Diane Pernet’s ASVOFF Festival, now in its 15th year, toke with a prestigious nod from the French Ministry of Culture, placing it under its auspices. The festival, renowned for spotlighting the intersection of fashion, culture and film, toke place its latest edition at Dover Street Market Paris, succeeding the legacy of the now-closed 3537 cultural center.
This year's jury president, Swedish artist Jay-Jay Johanson, led an esteemed panel of judges consisting of featuring Giuliano Calza, aka GCDS, Academy Award Nominated Costume Designer, Bina Daigeler, Twin Peaks actor, Harry Goaz and the mysterious COUTURFU and other luminaries to judge 115 fashion films competing across 16 categories. In particular, this edition introduced the award "Climate Warrior" award, recognizing young voices ages 6-12, championing environmental themes.
A novel AI-generated film section demonstrates the festival's embrace of technology and innovation.
Documentaries exploring fashion and high fashion included the screening of "The Versace Saga" by Nicklaus Olivier, paying homage to the iconic designer Gianni Versace, the “Kingdom of Dreams” and “Dressing the Part,” a tribute to academy-award nominated costume designer Arianne Phillips, directed by Michael McCool.
Highlights of the edition include the opening projection of “Invisible Beauty,” by Bethann Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng exploring the journey of Bethann Hardison as a model, agent, and activist and a tribute to Thebe Magugu, and the environmental critique, "Junk."
True to tradition, trophies crafted by New York's Miguel Villalobos with a special award for Responsible Actions curated by Sara Sozzani Maino and Matteo Ward for the highlighting the disaster that fashion has on our planet created by the Parisian upcycling artist William Amor, supported by FONDS for the Ateliers de Paris, spotlighting sustainable practices.
The finale with "Tilda Swinton: Le geste et le genre" ensured the closure of the festival.
“The recent endorsement by the French Ministry of Culture echoes ASVOFF’s creative endeavor and perpetual quest for cultural enhancement and diversity. Sublimating the democratization of cinema as a tangible asset, the festival exudes its artistic and singular aura within France and the international community,” commented Diane Pernet. The festival enjoys the support of key figures in the industry, including Adrian Joffe from CDG, Sylvain Amic, Conseiller en Charge des Musées, des Métiers d’Art, du Design et de la Mode at the Ministère de la Culture, and Jay-Jay Johanson, who serves as the President of this edition.
For more information about the 25th edition of ASVOFF visit www.ashadedviewonfashionfilm.com
ASVOFF
November 09-12, 2023
Dover Street Market Paris
35-37 Rue des Francs Bourgeois
75004 Paris
Photo: When We Blossom by Ayanda Iman Sadek