Cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award
Watch our 2018 submissions and vote for your favorite. You can vote once every hour. The film that receives the most votes wins the People’s Choice Award.
The winner receives $5,000 and will be celebrated with a screening at Chicago Ideas Festival on October 18, complete with travel and hotel accommodations for two. See a full list of prizes below.
Key dates
Judging period: September 3 – 16
Public voting: September 3 – October 7
Winners announced: October 2018
Prizes
$5,000 cash prize
Travel and hotel accommodations for two in NYC
Celebration and film screening at Architecture and Design Film Festival on October 16, 2018
Film distributed across multiple AIA channels
Official film award seal
$500 cash prize
Film screened at Architecture and Design Film Festival in October 2018
Film distributed across multiple AIA channels
Official film award seal
$500 cash prize
Film screened at Architecture and Design Film Festival in October 2018
Film distributed across multiple AIA channels
Official film award seal
$5,000 cash prize
Travel and hotel accommodations for two in Chicago
Celebration and film screening at Chicago Ideas Festival on October 18 2018
Film distributed across multiple AIA channels
Official film award seal
Each finalist will receive a $500 cash prize and an official film award seal
Judges
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Marlene King
I. Marlene King is a beloved writer and producer known for her distinct ability to tell coming of age stories that masterfully resonate with audiences of all ages from the classic movie “Now and Then” to the fan favorite “Pretty Little Liars.” Marlene was the creative force driving the latter and served as showrunner and executive producer on the series which received numerous accolades during its 7-season run. Currently, Marlene is delving into “PLL:The Perfectionists” a spinoff, which will introduce us to a new set of ‘Liars’ and mysteries in 2019 and she also has several projects in development through her production company, Long Lake Media.
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Thatcher Bean
In 2013 Thatcher helped start an in-house documentary film production arm within the non-profit architecture collective MASS Design Group. Over the last five years MASS has produced over forty short works, including Design That Heals, as well as the feature length documentary MADE IN ILIMA. MASS's films examine the effects of space on society and have screened internationally. He has served as a guest critic at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, workshop instructor at Columbia University and guest lecturer at Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design, and Yale University.
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Tiffany Brown, Assoc. AIA
Born and raised in Detroit, Tiffany holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, a Master of Architecture, and a Master of Business Administration all from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI. Tiffany serves on the K-12 Working Group with the American Institute of Architects, serves on the Champions Board of the National Girls Collaborative, and is co-founder of the Urban Arts Collective. Tiffany works diligently to raise awareness on how planning and design makes a significant social impact in urban communities, and seeks to examine the influence of the built environment and its impacts on culture, behavior, and health.
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Diana Budds
Diana Budds is a New York-based architecture and design writer and the senior story producer for Curbed video. She's interested in how design affects and reflects culture. Through videos, online articles, print, and live events, she uncovers how the man-made world works and how a deeper understanding can move us toward a better place.
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Mayor Steve Benjamin
Since being elected mayor in a record turnout election in April 2010, Mayor Steve Benjamin has made it his mission to create in Columbia the most talented, educated and entrepreneurial city in America. In addition to serving as Mayor of Columbia, Mayor Benjamin also serves as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and as Chairman for Municipal Bonds for America, Member of the Accelerator for America Advisory Council and Co-Chair of Mayors for 100% Clean Energy campaign. Mayor Benjamin is married to the Honorable DeAndrea Gist Benjamin, Chief Administrative Judge (Common Pleas) for South Carolina's Fifth Judicial Circuit.
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Lynn Hirshfield
Lynn Hirshfield is Participant Media’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances. Previously, she worked as a development executive for productions garnering various awards, including four Emmys, a Peabody Award and two Television Critics Awards for the PBS series “Wishbone.” She executive produced two documentaries, “Augie” on Hulu and “WiSci”, both directed by award-winning filmmaker James Keach. Lynn is partnering with Monumental Films on a narrative feature about Countess Ada Lovelace that is being funded by Google and SEE (the Science and Entertainment Exchange.) Lynn is an active member of the Producers Guild of America.
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Heather Koury, Hon. AIA
Heather Koury has served as the executive director of AIA Memphis for 15 years. Heather is guided by her passion for design and social equity, and a deeply held belief that collaboration is critical to broadening the public’s understanding of the architect’s role in bringing innovative solutions to diverse community challenges.
Heather has forged strategic partnerships and developed innovative programs across diverse public and private sectors to advance the mission of AIA, including the Paul Revere Williams Project, encouraging documentation and publication of research regarding his contributions to both practice and community.
Blog
Using your film to make a difference
By creating a film for the 2018 AIA Film Challenge, you helped build public awareness for the importance of architecture in our society. Now it’s time to take it one step further and use your film as a tool to bring about change and get engaged at a civic level. It is our hope that, […]
AIA Film Challenge 2018 by the numbers
We are thrilled with the amount of amazing entries submitted from all over the United States and around the globe. Eighty-nine submissions poured in with 50 of those films eligible for public voting. By participating in the 2018 AIA Film Challenge, you demonstrated to the world the unique ability architects have to make a difference […]
Public voting and promoting your film
We would like to thank and congratulate all of this year’s participants for their hard work and dedication in sharing the stories of architects creating a Blueprint for Better in their cities and communities. Our team has reviewed all submissions, the finalists have been selected, and the judging panel is currently reviewing. We will announce […]
Press & events
Upcoming: Architecture and Design Film Festival
NYC, October 16
Upcoming: Chicago Ideas
Chicago, October 15-21, event date TBD
American Institute of Architects Launches Film Challenge
By Joanna, Scenester.TV, June 18, 2018