Film & Architecture Studio 2024

About the Film & Architecture Studio

The Independent School for the City and AFFR (Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam) have joined forces again to organize the next edition of the famous Film and Architecture Studio, supervised by architect, curator, and filmmaker Jord den Hollander. 

The Film and Architecture Studio has proved itself in the past years as one of the most acclaimed courses on film and architecture in the world. It is a one-week course that offers and in-depth introduction to understanding the language of film as a way to explore the relationship between film, cities and architecture. The course focuses on learning and understanding the narrative of filmmaking as a research tool to better understand your urban surroundings. Participants in this course are introduced to the essential elements of filmmaking and learn how to relate these to architecture and the city. The focus of the studio is not so much on the technical aspects of filmmaking and postproduction, but rather on making a script and using film as a tool to structure your thoughts and to develop a narrative.

Course structure
The Film and Architecture Studio is a one-week course, with collective activities in Rotterdam spread over two subsequent Fridays and Saturdays and one Wednesday evening in between. 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 2024. In preparation to the festival, we offer one more (online) opportunity to receive feedback on your progress on the 18^th and 25^th of September.

About 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 he was one of the founders 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.

Course Schedule

Friday 06 September
10:30 – 12:30 Introduction on Film & Architecture by Jord de Hollander + conversation
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 14:30 Lecture (TBC) 
14:30 – 17:00 Work on film concept
17:00 – 17:30 Conversation on first idea

Saturday 07 September
10:00 – 12:30 Further development of concept and script
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 14:30 Film screening of short clips by Jord den Hollander
14:30 – 16:00 Further development of concept and script
16:00 – 17:00 Presentation of concept and script

Wednesday 11 September
18:00 – 20:30 Conversation on progress

Friday 13 September
10:00 – 15:30 Go out in the city, research and filming
13:00 – 15:30 Conversation on progress
15:30 – 17:00 Conversation with a Director of Photography (DOP)

Saturday 14 September
10:00 – 14:00 Go out in the city, research and filming
14:00 – 17:00 Jord den Hollander available for tutoring

Wednesday 18 September (online session)
18:00 – 20:30 Discuss progress and receive final feedback

Wednesday 25 September (online session)
18:00 – 20:30 Discuss progress and receive final feedback 

October
Film screening at Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam

For whom is the studio?

Any professional background: Sociologists, historians, writers, and other urban thinkers. Urbanists, planners architects and other Designers. Activists, grassroots organizations and other urban do-ers.

What does the Studio offer?

Lectures on Film and Architecture
A masterclass by a renowned Director of Photography, Conversations with likeminded professionals from a wide array of disciplines, Intensive coaching by the team of tutors, Being part of a learning community.

What will you learn?

Insight in the relation between architecture and film. To use the language of film as a research tool to understand architecture and the dynamics of the city. To use the language of film as a method to structure your thoughts and develop a narrative.