Nowness: Celebrating Craft Through Film
Craft Works: Figures in Thread. Directed by Pierfrancesco Carta and Frances van Hasselt
For those drawn to the artistry, heritage, and moving poetry of handmade traditions, the short film platform Nowness offers a treasure trove of visual storytelling. Their curated series Craft Work is a particular highlight - a collection of short films that explore global craft practices with cinematic elegance and deep reverence.
One recent gem, Figures in Thread, captures the soul of Sardinia’s weaving legacy. Directed by Pierfrancesco Carta in collaboration with South African textile artist Frances van Hasselt, the film introduces us to the last female artisans still practising traditional hand-weaving — women who pass down stories, symbols, and mythologies through every carefully made textile.
“Each textile represents far more than fabric – it carries symbols passed down through generations, embodying myths, beliefs, and the social fabric of Sardinian communities,” van Hasselt explains. “This project becomes more than a reportage: it is a celebration of resilience, artistry, and cultural continuity.”
Sardinian weaving is deeply embedded in the island’s identity. With its floral and geometric motifs - created on wooden looms using techniques dating back to the Nuragic era - each piece becomes a map of memory. Initiated by creative producer Francesca Broglia and her studio Voltura Sardinia, Figures in Thread honours the women who have safeguarded this fragile tradition in the face of industrialisation, economic strain, and cultural change.
A moving glimpse into a craft at risk of fading, the film explores the visual language of Sardinian weaving - and the hands and voices still keeping it alive.
Watch the full film on Nowness, and explore more stories from the Craft Work series that celebrate the richness and resilience of global textile traditions.
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Further Information:
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Image Credits:
Lead: Film Still from 'Figures in Thread' by Frances van Hasselt and Pierfrancesco Carta
Movie Credits:
Creative Direction: Frances van Hasselt
Creative & Film Direction: Pierfrancesco Carta
Creative Executive Production: Francesca Broglia
Production company: Voltura Sardinia
Featuring: Frances van Hasselt, Maestro del Bisso Chiara Vigo, Studio Pratha, Lucia Piredda, Alberta Pinna, Lucia Todde, Gonaria Todde, Rosaria Ladu, La Robbia, Tina Farris & Manuela Manca
Colorist: Marco Spanu
Editing: Pierfrancesco Carta & Rupert Clague
Title design: Laura Syrbe
Composer, sound designer & re-recording mixer: Carlo Enrico Pinna
Vocals: Manuella & Alessandro Cocco
Special thanks to: Graziella Carta, Rita Carta, Silvia Serusi & Laura Lai from Studio Pratha, Nardino & Emanuele Degortes, Kate Antrobus, Olivia & Augusto Navone, Alice Fiorenza, Maria Franca Dore, Simona Chessa & Pro Loco di Aggius.