2024 FESTIVAL
The 2024 line-up consisted of four categories with each film exploring stories that told us about ourselves, revealed moments that shaped our history and gave glimpses as to where our innovations might lead us.
THE ICONOCLASTIC
Featuring some of the globe’s most interesting and memorable sites, these films give us a glimpse into the minds of masters at work.
DESIGN RADICALS
Exceptional activations and untamed ideas set inside an industry that constantly requires one to think beyond the ordinary.
Imogen from the Heart
The Mies Van Der Rohes
Green Over Gray
Maurice and I
Directed by Rick Harvie & Jane Mahoney, 98m, 2024
An Aotearoa New Zealand documentary that explores Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney’s hugely influential architectural legacy that was all but lost in the Ōtautahi Christchurch earthquakes. Rare archival footage and exclusive interviews honour their remarkable partnership in this feature-length film.
New England Modernism: Revolutionary Architecture in the 20th Century
Directed by Jake Gorst, 107m, 2024
From the director of Desert Utopia is a deep dive into American Modernism’s provocative footing in New England led by a group of architects known as the ‘Harvard Five’—Marcel Breuer, Landis Gores, John Johansen, Philip Johnson and Eliot Noyes.
Siza
Directed by Augusto Custodio, 70m, 2023, subtitled
An insight into life behind-the-scenes of Álvaro Siza Vieira—his childhood, relationship with his wife, passion as a sculptor and admiration for classical music. Observe the architect and his legacy to ‘poetic modernism’ through an intimate lens.
The Promise—Architect BV Doshi
Directed by Jan Schmidt-Garre, 90m, 2023
An exclusive look into the work process of Balkrishna Doshi—one of India’s most influential 20th century architects and recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. With a portfolio spanning over 70 years, Doshi shares his sources of inspiration and motivation through brilliant storytelling.
Modernism Inc.
Directed by Jason Cohn, 88m, 2023
Delve into the multi-faceted career of Angelo Mangiarotti, a prominent Italian designer, architect and sculptor, who defied the conventional boundaries between these disciplines. As a pioneer in post-war Italy, the film explores his innovative approach, deep understanding of materials and cross-disciplinary work.
Alfabeto Mangiarotti
Skin of Glass
Radical Landscapes
GREEN-MINDED
Utilising concepts that work alongside nature and wellbeing, meet those who push the boundaries on environmental change.
A FEMININE VISION
Unapologetic by nature, follow the journeys of some exceptional women powered by intuition, prowess and, at times, spirituality.
Directed by David Maffei, 81m, 2022, subtitled
Explore the intersection of business, culture and design through the life and career of Eliot Noyes, the iconic architect and designer who built design programmes for some of America’s most powerful post-war corporations including IBM, Westinghouse and Mobil Oil.
Directed by Denise Zmekhol, 90m, 2023, subtitled
Follow filmmaker Denise Zmekhol as she embarks on a journey tracing the parallel paths between the collapse of her family and the abandonment of her father’s architectural masterpiece, a glass skyscraper in the heart of São Paulo, Brazil that’s now occupied by hundreds of homeless families.
Directed by Elettra Fiumi, 90m, 2022, subtitled
In the 1960s, Fabrizio Fiumi founded 9999, a design group whose activities centred on architectural experiments and utopian ideas. Following the death of her father, filmmaker Elettra Fiumi draws from a vast film archive and paints a picture of a fascinating, optimistic, critical and in all respects, exemplary era.
The Power of Utopia—Living with Le Corbusier in Chandigarh
Directed by Karin Bucher & Thomas Karrer, 85m, 2023
Observe the struggles and triumphs of the people who live and work in Chandigarh, India—a planned city designed by architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s. Reflect on Corbusier’s legacy, utopian urban ideas and the cultural differences between East and West in an atmospherically dense narrative.
Directed by Elodie Degavre, 79m, 2022, subtitled
Life, Assembled
Fifty years after the realisation of their respective utopias, four now-elderly Belgian architects take director Elodie Degavre on a journey to discover extraordinary housing. A joyful exploration through time, from which emerges a crucial question: how will we live tomorrow?
Mr. Funkis
Directed by Anders Wahlgren, 59m, 2022, subtitled
Discover one of Sweden’s most radical architects, Sven Markelius, who played an important role in the post-war urban planning of Stockholm. Alongside his civic projects, he co-authored the book-length manifesto titled Acceptera promoting modernism as a set of cultural values.
Point of Origin
Fashion Reimagined
Directed by Becky Hutner, 100m, 2022
Designer Amy Powney is a rising star in the London fashion scene. When she wins a coveted Vogue award, which comes with a big cash prize, Amy decides to use the money to create a sustainable collection from field to finished garment, and transform her entire business.
Presented by
Clodagh
Directed by Oda O’Carroll, 50m, 2022
Follow the remarkable life of Clodagh, one of Ireland’s greatest designers, who has defied gender and age barriers for over 50 years to forge a critically acclaimed global career.
Directed by Emile Dinneen, 50m, 2023, subtitled
Filmed over 13 years, discover the life and works of one of Ireland’s most celebrated artists, Imogen Stuart, as documented by her grandson. Now, at the age of 96, Imogen’s childlike inquisitiveness, energy and passion shows little sign of abating. Imogen, ever-engaging, still works every day.
Directed by Sabine Gisiger, 90m, 2023, subtitled
Meet some of the women who impacted the life of world-renowned architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Drawing on private archival footage, photos and documents, the film retells a stirring story of the iconic architect as remembered by his eldest daughter, Georgia.
Directed by Frans Parthesius, 46m, 2023, subtitled
Discover some of Emilio Ambasz’s seminal ‘green architecture’ projects alongside interviews with Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma, Toyo Ito, James Wines, Barry Bergdoll, Fulvio Irace and Stefano Mancuso.
TerraForma
Directed by Francesca Molteni & Mattia Colombo, 55m, 2023, subtitled
Rem Koolhaas’ first residential build in 25 years sees him design a minimalist alpine house that’s less than four metres wide on a small piece of land in Austria.
Directed by Laurence Dirkin, 62m, 2023
Discover the story of a remote volcanic island which sat smouldering for a million years entirely devoid of life, until its climate was re-engineered into a tropical paradise. By examining this scientific design process called ‘terraforming’, the film asks us to consider what it might mean for the fate of our planet.