South African documentary and portrait photographer Lee-Ann Olwage has been announced as a Global Grant winner of the Fujifilm GFX Challenge Grant Program 2025, placing her among an elite group of image-makers recognised for powerful, socially relevant visual storytelling.
As one of only five Global Grant recipients worldwide, Olwage has been awarded a USD $10 000 grant to bring her long-term project, Weaving Stars and Palm Leaves, to life. The award also includes the use of Fujifilm GFX System large format equipment, with Olwage set to work using the Fujifilm GFX100RF camera and two GF lenses throughout the duration of her project.
A global platform for meaningful storytelling
Now in its fifth year, the Fujifilm GFX Challenge Grant Program is a global initiative designed to nurture and develop photographic talent, giving creators the freedom to explore subjects of deep personal and cultural significance while gaining hands-on experience with Fujifilm’s GFX System technology.
The programme awards five Global Grants and ten Regional Grants annually, supporting emerging and established creatives in producing work that advances visual storytelling on a global stage.
A project two years in the making
For Olwage, the grant represents the culmination of years of research, intention and artistic vision.
“I am beyond thrilled to receive the Fujifilm GFX Challenge Global Grant,” she says. “With this grant I will work on a very special project that has been two years in the making called Weaving Stars and Palm Leaves. I am excited to shoot with the Fujifilm GFX System over the course of the next year to explore the rich capabilities of large format storytelling.”
The project will take Olwage to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, where she will document the lives and traditions of Amazigh women, whose rug-making practices have been passed down through generations.
Weaving heritage, identity and the environment
Through her lens, Olwage aims to capture far more than craftsmanship. Amazigh rugs serve as living archives — interwoven with personal stories, collective memory and domestic life.
“The Amazigh women create more than just rugs,” Olwage explains. “They weave the very essence of their identity, their connection to nature and their spiritual journeys. Weavers draw inspiration from the landscapes, incorporating symbolic designs that reflect their connection to the land and spirit world.”
However, Weaving Stars and Palm Leaves also addresses the growing challenges posed by climate change, which is increasingly affecting Morocco’s mountainous regions.
“Due to elevation-dependent warming, mountain regions experience more rapid and intense change than lower elevation regions,” Olwage notes. “In the face of climate change, the continuation of the rug-making tradition becomes even more crucial. This is because the weavers’ knowledge of natural materials and dyes, their understanding of the land, and their connection to the rhythms of nature provide valuable insights into sustainable living.”
Recognition from the global photography community
The project resonated strongly with the international judging panel.
“Throughout her career, Lee-Ann Olwage has demonstrated a deep commitment to documenting women’s stories from across the African continent,” said Amanda Maddox, one of the GFX Challenge Grant Program judges.
“Her examination of Amazigh weavers in Morocco represents a continuation of such work and promises to be a sensitive, informative exploration of tradition, gender relations and environmental concerns.”
A trusted tool for large-format storytelling
Olwage has selected the Fujifilm GFX100RF as her camera of choice for the project, having previously worked with the system.
“I have always been a big fan of the compact nature of the GFX100RF,” she says. “This paired with the incredible image quality, video capabilities, true-to-life rich cinematic colour, and the interesting aspect ratio and exposure compensation dials make this my preferred camera of choice.”
The rangefinder-style, 102-megapixel camera will accompany Olwage during her month-long stay in Morocco, supporting both stills and video storytelling.
A growing African presence on the global stage
Joining Olwage as Global Grant winners are Hsu Hao-Han (Taiwan), Julia Siu-Yin Ngeow & Rebecca Basaure (USA), Yasutaka Seki (Japan) and Wang Jiayi (China).
African representation continues through Manuel Michael from Nigeria, who has been named one of the ten Regional Grant winners, receiving USD $5 000 and the use of Fujifilm GFX System equipment for his project.
Olwage becomes the second South African photographer to be selected as a Global Grant winner, following Jodi Windvogel in 2023.
A decorated career continues to ascend
Olwage is no stranger to international recognition. Her accolades include multiple World Press Photo awards (2020, 2023, 2024), the International Women in Photo Award, the Esperanza Pertusa International Photography Award, and the Contemporary African Photography Prize (2022).
At the conclusion of the production period, the final works from all grant recipients will be showcased on fujifilm-x.com, with additional exhibitions planned in various countries.
For Olwage, Weaving Stars and Palm Leaves is both a continuation and an evolution — a deeply human story told through the precision and intimacy of large-format photography.
