LONDON — A new hybrid-documentary exploring the life and work of pioneering Irish architect and designer Eileen Gray is set to hit UK and Irish cinemas on 16 May 2025. Titled E.1027 – Eileen Gray and The House by the Sea, the film is directed by Beatrice Minger and co-directed by Christoph Schaub.

Premiering at CPH:DOX 2024, followed by screenings at the Dublin International Film Festival 2025 and DOK.Fest München 2024, the 89-minute feature is a visually arresting tribute to Gray’s groundbreaking architectural work, most notably her iconic modernist villa E.1027 on the French Riviera.

Filmed on location in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, as well as in Basel, Vézelay, and Paris, the film brings to light the story of a woman whose contributions to architecture and design were often overshadowed by her male counterparts. It focuses not only on her architectural innovation but also on the power of female artistic expression—and the historical forces that have sought to suppress it.

The film portrays Gray’s tumultuous relationship with fellow architect Jean Badovici and the controversial fascination of Le Corbusier with E.1027, which he painted with murals without Gray’s permission, raising long-debated questions about artistic boundaries and authorship.

Starring Natalie Radmall-Quirke as Eileen Gray, the film combines poetic storytelling with rich cinematography and a powerful score by Peter Scherer. With support from numerous Swiss cultural institutions, E.1027 – The House by the Sea marks Beatrice Minger’s feature-length debut and continues Christoph Schaub’s acclaimed focus on architecture through cinema.

Distributed by Modern Films in the UK and Ireland, and by First Run Features in the US, this cinematic homage reasserts Gray’s place as one of the defining figures of modern design.