presented by Grace Farms and Architecture & Design Film Festival

Modernism, Inc. (75 minutes, Director: Jason Cohn) tells the story of one of New Canaan’s most influential architects and a transitional figure in American design, Eliot Noyes. Educated by Walter Gropius at Harvard, Noyes brought a not-before-seen modernist design approach to corporate America. His impact on companies like IBM and Mobil paved the way for Apple and many design-conscious brands we know today. Noyes also built many houses in New Canaan, including one in 1954, where he raised his family. The house is an outstanding example of 1950’s Modernist residential design and is still owned by his three children.

Modernism, Inc. had its US premiere in October 2023 at the Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF) in New York. It is currently screening at festivals around the world including Modernism Week 2024 in Palm Springs.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with ADFF Festival Director Kyle Bergman, director Jason Cohn, IBM Corporate Archivist Jamie Martin, and architect and son of Eliot Noyes, Frederick Noyes. The evening is hosted by Grace Farms Architecture Advisor Toshihiro Oki.