The fourth edition of SF(a) – Society. Film. Architecture took place in Iași between 5–13 May 2025, continuing the project’s mission to use science-fiction cinema as a critical tool for exploring architecture, culture, and society. Organised by the Romanian Order of Architects – Iași Branch, in partnership with the cultural NGO ALT+A and a broad coalition of institutional and civic partners, SF(a)4 offered a week-long programme of screenings, workshops, lectures, and exhibitions under the theme: “Blade Runner 2049 & Hypermodernism.”
This project was supported by the Romanian Order of Architects, from the Architectural Stamp Duty.
Locations & Partners
The events were hosted at ZBOR Iași by BCR and the “G.M. Cantacuzino” Faculty of Architecture at the Technical University of Iași, with activities also extending to the city through a guided tram tour and evening labs in cultural venues such as NegruZI. The project was supported by a strong network of partners including TRAMCLUB Iași, CTP Iași, ZEPPELIN magazine, CIVICA Association, Colegiul de Artă “Octav Băncilă,” FABLAB Iași, ASAI (the Association of Architecture Students in Iași), and Atelier Spre.
Participants
The edition registered an impressive 177 students and graduates from architecture, visual arts and design, and literature faculties, alongside young architects in training. They were joined by 15 volunteers and 4 tutors who guided the practical workshops. The diversity of backgrounds enriched the interdisciplinary dialogue at the heart of SF(a), fostering new perspectives on how architecture is represented, imagined, and questioned through film.
Programme – Seven “Scenes”
The week was structured as a performative sequence of “scenes,” each designed to address a different stage of critical exploration:
- Scene 1 (5 May, ZBOR Iași by BCR): Opening event and case-study screening of Blade Runner 2049 (Denis Villeneuve, 2017), setting the thematic focus on hypermodernism and dystopian imaginaries.
- Scene 2 (6 May, Faculty of Architecture): Alternative Poster Workshop, with tutorials in Adobe Photoshop and ProCreate, encouraging students to reinterpret cinematic architecture visually.
- Scene 3 (7 May, Faculty of Architecture): Narrative & Architecture – lectures by Emanuela Ilie and Marius Revent, followed by the Literary & Film Review Lab, where participants produced critical texts in response to the film.
- Scene 4 (8 May, Faculty of Architecture): Hermeneutic Deconstruction, with lectures and debates led by Ramona Costea and Andrei Cozlac.
- Scene 5 (9 May, Faculty of Architecture): Continuation of hermeneutic explorations, with contributions from Silviu Teodor-Stanciu, Viola Ruhse, Anca Horvath, and Dimitrios Raptis.
- Scene 6 (10 May, Faculty of Architecture & city): A rich day of exchanges, featuring talks by Dan Perjovschi, Ștefan Ghenciulescu, and Matei Bejenaru, followed by a guided tram tour of Iași with Silviu Teodor-Stanciu and an evening experimental lab at NegruZI.
- Scene 7 (13 May, Faculty of Architecture): Final exhibition and awards ceremony, presenting the results of the workshops: 54 alternative posters and 11 critical reviews, alongside a round-table discussion with organisers and jury members.
Guest Lecturers & Tutors
The project gathered a distinguished roster of national and international guests, including Dan Perjovschi (visual artist), Ștefan Ghenciulescu (architect & editor-in-chief, Zeppelin), Matei Bejenaru (artist, professor, UNAGE Iași), Anca Horvath (Aalborg University, Denmark), Dimitrios Raptis (Aalborg University), Viola Ruhse (University for Continuing Education, Krems, Austria), Emanuela Ilie (UAIC Iași), Radu Cucuteanu (historian & editor), Andrei Cozlac (artist & scenographer), Silviu Teodor-Stanciu (designer, UNAGE Iași), and Ramona Costea (Faculty of Architecture, Iași). Practical workshops were guided by Tiberiu Teodor-Stanciu, Răzvan Nica, Gabriel Tudora, Emanuela Ilie, Marius Revent, and Cristina Tudora.
Exhibition & Awards
The final exhibition at the Faculty of Architecture showcased the creative outcomes of the week. A professional jury evaluated the works in two sections: Alternative Posters and Literary & Film Reviews. In total, 65 works were submitted (54 posters and 11 reviews). Prizes, mentions, and special awards – including the ALT+A Prize – recognised excellence in critical and creative interpretation.
Impact & Visibility
SF(a)4 attracted over 100 participants in the public lectures and engaged wider audiences through media coverage and social media campaigns. The event was featured on Radio HIT, TVR Iași, and Zeppelin magazine, while promotional content circulated widely via partners’ and guests’ channels. Beyond the live events, all lectures were recorded and will be made available through a dedicated YouTube channel, ensuring the project’s legacy and accessibility.
Core Vision
At its core, SF(a) Season 4 reaffirmed the project’s ethos: celebrating the collective act of learning, debating, and imagining together. By bridging cinema and architecture, dystopia and hypermodernism, speculative futures and urban realities, SF(a) creates a unique pedagogical and cultural space that fosters both critical reflection and creative experimentation.