Iris Prize Goes to Cowboy

A haunting film about a city dweller and country lad who pay a terrible price for love was named last night as the 2008 winner of the Iris Prize with its £25,000 award.
At a glittering awards evening at Cardiff's Cineworld, Torchwood creator Russell T Davies announced that the international jury had selected German filmmaker Till Kleinert's Cowboy to scoop the coveted award.
Accepting the award, Till said taking part in the competition and attending the three-day festival in Cardiff had been an incredible experience.

"Cowboy is a fantastic film that captured the imagination of the jury and the general public. Till Kleinert is a huge talent. I'm so excited that he will return to Wales to make a new film with his prize."

The 35 minute film, which Till had introduced at its screening, tells the story of city dweller Christian, working for a real estate agent, comes to a deserted village where he meets country lad Cowboy. They spend the day and night together. When harvest starts at dawn the village shows its real face and the two men are forced to pay a terrible price in order to leave.