Threads of Africa

Applications closed

Stories of
Rebirth.

The Threads of Africa 2026 Fashion Film Prize

Africa's textiles carry centuries of knowledge in their weave, dye and stitch. Many of them are close to being lost. Threads of Africa 2026 invites you to choose one and put it on film, telling the story of where it came from and why it deserves a future.

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The 2026 application period has ended

Artisan weaving a vibrant textile
Grand prize$25,000For the winning film
Animated African textile pattern
Animated African pattern

Stories of Rebirth - Threads of Africa 2026

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Document✦Revive✦Carry forward✦Rebirth✦ Document✦Revive✦Carry forward✦Rebirth✦
01

What this is

Fashion film prize

A pan-African prize built around revival.

A pan-African fashion film prize built around one idea: that Africa's fashion heritage is worth documenting, reviving and carrying forward.

You will choose an endangered or forgotten African textile, garment or technique, and create a three-to-five-minute fashion film that connects its history to its future.

The strongest films will travel well beyond competition. They form the foundation of the Threads of Africa: Rebirth film series, and the designers and storytellers behind them become the first names we bring to the Elevate Africa Convening.

Traditional loom with colourful threads
01 / Documentation
Map of African textiles
02 / Revival
African fabric patterns
03 / Future
Flowing African fabrics

The theme: Stories of Rebirth

Every entry starts with a single textile or technique.

Choose one that is endangered, forgotten or underused. Your film documents it and reimagines it, showing how something from Africa's past can shape its industries, identities and economies tomorrow.

Applications Closed
02

What you will create

A three-to-five-minute fashion film.

Build your film around one endangered, forgotten or underused African textile, garment or technique. The submission should show where it comes from, how it is made, and why it deserves a future.

Final output

One complete fashion film

Your film should run between three and five minutes and connect heritage research with a contemporary fashion story.

01

Story origins

Include documentary-style interviews with the people who hold the knowledge: weavers, elders, historians or artisans.

02

Creative process

Show the design and making journey, from the textile or garment itself through to the finished look.

03

The case for revival

Make a clear argument for why this fabric or technique should live on, including its cultural meaning and commercial potential.

African textile and pattern
African textile and pattern
African textile and pattern
African textile and pattern
African textile and pattern
African textile and pattern
African textile and pattern
03

Who can enter

Colourful African circular pattern

Open call

For African fashion designers, filmmakers, students and creative teams.

Fashion designers, filmmakers, students and creative teams of African descent from across Africa and the diaspora. You can enter alone or as a team.

01

Enter with an endangered, forgotten or underused African textile, garment or technique.

02

Submit alone or as a team with an original, research-led fashion film proposal.

03

Be ready to credit collaborators and the people who hold the knowledge behind the work.

04

Prizes, judging and dates

Prizes

$25,000 in non-dilutive grants.

A total prize purse of $25,000 in non-dilutive grants, which means the money is yours to build with and we take no equity in return.

  • Grand Prize: $25,000, one winner.
  • Mentorship: at least three guaranteed sessions with judges and industry leaders.
  • Visibility & Amplification: your film anchors the Threads of Africa: Rebirth series and exhibition, carried across our platforms and partners.

Judging

Films are scored against four weighted criteria.

  • Cultural authenticity and research depth - 30%
  • Creative innovation and design excellence - 30%
  • Narrative power and emotional impact - 25%
  • Commercial and revival viability - 15%

A film that does well here is one that has done the research, brings real design and craft, moves the viewer, and makes a believable case that the textile has a commercial future.

Key dates

Entries close 30 June 2026.

  • 11 June 2026 - Entries open
  • 30 June 2026 - Entries close
  • August 2026 - Judging
  • October 2026 - Winners announced

Your work, your credit

Credit stays with the creators.

  • Rights: Threads of Africa hold the copyright to submitted films and documented collections, for archival, promotional and commercial development use.
  • Credit, permanently: every use of your film credits the designer and storyteller behind it.
  • A fair share: commercial use falls under a transparent revenue-sharing model with the creators involved.
05

About Threads of Africa

A force for cultural diplomacy, economic growth and a sustainable creative industry.

Threads of Africa works to reposition African fashion as a force for cultural diplomacy, economic growth and a sustainable creative industry. The inaugural prize launched in 2024 and drew designers from across the continent.

This 2026 edition widens the focus from design alone to storytelling, documentation and revival, so that Africa's fashion heritage is not only seen but kept alive.

Applications closed

Thank you for sharing
your stories.

The 2026 application period has ended. New applications are no longer being accepted.

Entries closed 30 June 2026

Grand Prize$25,000
Submissions closed

Applications are now closed.

Thank you for your interest in the Threads of Africa 2026 Fashion Film Prize. We are no longer accepting new submissions.