Agenda: The best things to do, hear, see or see in Europe this week

Calendars ready? Welcome back to another week of exciting art, music, cinema, TV and more.

January can feel a little overwhelming as we get our bearings for the year ahead, but as the month draws to a close and the days start to get a little longer, so does the list of new releases and events.

From a beautiful exhibition dedicated to Norwegian photographer Mette Tronvoll in Kristiansand, to a stunning light show in Copenhagen and a historic showcase of 134 works by pioneering Brazilian artists landing in the UK for the first time – has LOT of soul-enriching things to consume in Europe.

It’s also a great time of year for cinema, with Oscar nominations drop last week (many of the films featured in our The best of 2024 list, so be sure to check it out), and the next one Berlinale 2025 unveiling its Competition line-up, including the much-anticipated Richard Linklater Blue moonthe winner of Radu Jude’s Golden Bear Continental ’25, and the last part of Dag Johan Haugerud’s trilogy Dreams. The festival starts from February 13, so stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

Whatever you decide to get up to, have fun, stay curious and be kind.

Exhibitions

“Time: Mette Tronvoll”

Where: Art Silo (Kristiansand, Norway)

When: January 30 – May 25, 2025

Since opening last year, the silo of art it’s already become one of Europe’s art meccas – helped by the fact that it’s in tiny, sunny Kristiansand, which is said to have the best weather in Norway! Her upcoming exhibition is centered around Mette Tronvoll’s acclaimed analogue photography, the tranquil portraits and solitary views of the coastal landscape capturing a sense of truth and timelessness. Over 90 of her works will be exhibited, including the Age 2024 project, in which Tronvoll revisits subjects she photographed 30 years ago. For more information – and to see what other exhibitions are coming up across Europe, take a look at this list.

Kykladitisses: Untold Stories of Women in the Cyclades

Where: Museum of Cycladic Art (Athens, Greece)

When: Now – 04 May 2025

For centuries, the world has marveled at the sculpted beauty of Greek goddesses – but what was it like to be a woman back then? For the first time, a new exhibition in Athens humanizes these objects of otherworldly horror and mysticism, delving into their creation on the Cycladic islands, examining them through the lens of their female inhabitants. From goddesses to mothers, priestesses and sex workers, some 180 statues and figurines become portals of pathos that reveal female resilience in the face of marginalization, reflecting many of the struggles that depressingly continue today.

Events

Copenhagen Light Festival

Where: Copenhagen, Denmark

When: January 31 – February 23

If the dark and dreary winter months are upon you, head to Copenhagen for their annual kaleidoscopic light show. Dreary gloom and heavy evenings are transformed with over 50 illuminations by light artists, designers, students and organizations. With points mainly in the inner city, you can find details of full online program and locations. Several are already available to view, including “Ethereal Impressions” by Xinyue Wang & Yi Song, studio NE, a swirling oil spill of psychedelic luminescence, and “For the Foregone” by Olivia Pohjola, a moving illuminated memorial to extinct species in the Vestre Cemetery. .

Unapologetic Iris: The Iris Apfel Collection

Where: Online

When: January 28 – February 13

In her round-rimmed glasses, thick necklaces and brightly colored clothing, Iris Apfel was the ultimate style icon who proved that age is nothing but a number when it comes to expressing yourself freely and glamourously. After she passed away last year aged 102, her clothes, accessories, furniture and art will be auctioned at Christie’s. Over 200 lots include 18 pairs of her iconic glasses in a rainbow of colors, elaborate chairs dating from before the 1950s, a life-size wooden sculpture of an ostrich (which Apfel used as grass) and so many beautiful, strange Even if you don’t bid on anything, the catalog is stunning to look atwhich carries the essence of an extraordinary woman with very good taste.

International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR)

Where: Rotterdam, Netherlands

When: 30 January – 09 February

with award season in full swing, the film festival circuit is revving up to showcase a new batch of cinematic surprises. While less known than BerlinaleThe Rotterdam International Film Festival is still one of the most important in Europe, founded in 1972 by film programmer Huub Bals. Highlighting young filmmakers within four categories, those in the Competition compete for the coveted Tiger Award. Films to watch out for include Ivan Salatic’s Wondrous Is the Silence of My Master, about the leader of a small 19th-century band of Montenegrin rebels who flee to southern Italy after falling ill, and An Animated Dog reads John Berger”. Haraway and Kafka’ – an intriguing exploration of humans’ philosophical and cultural ties to dogs. You can find the full program here.

