Experiencing Interruptions?
Password

The Conscience of Clothing

This is more than a film.
It’s a journey. It’s a process. It’s a mission. To bring a just society to the workers of the global south and doing so by starting a movement.

THE CONSCIENCE OF CLOTHING
is a hybrid mix of cineastic documentary and editorial content elements by independent filmmaker Patrick Kohl.

What does „making fashion“ mean to the people producing our clothes and accessories? Fashion-Blogger Willy Iffland and journalist Helen Fares visit diverse actors in different positions in the industry to get intimate and honest insights.

It’s a roadtrip and a progressive personal development story, translated through permanent reflexion of our two protagonists Helen Fares and Willy Iffland – taking a deep dive into the heart of Cambodia’s garment industry.

Inspired by welcoming encounters with locals, THE CONSCIENCE OF CLOTHING is an authentic snapshot of an industry that accounts for the livelihood and everyday reality of roughly a fifth of the country’s population.

Our topics are working conditions, fair wages, education, road safety and general life in Cambodia – but we’re building strong bridges to western civilisation „Zeitgeist“ topics such as egoism, consumption in real life capitalism (fueled by fast fashion), intersectional feminism and sustainability in the modern world.

  • Patrick H. Kohl
    Director
  • Patrick H. Kohl
    Writer
  • Patrick H. Kohl
    Producer
  • Helen Fares
    Key Cast
  • Willy Iffland
    Key Cast
  • Alina Koschnike
    Camera
  • Patrick Dosanjh
    Camera
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Mode.Macht.Menschen.
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 39 minutes 49 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 31, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    125,900 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Cambodia, Germany
  • Language:
    Central Khmer, English, German
  • Shooting Format:
    Blackmagic Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    17:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • New York International Film Awards - WINNER - Best Feature Documentary
    New York City
    United States
    best feature Documentary
  • Los Angeles Film Awards - WINNER - Best Feature Documentary
    Los Angeles
    United States
    best feature Documentary
  • Canadian Diversity Film Festival - WINNER - Best Documentary Film
    Toronto
    Canada
    WINNER - best documentary
  • Beyond the Curve International Film Festival Paris - WINNER - Best Feature Documentary
    Paris
    France
    WINNER - best feature Documentary
  • New York Cinematography Awards - WINNER- Best First Time Filmmaker
    New York
    United States
    BEST FIRST FIME FILMMAKER
  • New York Cinematography Awards - WINNER- Best Documentary Cinematography
    New York
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary Cinematography
  • GECO 20 Geelong Eco Film Festival - WINNER - BEST DOCUMENTARY
    Geelong
    Australia
    Australia Premiere
    Official Selection GECO20, Geelong Eco Film Festival
  • Chicago Indie Film Awards - WINNER - Best Feature Documentary
    Chicago
    United States
    best feature Documentary
  • Chicago Indie Film Awards - FINALIST - Best First Time Filmmaker
    Chicago
    United States
    Chicago Indie Film Awards
    best feature first time Filmmaker
  • Tokyo International Short Film Festival - Honorable Mention (2x)
    Tokyo
    Japan
    Japan Premiere
    Best Documentary, best First Time Filmmaker
  • Jellyfest by Lionsgate Los Angeles - Honorable Mention
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Honorable Mention
  • Prague Film Awards - FINALIST
    Prague
    Czech Republic
    best documentary film
  • BBK DOC - FINALIST
    Bangkok
    Thailand
    first time director
  • Lonely Wolf London International Film Festival - FINALIST (3x)
    London
    United Kingdom
    FINALIST (best documentary/best edit/best cinematography)
  • Sarajevo Fashion Film Festival - FINALIST
    Sarajevo
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Best Documentary
  • Montreal Independent Film Festival - FINALIST
    Montreal
    Canada
    best feature Documentary
  • Courage Film Festival - SEMI FINALIST
    Berlin
    Germany
    best feature Documentary
  • Madrid Human Rights Film Festival - Official Selection
    Madrid
    Spain
    Documentary feature - Official Selection
  • Barcelona Independent Film Festival - Official Selection
    Barcelona
    Spain
    Documentary feature - Official Selection BARCIFF
  • Miami Independent Film Festival - Official Selection
    Miami
    United States
    Documentary feature - Official Selection
  • Melbourne Lift-Off Film Festival 2020 - Official Selection
    Melbourne
    Australia
  • Austria International Film Festival - Official Selection
    Vienna
    Austria
    Official Selection
  • Sensus World Film Festival - Official Selection
    St. Petersburg
    Russian Federation
    Russia
    Nomination - best feature Documentary
  • San Francisco Independent Film Festival - OFFICIAL SELECTION
    San Francisco
    United States
    Official Selection - best feature Documentary
  • Golde State Film Festival - OFFICIAL SELECTION
    San Francisco
    United States
    Official Selection - best feature Documentary
  • Livable Planet Film Festival - OFFICIAL SELECTION
    San Francisco
    United States
    Nomination - best feature Documentary
  • World London Film Festival - Official Selection
    London
    United Kingdom
    Nomination - best feature Documentary
  • The European Independent Film Award - Official Selection
    Brüssel
    Belgium
    Nomination - best feature Documentary
  • New York Inspirational Festival - Official Selection
    New York
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Deep Focus Film Festival
    Brooklyn, NY
    United States
    Honorable Mention
  • Swedish International Film Festival
    Arvika
    Sweden
    Finalist
Distribution Information
  • WDR Mediagroup
    Distributor
    Country: Germany
    Rights: All Rights
    Country: Switzerland
    Rights: All Rights
    Country: Austria
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Patrick H. Kohl

Patrick Kohl is an award winning Berlin-based storyteller and film director.

He specializes in cinematic portraits and capturing human life stories in cultural documentaries focused on creating impact for a better tomorrow.

His journeys to cover life on film with national and international NGOs and foundations have taken him to 4 continents, including inspiring countries such as Venezuela, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal, Lebanon, India and Cambodia.

Before working on cultural documentaries, Patrick worked as a journalist for over 10 years, as well as producer and (live-)director for several major international brands and European-based advertising agencies. He founded his first production company at the age of 25, where he worked with all major German TV networks. He likes the smell of freshly mowed lawns and drinks more coffee than he should. The Conscience of Clothing is his debut feature length documentary (2020).

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Let us bring change. We have to raise our voices for a just society. Please reach out if you have further questions.