News Published on 28/04/2026

The film "Living and Working in NovaCity I" by Jonathan Ortegat selected for the ENNESIMO FILM FESTIVAL in Bologna

The documentary Living and Working in NovaCity I, directed by Jonathan Ortegat, has been selected for the Contemporary Design Film Award at the Ennesimo Film Festival in Bologna. This festival stands out for its unique approach, combining cinema with reflection on architecture and design.

The Contemporary Design Film Award (CDFA) was born in the heart of the ceramic district of Modena, a place where craftsmanship excellence meets avant-garde design. This award has become a privileged platform to explore architecture and design through the lens of cinema, transforming local craftsmanship into a universal language.

Living and Working in NovaCity I

Living and Working in NovaCity I offers a glimpse into a groundbreaking project in Brussels: NovaCity I, the first building combining residential spaces and small industries within the city.

Today, small industries are making a comeback in the city, even on the ground floors of residential buildings. Built in 2023, NovaCity I is the first project of its kind in the Belgian capital, the result of a new public policy.

Hicham, Pauline, Xavier, and 65 other first-time homeowners live in the upper floors of this brand-new building. Roldan, Noune, Théo, and 13 other entrepreneurs have set up their businesses in the workshops on the ground floor.

In a unique meeting, the residents and entrepreneurs meet for the first time, invited by the director to share their experiences and possibly defuse some conflicts. By attempting to deconstruct urban utopias and the images they generate, they try together to sketch out a future for their new place of living. This effort is all the more crucial since, in a few months, NovaCity II will be built right across the street...

Jonathan Ortegat, a Brussels-based director and photographer, explores the relationship between architecture and the human dimension. Through his films and photography, he documents the evolution of urban landscapes and the traces left by their inhabitants. His approach seeks a subtle narrative balance between architectural precision and the spontaneity of street photography, capturing the intersection of built spaces and the lives unfolding within them.