Mubi: the streaming platform for film (and fashion) lovers

NEWS | June 9, 2020

Photo : courtesy of MUBI

The first of its kind, the streaming site offers an eclectic selection of films, from contemporary arthouse cinema to old classics.

With an increasing number of films available on streaming services, it's not always easy to decide which one to use—but Mubi is setting itself apart from the competition with a hybrid selection of arthouse films. Its premise: Prioritising quality over quantity. Rather than overwhelm its subscribers with a huge content offering, the site releases 30 films a month, renewed every thirty days. On the listings are recent finds, such as A Russian Youth by Alexander Zolotukhin, cinema classics including Jean-Luc Godard's Pierrot le Fou, and even various experimental short films.

Its sophisticated and eclectic curation is brimming with cinematic gems that cannot be found elsewhere. A must for film lovers, which certainly explains why some luxury design houses—such as Fondazione Prada—have decided to collaborate with the platform. On 5 April, the Italian label's art institution released a collection of films on Mubi entitled "Perfect Failures," giving a second chance to films that were misunderstood when first released. Furthermore, last November Hedi Slimane, Celine's Creative Director, curated an eclectic list of nine feature-length films for the service. His choices ranged from Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now to Paris, Texas by Wim Wenders and Laurence Anyways by Xavier Dolan.

Founded 13 years ago, Mubi occupies a special place in the hearts of cinephiles. And with nine million subscribers, it holds its own against the streaming giants Netflix and Amazon Prime. Plus, Mubi does more than curation: It also screens films in cinemas and co-produces its own feature-length films. Among them, the drama Farewell Amor was screened at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, while Port Authority premiered in the "Un Certain Regard" section at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.