SIZA, documentary selected by 24 international festivals, prepares for its world premiere at the end of 2025.

After being selected by 24 international festivals, SIZA establishes itself as one of the most acclaimed architectural documentaries in circulation in recent years. This rare milestone in the field of architectural cinema confirms the global impact of the work and the cultural relevance of its protagonist, the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.

All indications suggest that SIZA may be the architectural documentary with the broadest presence across international festivals. This achievement highlights not only the film’s singularity but also the role of Gallery as a producer and curator of narratives with historical and cultural value.

Directed by Augusto Custódio, the documentary is the result of a deep and meticulous exploration into the intimate life of Álvaro Siza. Unlike the many existing sources such as books, essays, articles, or interviews, SIZA offers an entirely new lens. It does not focus on the renowned architect, but on the man who existed before the work.

"From the beginning, my intention was to create something truly exclusive," says Augusto Custódio. "It wasn’t about repeating what is already known about his projects. It was about understanding who Álvaro Siza is, how he thinks, how he feels. Only then can we understand the architecture he produces."

The result is an intimate, quiet, and precise film. With previously unseen images and unpublished footage, the documentary reveals rare moments, personal scenes, and fragments of the architect’s daily life. It composes a deeply moving portrait of a creative mind in constant construction.

One of the documentary’s most valuable dimensions lies in the voices that surround Álvaro Siza with affection, memory, and intimacy. Among them, the essential participation of his sister, Tereza Siza, stands out. She collaborated directly with Gallery’s research and content team. For Gabriel Alves, Director of Content at the Gallery Institute, “Tereza Siza’s contribution was decisive in building a truly unique archive.” Her input offers a sensitive perspective on the architect’s family ties and the lesser-known layers of his life journey.

In addition to Tereza, the documentary features powerful testimonies from family members such as his son Álvaro Leite Siza, his grandson Henrique Siza, his nephew Pedro Siza, and central figures in Portuguese and international architecture, including Eduardo Souto de Moura, the Portuguese Pritzker laureate, and Carlos Castanheira, long-time friend and architect. These presences not only reinforce the legitimacy of the narrative but also build, in layered form, the portrait of a man whose personal and professional life are inseparable.

From the beginning, my intention was to create something truly exclusive," says Augusto Custódio. "It wasn’t about repeating what is already known about his projects. It was about understanding who Álvaro Siza is, how he thinks, how he feels. Only then can we understand the architecture he produces.— Augusto Custódio, director of the documentary.

Produced over two years, the documentary travels through various geographies and phases of Siza’s creative and personal process. After its completion, it underwent a full cycle of exclusive screenings at international festivals, respecting the natural rhythm of maturation and circulation within the global circuit before reaching the broader public.

The world premiere is scheduled for the end of 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the film’s trajectory. It is a release that transcends cinema and affirms itself as a cultural landmark.

The production is part of Gallery Originals, the authorial division of the Gallery Institute. Its mission is to document, preserve, and share with the world a unique audiovisual archive on the most influential names in architecture. This archive is conceived to serve professionals, students, researchers, institutions, and architecture enthusiasts across the globe.

In the second half of 2025, a major event will be held in Portugal to precede the global premiere. Details about the event and the official launch will be announced soon through the Gallery’s official channels.