This year's theme explores architecture and urban spaces as sites and frameworks for rebellion, grief, and joy. Architecture and places are usually created with intentions. The design aims to encourage or discourage behaviors and actions. Regardless of the intention, the controlling nature of architecture is present. However, rebellion, grief, and joy are elements that disrupt control and demand expression and freedom. When confronted with these forces, architecture and places can be transformed and reprogrammed. The films selected this year show architecture and places where rebellion, grief, and joy unfold, as well as how these forces can shape architecture and places.

The three forces were chosen because of their kinship and reprogramming nature. Grief can lead to rebellion; grief over lost nature, grief over lost homes, grief over personal fates. In the documentary "Skin of Glass," the filmmaker processes grief over his deceased architect father by studying one of his father's greatest works, only to discover that the building has been occupied by the homeless. Here, architecture is a site for personal grief and political rebellion. Joy, on the other hand, can also be understood as a form of rebellion, especially in cases of oppression and misery. In the documentary "Kiki," this is demonstrated in the streets of New York and in ballrooms. The portrayal of queer people of color dressing up in their best costumes to compete for prizes is a powerful celebration of living authentically in a world where their existence is threatened politically, legally, and in everyday life.

Rebellion, grief, and joy concern everyone; they have been within us since the beginning. In the spirit of contemporary times, these forces are felt more acutely. Under pressure, whether one is demonstrating for freedom of expression, seeking solace in a church, or marching in parades adorned with latex and feathers, architecture and urban spaces have always been central. This year's program invites viewers to experience architecture and urban spaces through feature films and architecture documentaries, in the light of the powerful forces of rebellion, grief, and joy.

TINA LAM (b. 1989), festival curator

Lam is a practicing urban planner with a master's degree from NMBU (2021). She has a background in political science and a pronounced interest in film and TV, which she often references in her work. Lam worked at ROM from 2015-2021 as a dissemination assistant, during which Architectural Film Oslo was started in 2016. In her role at ROM, she wrote the text "fra de andre nordmennene" ("from the other Norwegians"), which was a crucial starting point for ROM's increased focus on underrepresented perspectives. Tina has been the editor of the professional journal +KOTE, where she wrote about urbanism and architecture. She has been published in Arkitektur N, Arkitektnytt, and Aftenposten. She now leads the debate committee at the Oslo Architect Association. Lam is often seen in public debates, discussing topics such as social sustainability, housing policy, and queer perspectives.

See Arkitekturfilm Oslo for the full program and tickets.