Refugee fashion documentary FABRIC heads to Los Angeles

FABRIC, a short documentary about refugees training and working in a Paris fashion atelier, will screen July 30 at the Oscar- and BAFTA-qualifying Los Angeles International Short Film Festival. The film follows Espero Atelier’s work in couture and employment, building on its world premiere at Raindance Film Festival.

Why it matters: - FABRIC brings a refugee story into one of the film calendar’s most visible short-film showcases. - The Los Angeles International Short Film Festival is Oscar and BAFTA qualifying, which can widen industry attention for a documentary with social impact themes. - The film highlights a fashion-based pathway into training, employment and integration for displaced people.

What happened: - FABRIC will have its Los Angeles premiere at the 30th Los Angeles International Short Film Festival on July 30, 2026. - The film follows a Paris fashion atelier that supports refugees in French couture and society. - FABRIC had its world premiere at the 34th Raindance Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Documentary Short. - We Love Short Film gave the film four stars and described it as “Elegant, compassionate and quietly inspiring.”

The details: - Director Anabelle Marshall follows Espero Atelier, a Paris-based social enterprise that trains refugees in tailoring and supports their move into fashion jobs. - The film includes exclusive access to the atelier and shows refugees creating a fashion collection for display at the Musée d'Orsay on the eve of Haute Couture Week. - The documentary centers on Maya Persaud, the co-founder of Espero Atelier, and her work building opportunities through fashion education, skills development and employment. - Persaud has lived in Paris for many years and previously worked as a fashion model. - FABRIC follows Espero team members Ibrahim, Suad, Haider, Sumaiya and Cynthia, who came from Guinea, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Congo. - The film traces their personal and professional growth and shows how Espero’s work supports integration into French society. - The documentary also features Catherine Brickhill, a former Alexander McQueen and Givenchy designer and mentor at Espero, and Sylvain Amic, who was president of the Musée d'Orsay and Musée de l'Orangerie at the time of filming. - FABRIC is produced by Tiny Circus Productions and Hemeroscope Studios. - The project is a UK-France co-production led by global majority female filmmakers. - Tiny Circus Productions is an independent film production company founded in 2025. - Hemeroscope Studios is an independent audiovisual production company based in London and Paris. - A press contact is listed as sanam@tinycircusproductions.com. - The source also includes a social media link: Tiny Circus Productions on Instagram.

Between the lines: - Marshall frames the film as a response to current events and says FABRIC is meant to humanize the refugee experience and challenge the prevailing narrative. - Persaud says the film shows how refugees have rebuilt their lives and can demonstrate exceptional skills inside the fashion industry. - The festival slot suggests the documentary is being positioned for both cultural and industry audiences, not just niche impact screenings. - The fashion setting gives the story a visible, aspirational backdrop while keeping the focus on labor, identity and belonging.

What's next: - FABRIC is scheduled to screen on July 30 at LA Shorts. - The Los Angeles showing will bring the film to West Coast audiences after its UK festival run. - The screening could open the door to broader distribution and further festival bookings.