Moderator: Justin Merino, LAFFF Founding Partner
Panelists: Rania Al-Naimi, Co-founder at CANIFFF, Damien Merino, LAFFF 2018 Juror, Amber Moelter (Noir Tribe), Deborah Ferguson, Founder of ContentMode

What do we consider to be a fashion film? What makes a film a fashion film and when is it not considered one? Is fashion film for everyone? The panel will discuss the definition of fashion in a cinematic context: what is fashion film, what is the purpose of it, what makes it what it is, and who defines it.

Couldnt make it? We bring the roundtable to you:

Panels begin with a film screening and end with a 10 minutes Q&A session.

Justin Merino, LAFFF Founding Partner & Managing Director at kulturspace

Hailed “cultural activist” by the Guardian, Justin Merino is no stranger to producing progressive and thought-provoking creative projects and events through his agency, kulturspace. His recent key projects include ‘Show Us Your Type by KS’, Berlin U-Bahn, and the Berlin Student Film Festival. Justin has worked with international brands and personalities such as Mercedes-Benz, Adidas, Warner Bros., Alanis Morissette, Eartha Kitt and Michael Jackson to name a few, and also facilitated and addressed audiences at SOHO House, Frieze London and Adobe Behance. Justin splits his time between Berlin, Tel Aviv and his hometown Los Angeles.

Rania Al-Naimi,
Co-founder of CANIFFF

Enthusiastic travel, fashion, and lifestyle activist with a passion for the arts, specifically in the fields of digital imagery and photography, especially ones inspired by her travels, led Rania Al-Naimi to become a Co-founder, content curator, and submissions manager to CANIFFF "The Canadian International Fashion Film Festival" through which she built her experience in fashion film.

Noir Tribe, Los Angeles-based storytelling duo

Noir Tribe is a Los Angeles-based storytelling duo (Amber Moelter & Luis Barreto Carrillo) that creates visual content for the fashion industries, with a special interest in sustainability and social responsibility. Their work has been featured on Vogue Italia, Vogue México, ELLE México, NYLON Español, Harper’s Bazaar Bulgaria, Harper’s Bazaar Brasil, and Glamour. Clients include The Museum at FIT, The Women’s March on Washington, Inexmoda, Sana Jardin, Polite, and Fashion Revolution USA. Awards include Best Documentary for Peyote Dreams at the International Fashion Film Awards and Best Cinematography for ETHETICS (ethics+aesthetics) at the Mercedes-Benz Bokeh South African International Fashion Film Festival. Instagram: instagram.com/noirtribe

Damien Merino, Bay Area Creative & LAFFF 2018 Juror

Damien is a San Francisco bay area based creative, lifestyle content creator, and a visual merchandising project manager for the Old Navy brand. Born in Hawaii and growing up in Southern California has had a big influence on his style and aesthetic, bringing a little bit of west coast cool to all of his projects. He works closely with his partners accessories and home brand, West Perro, and is currently developing a desert retreat project in Joshua Tree.

Deborah Ferguson, Founder of ContentMode / Executive Producer

Deborah Ferguson is a NYC & Los Angeles based award-winning Producer and Creative director/founder of ContentMode media. Her career in fashion publishing and design started in London, England as she is a pedigree in the world of RTW/couture fashion by working for John Galliano. From there she won awards for her costume designing and continued to work with name actors and actresses on various high profile projects. The ContentMode short fashion films in which Deborah conceptualizes, produces, and has engaged name actors to star in. For Example; actors David Oyelowo, Norman Reedus, Carly Chaikin, Andrew Rannells, Tom Lipinski, and Mary -Louise Parker to name a few. The ContentMode narrative films are written by established screenplay writers and directors have garnered International awards and Official Screenings at film festivals. Deborah's ongoing visionary Creative direction and producing films for ContentMode has lead to her creative directing an ad campaign for RTW brand Costume National/Paris as well as creative producing/developing long form films.