August 23, 2023

ADFF is thrilled to launch our 2023/24 season. This is our 15th year, and once again, we’ll be showing the best documentaries about architecture and design from around the world. After viewing hundreds of films, the programming team narrowed it down to 18. The films in this truly international selection come from 12 different countries.

We never begin our programming process with specific themes in mind, but patterns emerge as films are selected. This year we have three films made by children of architects who are trying to understand their unique childhoods through the lens of the architect who raised them. One of these films is My Architect, which will have its 20th-anniversary screening at the festival. The film stands the test of time, and the new digitally remastered version looks as stunning as ever. Even if you've seen it before, you won't want to miss the opportunity to watch it on the big screen. The other 2 architect-parent films are by daughters of less famous architects whose stories are equally powerful.

We also have three new films that feature South Asia: a film on Le Corbusier's experiment in Chandigarh, a film on the legendary B.V. Doshi, who passed away this year, and a new film on Geoffrey Bawa that takes an entirely different angle than the Bawa film we showed last year. It's a good season to be a fan of architecture films in South Asia as we will launch ADFF:Mumbai in 2024! Stay tuned for more information about this exciting new festival location.

We have a film that looks at housing in Sao Paulo and one about gentrification in Denmark. We have a film looking at how we have designed our way into the climate crisis and how we can design our way to a greener future. As we have said from the very first year of ADFF, Design Directs Everything!

This year we are planning even more post-screening Q&As, conversations, and panels. Each festival has its own magic and part of that is coming together to watch films you can't see anywhere else, films that bring you closer to the issues you are passionate about. The films we screen are authentic works of art made by a wildly innovative group of filmmakers. Mark your calendars, get tickets early, and come and enjoy the films.

See you at the theatre,

Kyle Bergman

Festival Director