The movies

Brutalist

Brady Corbet’s surprising American epic about a visionary Hungarian architect (Adrien Brody) who flees post-war Europe to rebuild his life in Pennsylvania has been sweeping the awards season so far, nominated for 10 Oscars and winning three Golden Globes including Best Picture (Drama). Critics have praised his masterful and meticulous direction, reminiscent in scope of Paul Thomas Anderson projects such as There will be blood. In his reviewwrote David Mouriquand, “when a film pulls you into a balanced but asymmetrical maze from which you don’t want to escape, you can only be amazed by a director’s big, bold swings.” Fair warning though: at 215 minutes, watch your bladder.

Presence

Do you ever feel like you’re being watched? The keen sense of something, somewhere, standing next to you is the basis for Steven Soderbergh’s new horror thriller, which guides audiences through a familiar haunted house story – but from the ghost’s perspective. It follows a teenager named Chloe (Callina Liang), whose best friend has just died, as she moves into a new house with her mother Rebecca (Lucy Liu), father Chris (Chris Sullivan) and brother Tyler (Eddy Maday). As the family dynamic shifts and gently cracks, they are enveloped in a deep sense of dread, with Chloe increasingly aware that something is wrong. It’s an innovative and engaging take on the paranormal genre that subverts it through a tense and genuinely disturbing voyeurism similar to Michael Haneke’s Cache.

Playing With Fire (Quiet Boy)

Premiering in Venice Film Festival last yearthis particularly timely film dealing with political extremism is now out in France. The third feature film from directing duo Delphine and Muriel Coulin, it stars Vincent Lindon as a single father struggling with two very different sons. While the youngest is a high achiever, studying at a prestigious school, his eldest is lured by far-right extremist groups. Exploring many relevant themes about male identity and the lure of violence as a means of coping with loneliness, anger and loss of purpose, it also delves into parental guilt and the ripple effect that hateful values ​​have on relationships.

Television

The main objective

Where: Apple TV+

When: Streaming now

Who knew math could be so exciting? In this high-concept drama, genius mathematician Edward Brooks (Leo Woodall) thinks he may have discovered the secrets of the universe within a simple number pattern that could allow him to access any computer in the world. Quite a big deal, isn’t it? And one that could potentially lead to world-ending chaos if in the wrong hands. Thus unfolds a compelling conspiracy thriller filled with lots of frantic scribbles and chaotic code that – if not too uncomfortable – explodes into high-stakes, intelligence-driven action.

For more upcoming TV shows, check out our List of 2025 previews.

Music

Triple Bill: Mogwai – Bad Fire / Central Cee – Can’t Rush Greatness / Twigs FKA – Eusexua

When: Out now

Do you hear that? It’s the sound of January’s drought clearing as great music fills our eardrums again. As we highlighted in last week’s agenda, FKA twigs’ silky euphoric “Eusexua” was released on January 24th, alongside new albums from Mogwai and Central Cee. If you haven’t heard any of them yet and can’t decide where to start, three of our writers have reviewed them – read their verdicts here.

The Weeknd: Hurry Tomorrow

When: January 31

Postponed due to LA FiresAbel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd’s sixth album is finally set to drop – and it’s a big deal. The final chapter in a trilogy that includes 2020’s hedonistic After Hours and 2022’s purgatory Dawn FM will also be Tesfaye’s last release as The Weeknd, coupled with an upcoming featurette with Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan. The title of the album and the farewell to his past persona seem to suggest that this album will be some kind of cleansing and rebirth – and if the three songs he has already released (“Dancing in the Flames”, “Timeless” and “São Paulo “) are everything. to pass – we can’t wait. Hurry by January 31.

Lady Gaga’s announcement…

If you’re reading this on the day of its release (January 27th), it’s a big day for little monsters (Lady Gaga fans). Last week, the pop icon started a mysterious countdown on her website, teasing an announcement for 17:00 CET. It’s likely to tie in with her upcoming seventh album ‘LG7’, the first single from which was released last October – ‘Disease’, a return to the electro-pop singer’s dark early stylings. We’ll have to wait until later for further updates – keep your eyes and ears peeled.