Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam 2024
In 2024, AFFR has a new programme organised around thematic sections, and with more feature films than ever before. To help visitors choose from almost 80 prize-winning documentaries, surprising shorts, architectsâ portraits and more, we have divided our programme into thematic lines: the topical Stages, the yearly recurring Paths and the AFFR Specials.
Highlights at Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam 2024
Earlier that day, starting at 12:00, The Boijmans Debate & Hanging Without Walls will delve into the renovation of the Slovak National Gallery. This gripping documentary, filled with Kafkaesque elements, features contributions from renowned figures such as Ina Klaassen and Antti Liukku. The debate reflects on the future of Rotterdamâs own beloved Boijmans Museum, making it a must-see for local art lovers.
On 11th October at 17:00, audiences will have the chance to experience the touching Brazilian documentary Samuel and the Light. The film tells the story of a young boy, Samuel, living in the remote village of Ponta Negra. As electricity arrives for the first time in their community, Samuel and his family must come to terms with how much their lives will change. The poetic imagery and raw emotional impact of this documentary make it a festival favourite.
Another highly anticipated film is Bird, screening on 13th October at 19:15. Directed by the award-winning Andrea Arnold, Bird premiered at Cannes and is now making its way to Rotterdam. The film follows the struggles of Bailey, a 12-year-old girl living in a dilapidated squat in North Kent. Her story is a poignant portrait of contemporary youth and the challenges faced by those on the margins of society.
Also noteworthy is E.1027 â Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea, a documentary about the famed architect Eileen Gray. Screening on 10th October at 20:15, this beautifully filmed docu-fiction explores the dramatic life of Gray and her tumultuous relationship with fellow architect Le Corbusier.
To close the festival with a bang, Santos Special: Rotterdam on the Screen will screen on 11th October at 21:00. This special event takes audiences on a cinematic journey through iconic Rotterdam locations, using film clips to celebrate the city's vibrant and diverse culture.
For complete details about the programme, check out the official AFFR website.
About AFFR
The foundation Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam (AFFR) was founded in 2000. That year, the first architecture film festival was organized. It wasn't just the first in Rotterdam, but the first of its kind in the world. Full editions followed in 2001 and 2003. In 2007 AFFR made a fresh start and in 2009 the festival expanded considerably in both visitor numbers and breadth of programming.
An architecture film is broadly about the meaning of city and architecture. It portrays cities, buildings, and their designers; shows that architecture cannot be understood without its surroundings or explores the role the city plays in our daily lives. In which not infrequently architects and urban planners turn out to be powerless gods and their designs, once realized, acquire very different meanings and functions than anticipated.Â