Now open · Call for entries

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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Entries close 30 June 2026 · Open to creatives across Africa

Grand prize^$25,000For the winning film

Stories of Rebirth - Threads of Africa 2026

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

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

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.

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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.

Story origins

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

Creative process

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

The case for revival

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

Who can enter

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

Ready to apply?

Choose your textile.
Tell the story.

Make the case for its future. Complete every section of the application form below; your information is confidential and used solely for participant selection and verification.

Entries close 30 June 2026

Grand Prize$25,000

01 / 08Applicant information

Tell us who you are and how we can reach you.

Full name * Date of birth * Nationality * Country of residence * Contact email * Phone number * Preferred language of communication *

02 / 08Team information

Complete this section if you are applying as a team.

Team nameLead applicant

Team members

No team members added yet. Individual applicants can leave this section empty.

03 / 08Professional background

Show us the experience and perspective you bring.

Current occupation / role * Affiliated organization / institution Relevant experience in fashion, film, or cultural storytelling *0 / 200 words Portfolio, website, or social media links

04 / 08Project proposal

Describe the story you intend to uncover and how you will tell it.

Selected indigenous textile, garment, or technique * Brief description of your proposed fashion film *0 / 300 words Short film link * Intended approach to story origins, including interviews with custodians, elders, or artisans * How will your film contribute to the theme “Stories of Rebirth”? *0 / 150 words If awarded, how will you use the prize funds to further your work, support your community, or sustain African fashion heritage? *0 / 250 words

05 / 08Professional references

Provide two non-family professionals who have known you for at least one year.

Reference 1

Name *Relationship to you * Organization / position *Email * Phone *How long have they known you? * In what capacity have you worked together? *

Reference 2

Name *Relationship to you * Organization / position *Email * Phone *How long have they known you? * In what capacity have you worked together? *

06 / 08Physical workspace

Not having a store, studio, or office does not disqualify your application.

Do you have a physical work store, studio, or office? * Name of store / studio / officeFacility type Address, including city and country Website or social media link Activities conducted at this location

07 / 08Checks & declarations

Please read each statement carefully before accepting.

I consent to identity, credential, and professional-history background checks for this competition. I confirm I have not been convicted of fraud, intellectual property theft, or an offence that may impact eligibility. I authorize Threads of Africa to contact my references. I declare that all information provided is true and accurate. I will submit original work and credit all collaborators and cultural custodians. I agree to competition rules, including intellectual property and content usage policies. I am responsible for ensuring all submitted content is original or properly licensed, and indemnify Elevate Africa and Threads of Africa against infringement claims. I grant Elevate Africa a non-exclusive, royalty-free worldwide licence to use and promote my submitted content, with a 50/50 split of attributable net direct commercial revenue.

08 / 08Sign & submit

Attach the required documents, sign your application, and send it for review.

Government-issued ID *PDF, JPG, PNG, DOC, or DOCX · Max 10MB Supporting documentCV, portfolio, or letter of support · Max 10MB Signature: full legal name * Signature date *

Ready to submit?

You will not be able to edit this application after submission. Please review each section using the progress menu.

Stories ofRebirth.