Tom Cullen spoke at a screening of Black Church Bay during the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, discussing the significance of portraying gay characters in cinema. The actor, known for roles in Downton Abbey and House of the Dragon, plays a closeted man navigating social pressures within an insular community in the film.
Cullen noted that his approach to the character remained consistent with how he would handle any role, prioritizing empathy and understanding. He referenced his earlier work in the 2011 film Weekend, his first gay character role, and suggested that comparing the two projects demonstrates the range available within queer cinema. The actor emphasized that proper character research involved consulting with personal connections to gain authentic perspectives.
Black Church Bay was filmed in Anglesey and directed by Welsh-Irish filmmaker Rhys Marc Jones, who selected the location specifically for its dual capacity to appear both beautiful and foreboding. The film’s script was described by Cullen as particularly challenging and distinctive for UK productions. Jones and his partner Paix Robinson expressed their commitment to filming in Wales, citing personal significance and the desire to premiere his debut feature there.
Cullen managed his schedule by filming in Wales while simultaneously working on House of the Dragon, commuting to London on weekends. Co-star Joe Locke, recognized for his role in Netflix’s Heartstopper, found parallels between Anglesey and his native Isle of Man, noting similarities in landscape and small-town atmosphere.
Separately, the festival awarded its top prize to Luís Hindman for Magid/Zafar, a film centered on tensions within a Pakistani takeaway. Hindman received £40,000 to develop a new LGBTQ+-themed project in the UK, expressing his intention to explore British Asian identity through his work. The Iris Prize Festival marked its 20th anniversary this year, operating in partnership with BAFTA Cymru as a seven-day international celebration of LGBTQ+ cinema.
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