The short documentary, which follows a team of refugees in Paris working towards sustaining French haute couture, has also received a nomination by Raindance in the category of Best Documentary Short.
FABRIC highlights the work of Espero Atelier, a company founded by fashion insider Maya Persaud to aid refugees and train them in the production of haute couture, thus helping them to find a lifetime passion and employment. The short film is a UK-France co-production and follows a team of refugees in Paris working towards sustaining French haute couture and delves into themes of identity, displacement and craftsmanship. FABRIC is part of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival’s Short Film Corner preview screenings to industry.
Produced by UK based Tiny Circus Productions and France-UK based Hemerscope Studios, the female-led production companies partnered with The Female Film Club at their annual reception during the Cannes Film Festival on 18 May where FABRIC was spotlighted. The partnership is supported by content production company Analysis History.
Now, the World Premiere of short documentary has been announced as part of the 34th Raindance Film Festival. FABRIC will be part of the "Short Docs 2" program, screening on Friday, 19th June and Saturday, 20th June at VUE Picadilly, the festival’s cinematic hub. FABRIC has also received a nomination by Raindance in the category of Best Documentary Short.
Sanam Hasan, Sabrine Dahaut and Maya Persaud at the Female Film Club in Cannes Villa Party
The film’s director Anabelle Marshall said: “Inspired by the incredible work of Paris-based non-profit fashion collective Espero and in light of current events in the world, FABRIC humanizes the refugee experience and shifts the prevailing narrative. Revealing how the lives of displaced people have been woven together by resilience and a shared humanity, using their skills to build a creative community. We are delighted with the announcement of the World Premiere at the Raindance Film Festival and honored with the nomination. ”
FABRIC presents Paris based non-profit Espero Atelier, which works on building pathways to access jobs in fashion for refugees and other marginalized populations. The film follows the Espero team in their journey of creating and designing a unique collection presented at the Musée d'Orsay on the eve of Haute Couture Week. In addition to Espero founder Maya Persaud and the atelier’s trainees, FABRIC features interviews with members of the fashion and culture worlds including Catherine Brickhill, Espero mentor and former Alexander McQueen and Givenchy designer, as well as Sylvain Amic, president of the Musée d'Orsay and Musée de l'Orangerie at the time of filming.
Maya Persaud, Espero founder, said: “The refugees that I work with have been through significantly challenging experiences and have come out the other side to rebuild their lives in such an awe-inspiring way. I am delighted to bring their stories to audiences with FABRIC and showcase their hard work and exceptional skills within the fashion industry.”
Stay tuned for more Raindance announcements as this year ENinaRothe.com will pair up with the festival as one of their Media Partners and I’ll personally host a couple of screenings, followed by insightful Q&A’s.
For more information and to purchase tickets to some of the films, check out the schedule on the festival’s website.