2025 holds great promise for global independent and arthouse cinema from the return of old masters to a rich trove of breakthroughs by debut directors. Many of these films have received critical acclaim at film festivals while others have been flying a bit under the radar. Seed of the Sacred Fig (Mohammad Rasoulof) In Farsi…
“Makan makan makan!” is a rallying cry that booms across Malaysia, meaning “let’s eat, let’s eat, let’s eat” — a Malay phrase nowhere more fittingly celebrated than in the country’s capital and largest metropolis, Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s complex history, which spans large scale migrations, colonisation and its geographic location sandwiched between multiple Southeast Asian countries,…
Opening this weekend, 17th January, the London Short Film Festival (LSFF) returns for its 22nd edition to celebrate emerging filmmakers and the art of short filmmaking. The eclectic programme will run across London’s most iconic screens and venues, including the BFI Southbank, ICA, Curzon Soho, Rio Cinema, and Rich Mix, and a free 1960s Mobile…
By fusing historical and literary references with lived experiences, Taipei-born New York-based artist Cole Lu’s work tells stories of dissonance and longing through winding odysseys—rendered in burnt wood, linen, engraved metal, and concrete. Following a conversation between the artist and Something Curated’s Keshav Anand, discussing Lu’s practice and latest show, The Engineers, Lu shares with…
Welcome to the Something Curated holiday gift guide for 2024 — a varied list of items, objects, and experiences for loved ones, all selected by friends of the SC community. Happy shopping and happy holidays. The Substance Candle — Slime Recommended by fashion and culture writer Lauren Cochrane. Anyone who saw The Substance has the last…
What do you get when you mix the grit of underground fight clubs, the glamour of New York’s arts scene, and the energy of a late-night party? The answer is FNT, the brainchild of Bekim Trenova. Seeking to rekindle the spirit of “old New York,” FNT began as an illegal fight party, evolving into one…
Almost 20 years ago, I spent a dreamy summer living with a host family in the Alpine town of Annecy, situated on one of Europe’s most magnificent lakes. The town is, in many ways, unchanged since then –crisscrossed by flowerbox-lined canals an almost luminescent shade of blue, and ever popular with package tourists in safari gear….
While China struggles to rebuild its economy after the pandemic, Shanghai still retains its title as one of the country’s most exciting modern cities. As the creative capital, from Shanghai Art Week to Shanghai Fashion Week (the draw of which even Rihanna and A$AP Rocky can’t resist), the city emanates a shine from its ‘new…