Fuelled by the magic of film and fired by the desire to celebrate architecture, the Architect Africa Film Festival was created in 2006 to acknowledge and embrace the astounding reality of urban living.

In 2016, the Architect Africa Film Festival (#AAFF2016) will partner with our valued sponsors – the SA Council for the Architectural Profession, the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg, PPC Cement, Business & Arts South Africa, Saint-Gobain, Propertuity, the Paragon Group and Afritects – to bring audiences exciting and thought-provoking content on our dynamic and multi-layered built environment.

Advances in digital communications and media have changed the way we live, work and play. It has become easier, cheaper and faster to communicate new concepts, concerns and ground-breaking ideas. Correspondingly, the power of digital media to offer us a more socially equitable, environmentally considerate and economically effective platform has never been greater. Previously unheard voices can now be heard; new spaces and opportunities are opening up all around us all the time; and we’re able to engage around common causes in ways that previous generations could not.

In keeping with this spirit, we have selected some inspiring films from around the world:

Ecumenopolis:  City Without Limits (2011)
Director: Imre Azem

Ecological limits have been surpassed. Economic limits have been surpassed. Population limits have been surpassed. Social cohesion has been lost. In Istanbul, lacking a tradition of principled planning, the adopted neoliberal approach put financial gain ahead of people’s needs; everyone fought to get a piece of the loot. The result is a mega-shantytown of 15 million struggling with mesh of life-threatening problems.

Perween Rahman: the rebel optimist (2016)
Director: Mahera Omar

An intimate portrait of Pakistani architect and urban planner, Perween Rahman, and her remarkable work for Karachi’s poor. Rahman had an alternate vision for the development of Karachi and dedicated her life to the poor of Pakistan. She was shot dead by armed assailants on her way home in March 2013. “Development doesn’t come from concrete. Development is not five star hotels and mega road projects. What we need is human development.”

City Futures (2015)
Directors: Lone Poulsen, Pedro Buccellato, Kyle Ferguson

“South African City Futures: Visualising the Futures of our Neighbourhoods” is a project that aims to encourage South African cities and their constituent neighbourhoods to start thinking differently about their future. The intention was to implement an innovative project that is part research and part radical co-creation, which combines the use of futures thinking, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and multiple forms of visualisation to reflect upon the future of urban neighbourhoods to 2030. 

Paolo Soleri: Beyond Form (2013)
Director: Aimee Madsen

Beyond Form is a cinéma vérité style documentary that presents a fresh and intimate look at the legendary and multi-talented artist, philosopher, urban theorist and architect Paolo Soleri – a man who had a dream to create an environment in harmony with man. Soleri is the most interesting architect you’ve never heard of.

For almost a decade, the Architect Africa Film Festival has been recognized and enjoyed by many as a top quality event bringing together built environment professionals, students, the media and the public. The selected films are highly rewarding and enjoyable; and have raised pertinent issues, encouraged discussion, and facilitated interaction between audience members and filmmakers since 2007.

The #AAFF2016 will be held at The Bioscope in Maboneng, Johannesburg from 23-26 June 2016.

Bookings will open on 1 June 2016, and pre-booking is advised.

Visit www.aaff.co.za, follow us @AAFF_2016, and tweet #AAFF2016.