ADFF — Materials, light, and nature

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Subject: ADFF — Materials, light, and nature

October 1, 2025

When selecting films, we consider everything that relates to architecture. We always show a mix of straightforward design films—architect profiles, the making of iconic buildings—and other films that, through exploring another topic, get at how architecture functions and why it matters. This season, we have three films on the fundamental ingredients of architecture: materials, light, and nature.

These topics are deeply important to the field of architecture, just ask some of the greats:

"Materials are the carriers of the spirit of a building." – Peter Zumthor

"The interaction of light and form is the essence of architecture." – Zaha Hadid

"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature." – Frank Lloyd Wright

Tracing Light

2024 / 99 min / Germany

Director: Thomas Riedelsheimer

For director Thomas Riedelsheimer, light is both a medium and a lifelong obsession. From the birth of stars to the molecular dance of life, light reveals the universe’s hidden architecture. The film blends art and science as it follows visionaries in both fields who seek to understand and sculpt light. Visually striking and thought-provoking, this film expresses the language of architecture, sensation, and cinema itself.

ADFF:NY Tracing Light tickets (US premiere):

Wednesday, October 13 at 8:30pm

Saturday, October 18 at 7:45pm

ADFF:LA Tracing Light tickets (LA premiere):

Monday, October 27 at 8:15pm

ADFF:Vancouver Tracing Light tickets (Canada premiere):

Friday, November 7th at 8:00pm

Saturday, November 8th at 2:15pm

Søren Pihlmann: Make Materials Matter

2025 / 54 min / Denmark

Director: Marc-Christoph Wagner, Simon Weyhe

The global construction industry is one of the planet’s most resource-hungry and polluting sectors. Too often, buildings are torn down, their materials discarded, and entirely new structures built from scratch—a process that not only fuels the climate crisis but also ignores the hidden value, beauty, and potential in what already exists. But a shift is underway. In recent years, a distinct Danish voice has emerged in the global conversation about how we live, build, and shape our surroundings. At the forefront of this movement is architect Søren Pihlmann, whose projects explore how existing materials can be given new life.

ADFF:NY Make Materials Matter tickets (US premiere):

Thursday, October 16 at 8:45pm

ADFF:LA Make Materials Matter screening (LA premiere):

Saturday, October 18 from 11am-6pm Free special event at Helms Bakery as part of Art Walk. The film will be playing continuously. No RSVP required.

At the Garden's Pace

2024 / 70 min / Netherlands

Director: Juan Benavides

At the Garden’s Pace tracks a design-build process of a striking new modern pavilion within a botanical garden dedicated to conifers in the Dutch town of Hilversum. Under the watchful eyes of local residents, the architect-builders put on overalls and work shoes and navigate the year-long process. This hypnotic, deliberate film pulls you into the unhurried rhythm of the garden and rewards you for your attention. Featuring compelling characters and a satisfying conclusion, the documentary thoughtfully explores how bold contemporary architecture can find harmony within a century-old landscape.

ADFF:NY At the Garden's Pace tickets (US premiere):

Thursday, October 16 at 6:15pm

Saturday, October 18 at 3:45pm

ADFF:LA At the Garden's Pace tickets (LA premiere):

Monday, October 27 at 6:15pm

ADFF:Vancouver At the Garden's Pace tickets (Canada premiere):

Tuesday, November 6 at 8:15pm

Sunday, November 9 at 4:30pm