FIFTH ANNUAL ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM JANUARY 26-29, 2023

Opening Night features insights about urban planning while Closing Brunch features a D.C. Go-Go band performance and film screening about a D.C. public housing development. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.–December 15, 2022—The National Building Museum will, for the fifth year, partner with the Architecture & Design Film Festival to produce and host the beloved festival in Washington, D.C. (ADFF:DC) January 26-29, 2023. Throughout the course of four days, the festival will showcase a diverse selection of films from more than eleven countries that investigate design’s impact, environmentally and culturally, on the worlds of fashion, real estate, art, architecture, urban planning, and housing.

ADFF:DC Opening Night kicks off on Thursday, January 26, with Alice Street, a moving documentary about the power of public art and a mural that brought together artists, community leaders and two neighborhoods in the fight to protect history, culture and voice in the face of gentrification. The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director Spencer Wilkinson and community organizer, Lailan Sandra Huen. The evening will also feature an open bar, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and an opportunity to mingle following the screening of the film.

“ALICE STREET”

Friday and Saturday evening’s festivities begin with a Happy Hour, featuring vendors, Little Miner Taco, Don Ciccio & Figli, Other Half Brewing, and Silver Branch Brewing.

Friday evening includes a photography showcase featuring local artists, James Singewald and Steven Cummings, and multiple films exploring international design, the origins of redlining, and modern consequences of discriminatory urban design.

Saturday’s films highlight the exciting world of sustainable fashion. In addition to screenings, visitors can learn more about sustainable clothing at a panel discussion with industry leaders and pick up a one-of-a-kind piece from local vendors Tribute Collective, Bitter GraceorIllicit Rag Vintageat a pop-up market in the Great Hall.

“FASHION REIMAGINED”

The festival concludes on Sunday, January 29, with a celebration of D.C. culture and history featuring a Go-Go brunch with popular D.C. band TOB, a pop-up exhibition of photographer Dee Dwyer’s work documenting the people and culture of Southeast D.C., and a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington D.C. The filmtells the story of the fight to protect the legacy of a cherished community that helped define D.C. culture and will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Sam George and Sabiyha Shoenfeld.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with ADFF and proud that many of the films curated for this year’s festival are timely and relevant to residents in the D.C metro area,” said Aileen Fuchs, President and Executive Director of the Museum. “We are dedicated to offering engaging, immersive programming that inspires and educates about the world we design and build. This year’s festival features films that focus on equity, sustainability, and innovation, all of which are part of the Museum’s guiding Pillars of Impact. We hope visitors will come in from the cold to experience thought-provoking films and discussions; delicious food and beverages; and fun cultural activations around fashion, photography, and music.”

“BARRY FARM”

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

Thursday, January 26, 2023

• 5–9:30 pm Opening Night Celebration

Alice Street—2020 / 70 min / USA, Director: Spencer Wilkinson,Co-presented by National Building Museum

Q&A with Spencer Wilkinson follows the screening.

Friday, January 27, 2023

• 5–6 pm Happy Hour with Photography Showcase

• 6–7:30 pm 

Segregated by Design—2020 / 17 min / USA, Director: Mark Lopez, shown with: Committee of Six — 2022 / 37 min / USA, Director: Fred Schmidt-Arenales

A panel discussion follows the screening.

• 6:15–7:45 pm

Robin Hood Gardens—2022 / 90 min / Germany, Directors: Thomas Beyer, Adrian Dorschner

• 6:30–7:50 pm

Grethe Meyer–The Queen of Danish Design—2021 / 61 min / Denmark, Director: Isabel Bernadette Brammer

Q&A follows the screening.

• 8:15–9:45 pm

Maija Isola–Master of Colour and Form—2021 / 90 min / Finland, Director: Leena Kilpeläinen

• 8:30–10 pm  

Builders, Housewives and the Construction of Modern Athens—2021 / 87 min / Greece, Directors: Tassos Langis and Yiannis Gaitanidis

• 8:45–9:50 pm

Beyond the Life of Forms—2021 / 63 min / Italy, Directors: Francesco Conversano, Nene Grignaffini

Saturday, January 28, 2023 

• 5–6 pm Happy Hour with Sustainable Fashion Pop-Up

•  6–7:45 pm

A World to Shape—2022 / 52 min / Netherlands, Director: Ton van Zantvoort

 A panel discussion follows the screening.

• 6:15–7:30 pm

Building Bastille! The Tangled and Improbable Story of the Opera Bastille—2021 / 76 min / Canada, Director: Leif Kaldor

• 6:30–8 pm

Under Tomorrow’s Sky—2021 / 71 min / Netherlands, Director: Jan Louter

Q&A follows the screening

• 8:30–10:30 pm

Fashion Reimagined—2022 / 100 min / UK, Director: Becky Hunter

 Q&A follows the screening.

• 8:45–10 pm

Concrete Landscape—2022 / 72 min / Brazil, Directors: Laura Artigas, Luiz Ferraz

• 9–10:15 pm

GES-2—2021 / 77 min / Russia, Director: Nastia Korkia

Sunday, January 29, 2023

• 10 am–noon GoGo Brunch with Photography Showcase

• noon–1:45 pm

Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington D.C.—2022 / 50 min / USA, Director: Samuel George and Sabiyha Prince

A panel discussion follows the screening.

• 2:30–4:15 pm

Bawa’s Garden—2022 / 84 min / UK, Director: Clara Kraft Isono

Q&A follows the screening.

• 2:30–3:40 pm

Alice Street—2020 / 70 min / USA, Director: Spencer Wilkinson

TICKETS:

Opening night ticket prices are $30 for Museum members, $50 for non-members, and $25 for students, which includes screening of Alice Street and the celebratory reception featuring an open bar and delicious hors d’oeuvres. Purchase Tickets

Tickets for Friday and Saturday night are $20 for Museum members, $35 for non-members, and $15 for students per night. Purchase Tickets for Friday, Purchase Tickets for Saturday

Closing Go-Go brunch ticket prices are $30 for Museum members, $50 for non-members, and $25 for students, which includes brunch and screening of Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice in Washington D.C. Purchase Tickets

The “All Access Pass” is $90 for Museum members, $150 for non-members, and $70 for students and includes the Thursday opening night celebration, Friday night, Saturday night, and the closing brunch and screening on Sunday. Purchase All Access Pass

SPONSORS

ADFF:DC is presented with the Revada Foundation of the Logan Family. Additional support from Design Foundry, Room & Board, Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS, Fabrication Events, Inc., Atmosphere Lighting, Shaw Contract, and MJ Valet.

VENDORS

Special thanks to our featured ADFF:DC food and beverage vendors Little Miner Taco, Don Ciccio & Figli, Other Half Brewing, and Silver Branch Brewing.