Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Are you an architecture and film lover in the Greater Toronto Area? Then you won’t want to miss the return of the Architecture and Design Film Festival (ADFF)—a 4-day festival sharing the very best of global contemporary cinema celebrating architecture and design.
Held at the world-renowned TIFF Lightbox on November 4-7, this year’s festival will include an amazing lineup of 13 different films including numerous Canadian premieres such as MUNDO FRÁGIL (2026), following a week-long journey across Chile with Pritzker Prize laureate Smiljan Radić; and Barbara Buser – Swiss Pioneer of Sustainability (2026), highlighting the work of circularity pioneer Barbara Buser. These films have been selected from over 300 yearly submissions, sharing stories about the impact of design across the globe.
In addition to the films, this year’s festival also includes numerous Q&As, panel discussions, and special events, many of them organized in partnership with the Toronto Society of Architects. This year’s line up includes:
The Tower that Built A City
Thursday, November 5, 6:15 PM; and Saturday, November 7, 1:00PM
Come celebrate the icon that has defined our skyline with this special film on the CN Tower. The film will be followed by a Q&A with Director Mark Myers, moderated by TSA Executive Director Joël León Danis.
Out of the Picture
Saturday, November 7, 3:45 PM
The ‘invisibilisation’ of women has long been a problem in the architectural profession, but here in Toronto there is a lot of great work happening to reclaim visibility and foster solidarity. Join us in the Founders Lounge for a post-screening panel discussion featuring Ramona Adlakha (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto, KPMB Architects), Sue-Jean Chung (Studio JCI), and Dr. Lisa Landrum (Toronto Metropolitan University).
Five Living Buildings (by Renzo Piano)
Saturday, November 7, 6:15 PM
Explore the work of Italian architect Renzo Piano through the experiences of the people who use and maintain his buildings. The film will be followed by a Q&A with Director Jonathan Goodman Levitt, moderated by AZURE Magazine Editor in Chief Elizabeth Pagliacolo.
Googie
Saturday, November 7, 6:30 PM
You won’t want to miss this high energy post-screening panel discussion in the Founders Lounge as Irma Girdle and Anne Vranic (@historyhypegirl) dive into Toronto’s own Googie heritage, a style known for its visual exuberance, neon signage, and space-age optimism!
Googie Toronto: A Mini Exhibition
November 5-7
When visiting this year’s festival, make sure to check out this special mini-exhibition featuring some of the rare surviving examples of Googie architecture in the GTA. The perfect complement to your Googie screening!
The festival runs from Wednesday, November 4 to Saturday, November 7, 2026, with films offered at various times throughout the week. Tickets to regular screenings are $17 with TSA Members receiving an exclusive discount when using the code on the Member Dashboard. More information can be found in the TSA events calendar or on the ADFF Toronto website.
ABOUT THE TORONTO SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS
Established in 1887, the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) is a non-profit volunteer-led organization dedicated to bringing people together to discuss, learn and explore around our shared passion for the built environment.
We are committed to the betterment of our city and have played an important advocacy role throughout Toronto’s history. We do this through a wide range of programs which foster welcoming and inclusive forums for debate and the exchange of ideas, stimulating critical thinking about the design and building issues of our time.
Our public programming is complemented by initiatives supporting the personal growth and professional development of almost 3,000 TSA Members. Membership is open to everyone and welcomes design professionals, students and the general public.
ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN FILM FESTIVAL
Founded in 2009, by architect Kyle Bergman, the Architecture & Design Film Festival celebrates the creative spirit that drives architecture and design. Through a curated selection of films, events, and panel discussions, ADFF creates an opportunity to educate, entertain, and engage all types of people who are excited about architecture and design. It has grown into the world’s largest film festival devoted to the subject with an annual festival in New York and satellite events around the world. For more information, visit adfilmfest.com or @ADFILMFEST on Facebook and Instagram.
