The eagerly-awaited Design Film Festival is back once more, featuring a selection of films on topics like architecture, technology and fashion. Here are our recommendations for the must-see screenings this year.

Flake & Flames (Sep 7, 4:20 pm)

Kustom Kulture has commonly been associated with notoriety and a devil-may-care attitude, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Join some of the best car/motorcycle builders, tattoo artists and pinstripers in the US and Europe as they share their experiences and demystify this unique subculture.

Cutie and the Boxer (Sep 6, 4pm; Sep 14, 8:30 pm)

Chronicling the lives of married Japanese artists Ushio and Noriko Shinohara, this documentary depicts Noriko’s attempts to break out of the shadows of her domineering husband. Universal issues such as gender relations, sacrifice and aging serve as a backdrop to this intimate portrayal of a couple committed to art.

Finding Vivian Maier (Sep 6, 6pm; Sep 13, 8:30pm; Sep 14, 12:30pm)

Uncover the life of enigmatic Wall Street photographer Vivan Maier, who shot to fame when a box of her negatives was uncovered in 2007, just two years before her death. Unbeknownst to many, Maier secretly took more than 150 000 photos whilst working as a nanny .This documentary features never before seen photographs and interviews with people who came into contact with her.

Yves Saint Laurent  ( Sep 6,8pm; Sep 7,6.30pm; Sep 13, 6pm; Sep 14, 4.30 pm)

Jalil Lespert directs this French film about the life and times of designer Yves Saint Laurent, who shot to stardom after being selected as one of Christian Dior’s successors. It’s not all business through, the fashion legend’s romantic relationship with partner Pierre Berge is also a running storyline.

Tadao Ando: From Emptiness to Infinity (Sep 6, 2:30pm; Sep 14, 7pm)

Tadao Ando, one of Japan’s most respected architects, allows us a glimpse into his intricate work process. Hailed as the ‘father of haiku architecture’, the design maestro shares about the inspiration and motivations behind his masterpieces.

Maker (Sep 6, 12:30pm; Sep 14, 2:30pm)

This feature length documentary explores the ‘Maker Movement’ in the US, in which DIY design and manufacturing is powered by the internet age. Also known as the ‘Third Industrial Revolution’, the movement challenges convention manufacturing by utilizing methods such as crowd funding and digital fabrication.