As part of the Queer Activity Program FASHIONCLASH dedicated extra attention to filmmakers whose work integrates queer narratives into their artistic practices.
The Fashion Film Program was held at Lumière Cinema and highlighted the works of emerging filmmakers and artists who address queer narratives in cinema and moving image.
Fashion film has become an essential format for designers and brands to present their aesthetics and ethics, and in today’s multimedia age, it offers a growing way to capture stories and engage broad audiences through online platforms and media. Fashion film, as a genre, lends itself exceptionally well to portraying social issues, such as queer themes, by combining visual storytelling with the power of fashion to express complex identities and challenge societal norms.
This year’s program featured a selection of short fashion films that explored queer themes, showcasing the power of fashion film as a medium for self-expression and storytelling.
Photos: Stills from short fashion films: The Back Yard, The alter ego and ŻÓŁĆ
Highlighting filmmaker Hadi Moussally
One of the program's key highlights was a special focus on Lebanese-French filmmaker Hadi Moussally. Moussally has built an impressive portfolio of short films where queer themes are central. His unique approach to fashion film explores identity, gender, and cultural boundaries, with a strong emphasis on Arab queer perspectives, an often overlooked subject. Moussally has also developed an alter ego, Salma Zahore, to further delve into the underrepresented world of Arab queer narratives through film and performance.
The decision to focus on Hadi Moussally's work and the Arab queer perspective resonated deeply with audiences, especially in light of current global events. In an inspiring moment during the festival, the FASHIONCLASH Festival 2024 Fashion Film Award —a 1000 euro prize—was awarded to Moussally’s film Shame (عيب), which explores questions of cultural identity, masculinity, femininity, and religious roles. As Moussally reflects in an interview with FashionUnited, “What is culture? What is masculinity? What is femininity? What is religious?” His work challenges the narrow view of Arab identity and pushes boundaries in exploring what it means to be oneself in a society that tries to define you. As a queer Arab, Moussally feels a responsibility to raise his voice and provide representation: “In Europe, where some politicians fuel anti-Muslim rhetoric, representation is crucial.”
Looking forward, FASHIONCLASH will continue its collaboration with Fashion in Flux , with a special film program planned for Thursday 6 February 2025, at Nieuwe Instituut as part of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) fringe program. This event will feature films related to Moussally’s work, with a continued focus on the queer perspective as a central theme.
Photos: Laura Knipsael
Screening of Queendom
A pre-festival screening of the outstanding documentary Queendom was held on the evening of Thursday, November 14. The film follows Gena, a 21-year-old Russian non-binary performance artist, and served as the perfect introduction to the festival, with a focus on queer creators and narratives. Following the screening, a Zoom Q&A with the filmmakers offered further insight into the making of the film and its cultural impact.
Still of Queendom
Through the Queer Fashion Film Program, FASHIONCLASH Festival not only celebrated the creative power of fashion film but also reinforced its commitment to promoting diverse, inclusive narratives that challenge societal norms and empower marginalized voices.