Film

"Great men have done great things here, and will again, and we can make America what America must become." – James Baldwin America is an anxious nation chasing a more perfect union. As it's political body struggles along the arc of justice, the truths “we” hold, rarely appear self-evident. Complicated by an overtly mediated era, today's social movements demand a punctuated examination of #historicalconsequence and #power. At this moment, the distance between Art and Politics—reflection and response—seems to be collapsing. In a letter to his nephew on the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, philosopher and American commentator, James Baldwin, offered an optimistic but urgent message, "Great men have done great things here, and will again, and we can make America what America must become."Read more

Akosua Adoma Owusu is a Ghanian-American filmmaker, producer, and cinematographer whose films and installations address the collision of identities. Often combing personal ethnography and cultural representations of beauty in her work, Owusu transitions between avant-garde cinema, fine art, and African tradition. Her work ranges with its varied use of archival material, direct animation, and...Read more

Renzo Piano: The Architect of Light Architecture & Design Film Festival: NOLA Program #8 Synopsis Renzo Piano: The Architect of Light Director: Carlos Saura 2018 / 65 min / Spain Celebrated Spanish director Carlos Saura captures the genius of one of the most famous Italian architects in the world, Renzo Piano. The brilliant designer behind structures including the Center Pompidou in Paris,...Read more

The Black Museum Architecture & Design Film Festival: NOLA Program #12 Synopsis The Black Museum Director: Oliver Hardt 2017 / 52 min / Germany / Program 12 The documentary takes the audience on a journey through the spectacular National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.. Through 100,000 square feet of exhibition space spread across eight levels, the museum...Read more

Design Canada Architecture & Design Film Festival: NOLA Program #4 Synopsis Design Canada Director: Greg Durrell 2017 / 76 min / Canada Through the lens of graphic design, Design Canada follows the transformation of a nation from a colonial outpost to a vibrant and multicultural society. What defines a national identity, is it an anthem? A flag? Is it a logo or icon? How do these elements...Read more

Leaning Out + Past/Presence: Saving the Spring Garden Architecture & Design Film Festival: NOLA Program #6 Synopsis Leaning Out Directors: Basia and Leonard Myszynski 2018 / 59 min / USA This is the story of Leslie Robertson, the lead structural engineer of the World Trade Center, a man who oversaw the construction of the tallest building on the planet at the time, and is haunted by its...Read more

A Poetics of Living Architecture & Design Film Festival: NOLA Program #11 Synopsis A Poetics of Living Director: Damien Faure, Caroline Alder 2018 / 60 min / France On the shore of the Pacific Ocean in Chile, a young architect, who narrates this contemplative voyage, returns to the landscapes that are close to her heart. Here, she says, “where time becomes poetic,” is the land of Amereida, a...Read more

Rams Architecture & Design Film Festival: NOLA Program #7 Synopsis Rams Director: Gary Hustwit 2018 / 70 min / USA Rams is a documentary portrait of Dieter Rams, one of the most influential designers alive, and a rumination on consumerism, sustainability and the future of design. For over fifty years, Dieter Rams has left an indelible mark on the field of product design and the world at large...Read more

About the Festival The Architecture & Design Film Festival celebrates the unique creative spirit that drives architecture and design. With a curated selection of films, events and panel discussions, ADFF creates an opportunity to entertain, engage and educate all types of people who are excited about architecture and design. With well-attended screenings, legendary panelists, vibrant...Read more