Suburbia. From American Dream to Peak Oil

For the 13th edition of the international open air architecture film festival in the courtyard of the Architekturzentrum Wien in August 2025, we are looking for documentaries, short films and animations on the subject of suburbs, suburbanity and home ownership.

The dream of owning a home in the suburbs: quiet streets, friendly neighbors, green spaces, front gardens and, of course, garages as far as the eye can see. At the beginning of the 1950s, a wave of suburbanization began at breakneck speed in the United States, which continued shortly afterwards in Europe and Austria. At the same time, the flourishing automobile age promoted motorized private transport and a gigantic road network was created that made it possible to reach even the most remote suburbs.

What does “suburbia” stand for – the idyll of a residential area or excessive land consumption? What impact has the associated transportation planning had and continues to have on cities and landscapes and on the global climate? What about the historical development of the suburbs and the structural inequalities that were spatially manifested as a result, as well as the gender roles practiced there and the inherent racism? Who is part of this supposedly “ideal world” and who is not? How political or politicizing is the single-family home as a form of housing? And how are suburbs shaped today in an international and post-colonial context?

We invite filmmakers from all over the world to submit documentaries, short films and animations on the subject, to show critical perspectives of historical and contemporary developments. The festival presents topical themes from the realms of architecture and urbanism, and provides an opportunity for exchange and conversation in an outdoor setting.

Deadline for submissions: 15th January 2025 (23:59)

Include the following:

• Submission Form, completed
• Film (in a format compatible with VLC player) via private preview link, or online-transfer platform (wetransfer etc.)

Submissions to: benz@azw.at