Photo Christian TARRO TOMA @ctarrotoma
Last weekend, Dover Street Market Paris transformed into a vibrant hub of fashion, film, and activism for the 17th edition of A Shaded View on Fashion Film (ASVOFF). Under the direction of founder Diane Pernet, the festival — held from 13–16 November — wove together pressing contemporary themes, from mental health in fashion and AI-generated cinema to climate activism and queer archives.
At the heart of the festival, alongside Pernet, was designer Willy Chavarria, who presided as jury president. Having won the Grand Prize last year for his film Safe From Harm, his humanistic creative ethos set a powerful tone throughout the weekend, foregrounding fashion as a vehicle for dignity, struggle, and unity. The opening night brought together the featured filmmakers and the wider ASVOFF community, featuring a message from Chavarria and a live performance by Flavio Juan Núñez.
Photo Christian TARRO TOMA @ctarrotoma
Across the four days, the programme challenged audiences with ambitious and thought-provoking curations. Films explored the pressures of mental health within the fashion world, the rapidly evolving possibilities of AI storytelling, and the ongoing fight for climate justice. The lineup also championed underrepresented voices, spotlighting student filmmakers, queer artists, and creators from the Chinese fashion-cinema scene.
Among the screenings was a series of talks featuring an impressive roster of guest speakers. Sustainability and diplomacy were explored by former Chloé Chief Sustainability Officer Aude Vergne; Balenciaga’s Sustainable Development Director, Annika Mohr Storfalt; and IFM’s Sustainability Director, Andrée-Anne Lemiuex. Willy Chavarria joined MATTE Projects co-founder Max Pollack and Chief Creative Officer Matthew Rowean to unpack their creative collaboration on Safe From Harm, while curatorial consultant Lydia Kamitsis revisited two of her joint exhibitions with Olivier Theyskens.
Photo Christian TARRO TOMA @ctarrotoma
The closing night, marked by the ASVOFF 17 Awards Ceremony, was a culmination of triumph and celebration. Carlos Jaramillo’s Heart of the Valley screened ahead of the presentations, with awards delivered by Chavarria and the rest of the distinguished jury, while Pascal K. Douglas acted as the evening’s presenter. This edition also introduced the inaugural M·A·C Beauty Prize, created in collaboration with M·A·C Cosmetics to honour beauty as cinematic expression and a force for visibility.
ASVOFF remains a powerful weekend of passion and creative exchange. Its uplifting spirit stands as a testament to everyone involved and to the inspiring filmmakers who devote themselves to crafting such moving, insightful work. Already, anticipation is building for next year’s edition — and for the ways filmmakers will continue to interrogate contemporary society, amplify marginalised voices, and celebrate creativity rooted in empathy.
Photo Christian TARRO TOMA @ctarrotoma
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Best Climate Warrior KIDS
Honourable Mention: Leith Berti, Leith’s Vegetable Patch
Winner: Maël Henry – When My Wishes Come True
Best Climate Warrior TEENS
Francesca Daria Newman – Princess of Your Own Castle
Best Student Film
Honourable Mention: Basile Pelletier, Antoine Markovic, Jimmi, in the Meantime…
Winner: Maximilian Raynor – Manor for Heaven
Best Chinese Fashion Film powered by ENG
Zhichao Gu – Solemate
Best AI-Generated Film
Yongqi Li – OmniTrans.cam
Best Mental Health in Fashion
Eric Jiang – Three Aces
Best Documentary
Honourable Mention: Martine Fougeron, Teen Tribe
Winner: Carlos Jaramillo – Heart of the Valley
Best Fashion Activism
Eric Gregory Braden – Blood on Your Hands
Best Queer Archive
Kane Kwik – Reflections
Best Black Spectrum
Christian Saint, Melissa Rouillé – Akosua
Best Advertising
Glen Luchford, Christopher Simmonds – Valentino ADV Fall 25 Campaign
Best Acting
Boa Campbell – Tales from the Bridge: The Misfit
MAC Beauty Prize
Alberto Vargas – La Latino
Best Styling
Emmanuel Affedzie – SKY
Best Sound Design
Steven Klein – Cut Throats
Best Editing
Alasdair McLellan – Saint Etienne – Take Me to the Pilot
Best Cinematography
Vladislaw Sinchuk – Hôtel Tangò
Best Art Direction
Max Gold – Out of Office
Best Director
Vasilis Katsoupis – Gamma Gamma – Avrio Vrady
Grand Prize
Anil Padia, Michael Mwangi Maina – Temple Road
