Launching in June 2025 at London College of Fashion, the UAL Future Fashion Film Festival is a cinematic celebration of fashion through the lens of film. Featuring industry judges, special guests, and a showcase of innovative fashion films at East Bank, the UK’s newest cultural quarter at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The festival will explore the creative impact of fashion on culture and society with UAL’s social purposes at its core. The call for submissions has now closed and the shortlisted films will premiere from 3-5 June 2025.

What is Fashion Film?

Fashion Film is more than just aesthetics. From the cinematic promotion of a designer’s collection, to telling stylish stories; the brief is open. Fashion film can be a direct reflection of contemporary culture, it can mediate complex issues in society and innovate on the front line of technology for moving image. However, most importantly at UAL, we aim to empower creative voices by showing how fashion can affect change; whether it’s exploring environmental sustainability, celebrating diversity, or bringing joy and meaning to people’s lives.

This fashion film festival seeks to showcase works that exemplify UAL’s social purposes which are:
Power cultural experiences.
Celebrate differences of all kinds.
Regenerate our environment.
Build more equitable prosperity.

Awards & Prizes

The awards categories are:

Fashion Film
Fashion Animation
Fashion Documentary
Fashion and Digital Innovation
Fashion Performance
Activism in a Fashion Context
Overall Winner
The maximum running time is 10 minutes for all categories, except for documentaries, which can be up to 20 minutes. Excerpts are accepted for longer work

Learn more about the categories:

Fashion Film
In the category Fashion Film is where storytelling, style, and cinematic artistry collide. From compelling narratives to innovative visuals, fashion films explore the impact of fashion on culture, identity, and society today. This category celebrates creative works that push boundaries, inspire audiences, and redefine the medium of fashion film.

Fashion Animation
We’re celebrating fashion through the limitless possibilities of animation. Unlike traditional fashion presentations like runway shows or editorial photoshoots, fashion animation uses animated visuals – such as 2D, 3D, stop-motion, or digital effects – to bring clothing, accessories, and concepts to life in dynamic and sometimes surreal ways.

Fashion Documentary
Fashion documentaries offer a unique look at the world of fashion, from the lives of designers, behind the scenes looks at fashion production, to sharing personal stories about our relationships to clothes.

Fashion and Digital Innovation 
The category for creative works of fashion film that are using digital technologies in new, critical and imaginative ways from computer generated clothing and realities, world building, AI, games design and more. Films should present creative and forward-thinking perspectives on how digital innovation can reshape the landscape of fashion. 

Fashion Performance
This category celebrates the intersection of fashion and the performing arts, highlighting creative expression through choreography, costumes, and storytelling. It emphasises how fashion enhances narratives and transforms live performances into visually striking experiences.

Activism in a Fashion Context
Films in this category reimagine a just and equitable fashion system for people and the planet. They advocate for causes that filmmakers care about or want to highlight. This can include creative works centering around narratives of decolonising and sustainability. 

Judges and Awards

Our esteemed panel of judges will select films that embody creativity, innovation, and purpose. Judges include:

Best Fashion Film

Rhea Thierstein: Creative Director and Artist. rheathierstein.com
Katie Metcalfe: Commissioning Director at NOWNESS. nowness.com
Liam Gleeson: Founder and Creative Director at Hidden Agency. hidden-agency.com
Diana Olifirova: Cinematographer and member of illuminatrix. dianaolifirova.com illuminatrixdops.com

Best Fashion Animation

Tom CJ Brown: Artist and Filmmaker. tomcjbrown.com
Jamie Dodds: Digital Commissioner, Entertainment at BBC. bbc.co.uk
Frederik Heyman: Artist. frederikheyman.com
FX Goby: Director. fxgoby.com
Fiorella Pomarino: Visual Artist, Production Designer. fiorellapomarino.com
Joy Shin: Art Director. burberry.com

Best Fashion Documentary

D.Wiafe: Artist, Educator and Course Leader of BA (Hons) Photography & Creative Industries at The London College of Communication, UAL. arts.ac.uk
Natalie Christian: Senior Editorial Policy Adviser at BBC. bbc.co.uk
Vanessa Whyte: Cinematographer and Co-Founder of Illuminatrix. vanessawhyte.com illuminatrixdops.com
Cal Turner: Commissioning Editor, Sewing Bee at BBC. bbc.co.uk

