The Film & Architecture Studio is a practice-orientated course that focuses on cinematography as a way of exploring the built environment. Participants – sociologists, historians, writers, urban designers, planners, architects and activists – will discover the essential elements of filmmaking and learn how to relate them to the city and to architecture. The focus will lie not so much on the technical aspects of filmmaking and post-production, but rather on film as a way of structuring your thoughts and turning your findings into a captivating story: filmmaking as a research tool to gain a better understanding of your urban surroundings.
In recent years the studio has proven to be one of the world’s most relevant courses in the field of film and architecture. A new aspect is the timing, because this year’s event takes place in June, during Rotterdam Architecture Month. That gives participants more time before their film premieres at AFFR in October.
Course dates and programme
2, 3, 7, 9, 10 + 26 & 28 June
The central theme of this edition is heat stress and how this influences both life and spatial development in the city. The film studio takes place under the supervision of architect, curator and filmmaker Jord den Hollander. Accompanying him are a biologist and an expert heat stress in cities.
From 3 to 10 June, the in-person studio takes place at the Independent School, accompanied by public lectures – as part of Rotterdam Architecture Month – as well as lessons and excursions for participants. During this week, participants analyse how urban heat influences life in the city, what it means for people and the environment, and what is being done against it. In this period, you will develop a concept for a short film of around two minutes; you work out a script, shoot footage and make a first draft. Filmmaker, curator Jord den Hollander and the team of the Independent School will provide you with input and inspiration, and together with the other participants we’ll discuss everyone’s progress.
Participants get the opportunity to present their short films at the Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam and to attend the opening of the Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam in October 2023. In preparation to the festival, we offer one more (online) opportunity to receive feedback on your progress on the 26th and 28th of June.
This year, as part of the UNUN network, we are offering one place to a Ukrainian applicant free of charge. We are also offering two places free of charge to students or young professionals who live and work in a country on the DAC list. To apply, send your CV and cover letter to info@schoolforthecity.nl
Registration and costs
Standard fee: € 250
Early booking fee: € 200, available until 9 April 2023
Sign up before 15 May 2023 through the website of the Independent School.
The Film & Architecture Studio has a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 14 participants.
Tutor
Jord den Hollander
After having finished his master’s in architecture at the Technical University of Delft, Jord den Hollander followed a course in scenario writing at the Filmschool in London. Throughout his career he has often combined both disciplines. He has made documentaries about art and architecture, has written and directed internationally acclaimed television series for children about art and science and is curator of the Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam (www.affr.nl), the world’s biggest architecture film festival, which he co-founded in 2002. In addition, he has designed a unique oeuvre that includes an architecture center for children in Almere, a mobile kid’s library, a floating hotel and a tensegrity bicycle bridge.
