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A new collection of photographic portraits of successful gay and lesbian professionals working in the film industry are to be exhibited during the in Cardiff next month.

Images by acclaimed photographer , including new portraits of Sir Ian McKellen, Stephen Fry and Mark Gatiss, will go on display in the Grand Arcade, St David's shopping centre from 9 October.

Portrait of actor Sir Ian McKellen by photographer Donald MacLellan

Iris Patron, Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, said: "This new collection of portraits of successful gay and lesbian professionals working in the film industry includes Stephen Fry, Sir Ian McKellen and Iris's very own Berwyn Rowlands. I'm delighted that Berwyn's work in setting up the Iris Prize has been recognised in this way by the UK Film Council."

"The collection records and celebrates the fantastic wealth of talent we have within the UK film industry. I think it will also act as a catalyst to explore, highlight and debate the on-screen representation of gay, lesbian and bisexual people and to establish to what extent they feel reflected in film, both in front of, and behind the camera," he added.

Stephen Fry by Donald MacLellan

"It is very appropriate that this important exhibition is unveiled to the public during the Iris Prize Festival which has become such an important event. The newly extended St David's in the heart of Cardiff city centre is also the ideal place for people to see the exhibition. I'm hoping that I will be one of the many thousands to see the portraits before the end of the year."

Actor Heather Peace photographed by Donald MacLellan

The free exhibition runs from 9 October to 6 November 2010 at the , Cardiff. For more information on the exhibition and the Iris Prize Festival, visit .