On February 6, 2025, FASHIONCLASH and Rotterdam’s Fashion in Flux joined forces once again to present the second edition of FEELING FASHION at the Nieuwe Instituut during the International Film Festival Rotterdam. This special evening celebrated the ever-evolving dialogue between fashion and film, showcasing how these mediums intersect to tell powerful stories beyond the traditional runway.

One of the evening’s highlights was a conversation between filmmaker and producer Hadi Moussally and moderator Yassine Salihine, exploring the transformative potential of fashion film as a tool for storytelling, identity, and activism. Moussally’s work is known for its evocative narratives and thought-provoking imagery, challenging perceptions of beauty, culture, and representation.

The event also featured a performance by Salma Zahore, a queerture and artivist, who performed for the first time in the Netherlands. Her moving and confrontational work sheds light on societal norms, inclusivity, and personal identity, resonating deeply with the audience and adding an extra layer of intimacy to the program.

In addition, the showcase included films by emerging Rotterdam-based and linked artists and designers Flo Meijer, Tyna Le, Coco Simons, and Michał Zgierski.
The evening concluded with a screening of Moussally’s award-winning short film, "Shame (عيب)", a gripping narrative that confronts social and cultural taboos, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

Beyond the live event, a FEELING FASHION Film Program ran at Nieuwe Instituut from Friday, February 7, to Sunday, February 9, 2025, and was accessible to visitors during opening hours. This film selection further expanded on the themes of fashion as a moving image, reinforcing its power to provoke, inspire, and challenge. In the screening room, you could experience films by Moussally, as well as filmmakers from Poland, India, Turkey, Costa Rica, and the Netherlands. Together, these creators use fashion as a lens to explore themes of beauty, love, cultural identity, and equality. All films were handpicked in collaboration between Fashion in Flux and FASHIONCLASH and have previously been showcased at during FASHIONCLASH Festival in Maastricht.

All images are by Mark Bolk

FASHIONCLASH joins forces again with the Rotterdam based platform FASHION IN FLUX for Showcase #2: FEELING FASHION with special guest Hadi Moussally.

Thursday 6 February, 19:00 - 23:00
Location: Nieuwe Instituut, Museumpark 25 3015 CB Rotterdam

It is believed that the best way to understand fashion is by seeing it in motion. While catwalks are mostly for the happy few, film offers the opportunity to reach a broader audience with compelling fashion narratives. During the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025, we invite you to explore this way of experiencing fashion during a new edition of FEELING FASHION. With special guest Hadi Moussally, film-maker and producer, we discuss the layers of fashion film, the changing role of images, and how fashion film can be used as a force to create change.

Artist, filmmaker, photographer, producer and performer Hadi Moussally will join moderator Yassine Salihine for a conversation about the developing genre of fashion film. During the evening, we will showcase Hadi’s work, as well as the work of four up-and-coming image makers from Rotterdam: Flo Meijer, Tyna Le, Coco Simons and Michał Zgierski. Like Moussally, these makers are interested in the transformative power fashion film can bring.

This power will also be embodied by Salma Zahore, who Hadi invites to the stage especially for the evening. Salma is a queerture, a performer and artivist against injustice. Her performances challenge traditional notions of gender and belief systems, while proudly asserting her Lebanese and Arab identity, which deeply influences her work.

The evening concludes with the screening of Hadi Moussally's latest short film, Shame (عيب), which won this year’s FASHIONCLASH Film Award.

This collaboration is part of the FASHIONCLASH expert meeting program, as part of the annual program supported by Creative Industries Fund NL. This event is organized in collaboration with Fashion In Flux and is supported by Designplatform Rotterdam, Nieuwe Instituut and Gemeente Rotterdam.

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FASHION IN FLUX & FASHIONCLASH present:
FEELING FASHION Film Program

Date: Friday 7 February 2025 - Sunday 9 February 2025; accessible during opening hours Nieuwe Instituut

Location: Auditorium Nieuwe Instituut

It is believed that the best way to understand fashion, is by seeing it in motion. While catwalk shows are often reserved for the privileged few, film offers a powerful way to share compelling fashion narratives with a wider audience. During the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam, Fashion in Flux and FASHIONCLASH invite you to step into the captivating world of fashion through the art of film.

Through a selection of twelve fashion films, we highlight the diverse, evolving and multifaceted world of fashion film. Drawing inspiration from the work of the visionary artist and filmmaker Hadi Moussally—our special guest at the public event FEELING FASHION on February 6—this selection demonstrates how fashion film can be a transformative tool to create change.

In the screening room, you'll experience films by Moussally, as well as filmmakers from Poland, India, Turkey, Costa Rica, and the Netherlands. Together, these creators use fashion as a lens to explore themes of beauty, love, cultural identity, and equality. All films were handpicked by FASHIONCLASH and and Fashion in Flux and have previously been showcased at their renowned annual festival in Maastricht.

The program is free to attend and available during the regular opening hours of Nieuwe Instituut.

FEELING FASHION Film Program selection

A Breathe Moment - A film by Jodie Cranen, Leda Spiranec, Povilas Gegevicius & Hsin Min Chan
Bellydance Vogue - Hadi Moussally
Black Teeth - Lisa Konno
HUM हम (We/Us) - A LittleShilpa Film Directed by Ashim Ahluwalia
Purification - a film by Coco Simons, Thi Lan Huong Le, Tobias van Nieuwenhove
The Back Yard - Esteban Avila
To Die For - Dylan Eno Sprik
Truth is in the details - Hadi Moussally
Sugar’s Like Us - Kutsal Taylanci
Shame (عيب) - Hadi Moussally
We Belong Together - Flo Meijer and knitwear brand nadie.studio by artist Nadie Borggreve
ŻÓŁĆ - Michał Zgierski