What makes art art? Can a gas station be considered art? It can if it's designed by Mies van der Rohe, one of the true geniuses of modern architecture. Famous for designing such landmarks as New York's Seagram Building, Toronto’s Dominion Centre and numerous buildings in Chicago, van der Rohe was best known for his minimalist designs. His obsession with purity and simplicity and his adherence to his belief that "less is more" influenced the way he combined form and function, creating a connection to the outdoors and an architecture that is less removed from life and more reflective of how we actually live.

The jazz-infused soundtrack and inspired cinematography bring van der Rohe's work to life in a film that truly captures the spirit of the man and his brilliant contributions to 20th century architecture. With commentary from Elizabeth Diller, Phyllis Lambert, Rem Koolhaas, Dirk Lohan and Stanley Tigerman. 

This is the 20th anniverslity of this film and it stands the test of time. In 2019, Director by Joseph Hillel was back at ADFF when we showed his 2019 film City Dreamers as the opening night film. He continues to make powerful films on a wide range of subjects.