MUBI the premier streaming service for curated independent films, has revealed its lineup for February. Among the eclectic selection of films coming exclusively to MUBI are “Dead Pigs”, the bold directorial debut by Birds of Prey director Cathy Yan and Pietro Marcello's “Martin Eden”, a compelling adaptation of Jack London's novel, starring Luca Marinelli. MUBI will also exclusively present Beginning, the striking feature debut by Georgian filmmaker Dea Kulumbegashvili, which has been selected as Georgia's official selection for the 93rd Academy Awards, and Werner Herzog's deeply personal documentary “Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin” featuring his late friend and travel writer Bruce Chatwin.
In February, MUBI is proud to partner with Sundance Institute's Indigenous Program to spotlight a collection of films made by Sundance Institute Fellows. Reflecting the support given to independent storytelling by artists of Indigenous descent, this special selection includes films such as “On the Ice”, the thriller from director Andrew Okpeaha Maclean about a unique Inuit community in Barrow, Alaska.
To celebrate the return of the International Film Festival Rotterdam next month, MUBI is presenting a selection of standout films from the festival's 2020 program. This includes Carl Olsson's contemplative documentary “Meanwhile on Earth”, which shows death at its most mundane by focusing on the inner workings of Sweden's contemporary funeral industry, as well as “Birds (Or How To Be One)”, the latest film by Babis Makridis based on the ancient Greek comedy “Ornithes” by Aristophanes.
Additional programs of note include: a double bill celebrating one of Hollywood's most charismatic leading men, Ryan Gosling, and Extraordinary Heroes and Villains, a double bill dedicated to Japanese auteur Takashi Miike.
Highlights from the February lineup are as follows:
EXCLUSIVELY ON MUBI
Exclusive streaming premieres from the most prestigious international film festivals and rediscovered classics selected by MUBI's curators
[MUBI Spotlight] MUBI is proud to present the exclusive streaming premiere of “Martin Eden” (Venice ‘19), Pietro Marcello's widely acclaimed adaptation of Jack London's novel. Named one of the best films of 2020 by the likes of IndieWire and The New York Times and featuring an enthralling, award-winning performance by Luca Marinelli, this is cinema at its boldest and most riveting.
“Martin Eden” — January 24
[MUBI Release] One of the most striking debuts in recent memory, Dea Kulumbegashvili's “Beginning”, which has been selected as Georgia's official selection for the 2021 Oscars, will exclusively release on MUBI. Selected for Cannes last year and winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at TIFF and multiple prizes at San Sebastián, this acclaimed feature marks the revelation of an exciting new voice in cinema. Shot on luminous 35mm, it tells a profound story of a woman's resilience facing communal hostility and violence.
“Beginning” — January 29
[Rediscovered] MUBI will present the streaming premiere of a new restoration of “Meeting the Man: James Baldwin In Paris”. This 1971 short follows the great James Baldwin as he wanders the streets of Paris reflecting on fame, art, and his status as a Black American in Paris. Visible tensions between the subject and the filmmakers make this a rich, politically charged watch.
“Meeting the Man: James Baldwin In Paris” — February 2
[MUBI Spotlight] After presenting the online premiere of Family Romance, LLC in 2020, MUBI is proud to return to the daring, poetic work of Werner Herzog. “Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin” (Telluride ‘19) retraces the life and philosophy of Herzog's longtime friend and prolific travel writer Bruce Chatwin. This deeply personal tribute celebrates Chatwin's passion for the nomadic life and reflects on Herzog's own lifelong affinity for the spirit of adventure.
“Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin” — February 7
[MUBI Release] Cathy Yan's bold directorial debut “Dead Pigs” will have its online premiere exclusively on MUBI next month. Premiering to critical acclaim at Sundance 2018, this masterful social satire from the exciting director behind Birds of Prey is based on remarkable true events and stars a brilliant international ensemble cast including Vivian Wu, Mason Lee, Zazie Beetz, Meng Li, Haoyu Yang, and David Rysdahl.
“Dead Pigs” — February 12
[Brief Encounters] Belgian artist Emmanuel Van der Auwera's singular short film “The Sky Is on Fire” premiered at Rotterdam last year and is unlike anything MUBI has featured before. Making use of computer-generated imagery, it creates a haunting, visually striking reflection on urban living in the modern world.
“The Sky Is on Fire” — February 24
Next month, MUBI will exclusively present Charlie Shackleton's epic essay film “Beyond Clueless” (SXSW ‘14), a dizzying journey into the mind, body and soul of the teen movie, as seen through the eyes of over 200 modern coming-of-age classics.
“Beyond Clueless — February 25
FESTIVAL FOCUS: ROTTERDAM — Exclusive
With the latest edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam taking place online next month, MUBI will reflect on last year's edition with a special collection of films from the 2020 program. The selection features the exclusive streaming premieres of festival standouts like Carl Olsson's gentle documentary on the funeral industry “Meanwhile on Earth” and Kaori Oda's hypnotic underwater meditation “Cenote”.
“Meanwhile on Earth” — January 27
“Cenote” — February 1
“For the Time Being” — February 4
“Bird (Or How To Be One)” — February 8
INDIGENOUS SHORTS FROM SUNDANCE INSTITUTE
MUBI is excited to again partner with the Sundance Institute to spotlight a selection of films made by Sundance Institute Fellows. The Indigenous Program champions independent storytelling by artists of indigenous descent from around the world, and these unmatched works all have something urgent and vital to say. This collection features many Sundance Film Festival selections and will launch on MUBI January 28th.
“Shimásáni” — Exclusive
“On the Ice” — Exclusive
“Mud” — Exclusive
“?E?ANX (The Cave)” — Exclusive
“Mobilize” — Exclusive
“The Violence of a Civilization without Secrets“
“Stones“
EXTRAORDINARY HEROES AND VILLAINS:
A TAKASHI MIIKE DOUBLE BILL
In February, MUBI returns to the work of Takashi Miike with two films that embody the diverse range of the renowned Japanese auteur's prolific filmography. This includes an exclusive presentation of a new restoration of Miike's charming superhero flick “Zebraman” and his infamous cult favorite “Audition”.
“Zebraman” — February 19 — Exclusive
“Audition” — February 20
A RYAN GOSLING DOUBLE BILL
MUBI will present a double bill dedicated to Ryan Gosling, one of the great actors working today. This selection includes his vulnerable, raw performance alongside Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine” and his sublimely minimalist collaboration with Nicolas Winding Refn in “Only God Forgives”.
“Blue Valentine“
“Only God Forgives“
