Karimah Ashadu has been awarded the 2026 Philipp Otto Runge Foundation Fellowship. The grant will support the presentation of the work Muscle (2025) in the group exhibition “BUT I | WORLD | I SEE | YOU” opening on 4 June 2026 at the Hamburger Kunsthalle, curated by Dr. Corinne Diserens.

Muscle continues Ashadu’s experimental approach to filmmaking, engaging audiences through a non-linear and immersive visual language. The Fellowship recognises her significant contribution to contemporary moving image practice and supports the public presentation of her work to an international audience.

Camden Art Centre has announced a newly commissioned audio work by Tabitha Thorlu Bangura accompanying “Tendered”. Composed from sonic fragments of MUSCLE, the audio work is presented via NTS Radio and Camden Art Audio. 

Karimah Ashadu’s new film “MUSCLE” (2025) will screen at Berlinale Forum Expanded on Sunday February 15th for its festival premiere. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director.

Save the date
Premiere
Sunday February 15, 8:30 PM
Kino Betonhalle at Silent Green, Berlin

2nd Screening
Monday February 16th, 6:15PM
Kino Betonhalle at Silent Green, Berlin

“Machine Boys” by Karimah Ashadu has been nominated in the Best Short Film category for the Preis der deutschen Filmkritik 2025, marking an important recognition of her work within contemporary cinema.

The award ceremony will take place on February 15th at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin, Germany. 

Karimah Ashadu has been awarded the Lichtwark-Förderpreis by the City of Hamburg, presented by Senator for Culture and Media Dr. Carsten Brosda at a ceremony in the Hamburger Kunsthalle. Named after Alfred Lichtwark, the Lichtwark prizes honor artists whose work offers distinctive and forward-looking contributions to contemporary visual culture.

Ashadu’s multidisciplinary practice, marked by a rigorous visual language and sustained engagement with social, spatial, and economic conditions, positions her as one of the most compelling voices of her generation. The Lichtwark-Preis was this year awarded to Jutta Koether.