Oscar-winning Slick Film, executive producer of 2025 BAFTA-nominated short Marion) and Max Marlow (Producer for 2024 Academy Award shortlisted Good Boy, starring Ben Whishaw, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Entertainment). The film is presented by 42 Management & Production.