Documentary on Bangladeshi architect Rafiq Azam to premiere at Sydney Opera House

A short documentary on renowned Bangladeshi architect Rafiq Azam will premiere at the Sydney Opera House on March 26, marking Bangladesh’s Independence Day with an international showcase of the country’s contemporary architecture.

The screening will take place at the Opera House’s Utzon Room, alongside a special programme celebrating Azam’s work. The event will also host the global launch of the monograph “Rafiq Azam: Old Dhaka New Story — Architecture in Bangladesh,” edited by senior Rizzoli International Publications editor Maria Rosa Falvo.

One of the programme’s highlights will be the world premiere of “Between Light & Earth,” a short film directed by Shankha Dasgupta that explores Azam’s architectural philosophy and its relationship with nature, reports Prothom Alo.

“Rafiq Azam’s architectural thinking and his intimate connection with nature were what I tried to capture through the language of cinema,” Dasgupta said. “Blending documentary with elements of fiction, the film repeatedly returns to motifs of light, water and open space. At the same time, it echoes the spiritual and humanist traditions of Bengal.”

He added that the ideas of Lalon Shah and Rabindranath Tagore quietly inform the film’s creative journey.

The event’s global coordinator, Australia-based architect and presenter Farhadur Reza, said the initiative aims to bring Bangladeshi architecture and filmmaking to a global audience.

“Showcasing the creative collaboration between architect Rafiq Azam and filmmaker Shankha Dasgupta on a global platform is a special achievement for us,” he said. “We are beginning this journey in Sydney, and plan to take the programme to other major cities around the world, including Tokyo.”

Sydney-based coordinator Iftekhar Abdullah said the programme will also feature discussions by internationally recognised architects and a presentation by Azam. Architecture students and professionals from several Australian universities are expected to attend.

Ahead of the main event, Azam is scheduled to deliver lectures on March 24 at the University of Sydney and on March 25 at the University of Technology Sydney.

Born in 1963, Azam is widely recognised for his environmentally responsive design practice. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous international honours, including the Robert Matthew Lifetime Achievement Award from the Commonwealth Association of Architects, and has been shortlisted for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.