This weekend, Europe is brimming with cultural events, offering something for everyone. Whether you’re an art aficionado, a film buff, a music lover, or simply seeking a vibrant weekend getaway, Europe has you covered.
Madrid: A Love Letter to Almodóvar
The beating heart of nearly every Pedro Almodóvar film is Madrid. This weekend, the Spanish director, who is set to receive a lifetime achievement award at the San Sebastián Film Festival and will premiere his first English-language film, ‘Strange Way of Life’, at the upcoming Venice Film Festival, celebrates 50 years of his career. To mark this milestone, a new exhibition, dedicated to Almodóvar’s love affair with Madrid, is underway at the Conde Duque Cultural Centre. This exhibition showcases over 200 photographs from the director’s films, exploring his relationship with the Spanish capital and how it influences the tone and mood of his work. The Conde Duque Cultural Centre itself even features in his 1987 film, ‘Law of Desire’.
Whitstable: A Tribute to Peter Cushing
For those looking to delve into the world of Hammer horror, head to Whitstable, a small town in England, where a new exhibition celebrating the life and career of Peter Cushing, an icon of the genre, is on display at the town’s Community Museum & Gallery. The exhibition features fascinating artifacts, including a life-sized cast of Cushing’s face used for prosthetics in ‘The Elephant Man’ (1984), a head sculpture of him as Grand Moff Tarkin in ‘Star Wars’, and a selection of his personal art. This is a must-visit for fans of Cushing and Hammer horror alike.
Edinburgh: A Celebration of Art
Edinburgh is also buzzing with cultural activity. The Edinburgh Art Festival, which runs until August 25, 2024, features a plethora of fascinating shows, aiming to platform both Scottish and international emerging visual artists. Highlights include an exhibition centered around ‘Filo Magazine’, one of the first LGBTQ+ magazines in Central and Eastern Europe, and a moving retrospective of Scottish artist Adam Bruce Thomson’s works, featuring over 100 of his artworks. The majority of events at the festival are free to attend, making it a fantastic alternative to the often pricey Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Sarajevo: A Cinematic Journey
The Sarajevo Film Festival, the leading film and TV festival in the Balkans, takes place from August 17-22 at the Swissôtel in downtown Sarajevo. The festival is known for shining a light on underrepresented South-Eastern European filmmakers. This year’s lineup includes Philip Sotnychenko, last year’s winner of the festival’s directing prize, who returns with his Ukrainian war drama. Bulgarian directing duo Mina Mileva and Vesela Kazakova bring a character study of an overweight woman who writes slogans for sex toys. And Bosnian filmmaker Aida Begić, whose film won the Special Distinction award in the Cannes Un Certain Regard section in 2012, will present a film about a woman helping to plan a wedding for her estranged daughter in an attempt to repair their relationship.
Green Man: A Musical Retreat
For a long weekend immersed in the lush Welsh mountains and indie music, head to the Green Man Festival. Despite growing in popularity over the years, the festival maintains a small, intimate, and genuine feel, free from corporate influence. This year’s lineup features a stellar cast of musicians, including Jon Hopkins, King Creosote, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Explosions in the Sky, Julia Holter, and Devendra Banhart.
Alien: Romulus: A Return to the Xenomorphs
Facehuggers, assemble! The ‘Alien’ franchise is back with a seventh installment, ‘Alien: Romulus’, directed by Fede Álvarez (known for ‘Evil Dead’ – 2013). Set around 20 years after Ridley Scott’s original 1979 film, ‘Alien’, this new entry follows a young crew on an escape mission who encounter Xenomorphs after discovering an abandoned space station. The film promises to be a thrilling return to the world of the iconic alien creature.
Emily in Paris: A Parisian Escape
Sometimes, you just need a dose of lighthearted escapism. Enter ‘Emily in Paris’, a show about a marketing executive named Emily (Lily Collins) navigating work, life, and romance in the city of love. Now in its fourth season, the show offers a glossy and alluringly vapid version of Paris. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s undeniably comforting fast food TV for the soul.
Rosie Lowe: A Musical Journey
Rosie Lowe, the 34-year-old singer, has released her fourth album, which reflects a free-flowing sense of adventure and creative abandon. Packing a mini studio setup in a suitcase, Lowe travelled around Europe, recording in Florence, Berlin, London, and her hometown of Devon. The tracks on the album move between bubbly beats and smooth synths, collectively forming a slinky soundscape akin to slipping into an unknown version of yourself, ready to embrace whatever follows.