Best Fashion Performance

Niquelle La Touche: Artist-Educator, Head of Academy Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells East. academybreakinconvention.com sadlerswells.com
Gavin Humphries: Managing Director at NOWNESS. nowness.com
Ruby Kuraishe: BBC Commissioner, Drag Race at BBC. bbc.co.uk
Rob Jones: Artistic Director at Sadler’s Wells. sadlerswells.com
Liv Lockwood: Choreographer, Director and Movement Director. livlockwood.com

Best Fashion and Digital Innovation

Kerry Murphy: Co-founder, CEO at The Fabricant. thefabricant.com
Matthew Drinkwater: Head of Fashion Innovation Agency at London College of Fashion. fialondon.com
Omar Karim: AI Creative Director, Film Director, Image Maker. omarkarim.party
Sophie Bernard: Art Director at Hidden Agency. hidden-agency.com

Best Activism in a Fashion Context

Brendan Cormier: Chief Curator at V&A East. vam.ac.uk
Sam Wilkinson: Head of Public Art at UCL East. ucl.ac.uk/ucl-east
Sara Arnold: Founder of Fashion Act Now. fashionactnow.org
Laura Aguilera: Cinematographer. lauraguilera.com
Daisy Leigh-Phippard: Education & Training Officer, BAFTA albert. wearealbert.org

Overall Winner

Professor Andrew Teverson, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Head of London College of Fashion, and Professor of Cultural History and Critical Thinking. arts.ac.uk/london-college-of-fashion

Awards and Prizes

Screening of all shortlisted works at London College of Fashion, UAL in our state of the art lecture theatre at East Bank, London’s new cultural quarter.

NOWNESS Picks: a curated selection of shortlisted works will be screened on global video channel NOWNESS.

Special events and mixers for shortlisted filmmakers.

Nightly award ceremonies for each shortlist screening.

Awards for each category including production and equipment.

Film and cinema memberships.

Award for best fashion film across all categories.

Rules & Terms

Technical Specifications

Screen Dimensions:
The primary screen setup supports ultra-wide resolution: 8640 x 2160 (equivalent to two 4K screens side by side).
Standard formats such as 16:9 aspect ratio (including 1080p or 4K resolution) are also acceptable.

Color Profile:
We recommend using the REC709 color profile to ensure optimal color accuracy across all displays.

Video Format:
Please submit your film as an MP4 file.

Aspect Ratio:
Please ensure your aspect ratio fits either 16:9 or ultra-wide format.

Important Notes

Subtitles: Any film not in English must be subtitled. Subtitles should be clearly legible and burnt into the video file. Avoid using white text on light backgrounds for readability.

Copyright Clearance: Filmmakers must clear all copyright, including music or sound, used in the film. Any issues with clearance will result in disqualification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can submit a film? Any current UAL student, staff member, or alumni can submit a film.

2. What is the maximum running time for films? The maximum running time is 10 minutes for all categories, except for documentaries, which can be up to 20 minutes. Excerpts are accepted for longer works.

3. What happens if my film is selected? If your film is selected, you will be required to provide a high-resolution version for screening at the festival.

4. Can I submit multiple films? Yes, you may submit more than one film as long as each film adheres to the guidelines.

5. What happens if my film contains explicit content? Please disclose whether your film contains swearing or nudity. Explicit content must be clearly noted at the time of submission.

6. What format should I submit my film in? All films should be submitted as MP4 files. Please follow the technical specifications to ensure your film looks its best.

7. How should I format subtitles? Subtitles should be burnt into the video file and must be clearly legible. We recommend using a suitable font size, typeface, and color to ensure clarity.

8. Are there any restrictions on content? While we encourage creativity, films must adhere to legal requirements, including copyright clearance. All content, including music, must be cleared by the filmmaker.

Key Dates
Call for Entries: 15 October 2024 – 24 February 2025
Deadline Extended to 24 February 2025
Shortlist Announced: April 2025
Awards and Festival: 3 – 5 June 2025
Winners Announced: 5 June 2025

Film Festival Programme
3-4 June 2025, 6-8pm
Shortlisted entries will be screened each evening. Alongside a programme of workshops, meet ups and networking opportunities, talks, podcast recordings, director interviews.

5 June 2025, 6-9pm
LCF After Dark: UAL Future Fashion Film Festival
Screening the of the winners of each category, followed by a drink's reception, prize giving, workshops, exhibitions and entertainment.