FASH!ON/off

This weekend the first Belgian Fashion Film Festival in Antwerp will start. This idea came from Sarah Lauwers who works for Cinema Zuid and Ben van Alboom, who works as a freelance journalist, is one of the owners of A&Gallery in Ghent and has many more other projects. Both of them are really busy with the organisation at the moment, but the intern Michiel found some time to answer the questions I had (not that he is not working hard of course!)

'The idea of the festival is to introduce people into the medium of fashion films. When you tell someone that you organise a fashion film festival, most people won't really understand what you are talking about. We hope to influence their idea of a fashion film festival by this modest festival this weekend.'

Although Michiel describes this festival as modest, two well respected fashion photographers who both are into film as well, will be attending this festival. Serge Leblon has worked for The Face, Dazed and Confused and even Harper's Bazaar, so it will definitely be worth to visit 'an evening with Serge Leblon' on Friday night starting at 8:15 pm. During this Q&A the Belgium photographer will give away a special mix between a Q&A's about his work and inspiration, avant-garde cinema and music video. This is also the opening screening of the festival. On Saturday you can attend a Q&A between legendary style icon Stephane Raynor (founder of BOY London) and Dutch photographer Ari Versluis.

The closing screening of Fash!on/off will be on sunday. Todd Cole will be present and will fly in all the way from LA. Since the festival is about fashion films, you can expect different screenings during the weekend. For the complete programme and tickets have a look on the Fash!on/off website.

The choice for Antwerp is pretty obvious with the great fashion scene, but will there be a possibility that this festival will move to other cities? Michiel agrees that this was a logical decision. 'But who knows? For now there are no plans in that direction, lets first survive this weekend and then start our Christmas shopping, we didn't get to that the last few weeks!' Well I wish you guys all the luck!

Oh and by the way, Ellen von Unwerth first said she might attend, but decided she couldn't make it. Which means Fash!on/off has a spare room in Hotel O, one of the best hotels in Antwerp. So if you are planning to go to the festival but still need a place to stay, have a look on the Fas!on/off Facebook and tagg yourself in one of the pictures!

See you there!