Architecture.Film.Sommer 2026

Autocracies and right-wing populism are gaining in influence worldwide. Even countries with a long tradition of democracy are having to recognise that ideals alone are no longer enough to win elections. Trust in institutions and political systems is crumbling. The consequences are manifesting in a weakening of the rule of law and increasing division within society. Democracy is not a given. It must be lived, negotiated and defended. Which spaces facilitate participation? What is the role of public space as a site of political interaction? Democratic structures are experienced first-hand, particularly by those living in and spending their lives in the city. Issues of affordability, ownership and accessibility determine who is heard — and who is not. Architecture and urban planning play a key role here: How are spaces created that serve the common good?

Location: in the courtyard of the Architekturzentrum Wien