MUBI x Chanel “Next Awards” – Curated Cinema

Analogue film frames, surreal design elements, genre-bending video games, digital storytelling, walking bass notes, AI mind games – we are in a space dedicated to the extraordinary, alongside contemporary art and cultural pioneers. Mubi teams up with Chanel to celebrate creativity and the cinematic arts. Curated by MUBI, the ‘Next Awards Collection’ consists of seven films that won prizes in 2022 and 2024.

Creative collaborations have a special place for us, they always have. Sharing the idea that creativity is worth celebrating, Chanel and Mubi come together to recognise pioneers from around the world who are redefining the definition of cinematography. With Tilda Swinton and Cao Fei as judges, the biennial awards are presented to their winners. The curated movie selection will be available at Mubi at September 1st. For now, let’s take a closer look at this 7 unique perspectives:

SKATE STORY: SHORTPLAY DEPTH I (2024) – Sam Ang

Sam Ang combines visual art and storytelling to capture the raw and dynamic energy of skateboard culture in a digital whole. Exploring the layers of personal and social experiences, this work brings a striking perspective on the emotional and physical depths of the skateboarding process. Challenging traditional narratives, the work impresses the viewer with a fragmented but in-depth storytelling, while being at the forefront with a minimalistic and powerful visual style. The work is a strong impression of how a video game can turn into a mixed art form when integrated with visual narratives.

GUTS AND GLITZ (2024) – Foxx Maxy

Raw and unfiltered reality… Guts and Glitz is an invitation to the tantalising contrast between the glamour of glamour and the contrast of everyday life. Juxtaposing bold, visceral imagery with elements of high fashion and glamour, the work creates a tension that reflects the complexity of modern identity, forcing the viewer to confront the often overlooked undercurrents of beauty and brutality that coexist in contemporary culture. Foxx Maxy presents a layered collage of audiovisual material collected over 15 years, a truly extraordinary experience!

MOOR MOTHER: JAZZ CODES (2022) – Cyrus Moussavi

Would you like to take a cruise in the deep waters of jazz? While bobbing in the rippling waters, we are on an exploration into the cultural and political meanings of jazz. The work redraws the boundaries of sound and narrative, explores the roots and history of jazz from a radical perspective, and takes us on a journey through time and space, powerfully reminding us that jazz is more than just a musical genre; it is a form of resistance and expression. Moor Mother’s vocals blending musical genres and her free-jazz approach transform the film into an ethereal experience.

BEANPOLE (2019) – Kantemir Balagov

1945, Leningrad in the aftermath of the Second World War. Two women struggling to survive in the aftermath of the war, the devastating effects of the horrors raining down on them, and the most fragile parts of the human psyche… The film adopts a minimal and highly expressive language with a striking narrative that draws attention to the deep traumas caused by the war, exploring individual suffering in a historical context.

I AM NOT A WITCH (2017) – Rungano Nyoni

Witchcraft in modern society? And in whose modern reality exactly? In Zambia, we enter the world of Shula, who is accused of witchcraft at the age of eight. In a surreal atmosphere, we are invited to a trial on tragicomic moments, modern life and traditional beliefs with a powerful narrative that questions the deep roots of oppression and prejudice while revealing a world where innocence and tradition collide.

THE HUMAN SURGE (2016) – Eduardo Williams

Have you ever felt that there is someone who shares the same ideas as you in the midst of all this global isolation and digital socialisation? Are the lives we lead in different geographies really different from each other? The film answers these questions through a fluid storytelling that crosses invisible bridges between places, times and lives. This experimental work, which draws the viewer in with a vague understanding of time and space, is a manifesto that deeply questions the monotony of modern life and the loneliness created by technology.

HERE (2009) – Ho Tzu Nyen

The process of tolerating yourself and making peace with the inner you, making peace with the past, the future and most importantly the present… We are in a deep meditation questioning the limits of social memory, identity and existence; on a journey through the ambiguity of time and space. Visually rich and intellectually dense, and sensory in every sense of the word; exploring the fine line between reality and imagination, the film is a striking exploration of the construction of individual and collective identity.