International Woolmark Prize reveals short film in honour of six 2021 finalists

The International Woolmark Prize 2021 and the Saint Heron Agency have joined forces to create a special film called ‘Passage’ in honour of this year’s six finalists, Bethany Williams, Casablanca, Kenneth Ize, LECAVALIER, Matty Bovan and Thebe Magugu, as a unique way to present their final collections.

Saint Heron is the multidisciplinary platform, studio and creative agency established by Solange Knowles, who has created the short film “to celebrate the act of creation.”

The film was directed by McArthur Award-winning director Wu Tsang, and benefits from “the masterful styling” of Ib Kamara and an original score by Standing on The Corner.

The short film features an ensemble cast of rising musical talent and legendary figures including 5x Grammy award winning artist, Dionne Warwick, actress, model and author, Dominique Jackson, eclectic artist, SahBabii, Atlanta psychedelic soul legend, Joi, and one of music’s most exciting new voices and Pitchfork ranked best new music of 2020 singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, KeiyaA.

Knowles said: “In continuing Saint Heron’s world making practice, ‘Passage’ further explores my interest in theatrical production through the translation of identity, spirit, philosophy and creation. Whether it be through album artwork, stage design, or filmmaking, I've always sought to create new visual languages that encompass the expressions my other works cannot communicate.

“I’m inspired to expand these processes through the Saint Heron Agency with a wider scope of collaborations and projects. To reflect on and honour the creative process with the 2021 International Woolmark Prize finalists, ‘Passage’ aligns with Saint Heron’s mission to reverence creation as life, from abstraction to being.

“I’ve been a longtime fan of Wu Tsang’s work and to be able to work alongside her, the Saint Heron team, and all of the incredible artists and designers in the film, really fortifies the ethos of collaboration and communal creative exchange that we wish to continue to embody.”

Wu Tsang added: “It’s been incredible working with Solange and the Saint Heron Agency. The collaboration between everyone involved in this project in service of these designers is something so special. Solange has such a strong, unique voice and, along with her poetic approach, used performance as a way to unify and contrast each individual look. Working across theatre and film myself, this felt like the perfect melding of everyone’s visions.”

Since its inception, the International Woolmark Prize has awarded and incubated some of the most era-defining fashion designers, from Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent to Giorgio Armani, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren.

The winner of the International Woolmark Prize 2021 will be announced on June 10 2021.