ADFF:NY 2026 Screening: The World in a Square

The World in a Square
2026 / 72 mins / France, Italy
Directors: Ila Beka and Louise Lemoine
US Premiere
Trailer

Iman, Peter, Johanne, Kala, and Elisa seem to have little in common at first glance. A political activist, an astronomer, a tattoo artist, a cook, and a babysitter rarely cross paths. What connects them is that they all live in Nørrebro, Denmark’s most socially and ethnically diverse neighbourhood. Over ten years ago, a park was built at its heart to bring the community together. Like a village square where the world converges, Superkilen quickly became both a landmark and a vibrant civic hub. 

Over the course of one summer, Bêka & Lemoine settled in the park to observe this global microcosm from within. Throughout the film, they explore how the neighbourhood is shaped by migration, religion, and politics — a diversity that can often generate tensions and contradictions, but also unexpected encounters. The film questions how a context-specific intervention on public space can foster coexistence and enable people to collectively inhabit and redefine a shared place. The World in a Square unfolds as a choral portrait of a community shaped by contrasts and constant transformation, revealing how the design of public space can act as a catalyst for interaction.