Opening Night AFFR Architectuur Filmfestival Rotterdam

Toronto’s historic Spadina Gardens apartment building is home to a group of eccentric residents who seem to have been there forever and share a deep bond with the building. Their world is turned upside down when they learn that a Dutch developer has purchased Spadina Gardens and plans to renovate the property – stripping away its historic character and replacing it with black industrial door frames and herringbone parquet floors. An alliance is formed, led by Charlotte, to fight against the clock to get the building listed and protected. An entertaining yet sober commentary on the ubiquitous, speculative, generic redevelopment that is making our cities increasingly look the same.

About AFFR

AFFR – the largest film festival about architecture and the city – presents five days of films from 9 to 13 October about what no one can ignore: the built world around us.

In 2024, the festival will once again present a wide selection of films and documentaries, from architect portraits to film classics, from shorts about the city to documentaries on broader social themes. Films at AFFR are about things that affect everyone: about housing shortages, tourism, migration and climate change - the entire world built and shaped by people. The festival likes to show unknown angles and stories, and thus offers a new perspective.

This year the festival will take place in the Schouwburg and LantarenVenster - and year-round at various locations in Rotterdam and beyond.