OLIVER HERMANUS

Film director and writer Oliver Hermanus has popped onto our radar after his film Moffie was nominated for this year’s Queer Lion Award at the Venice International Film Festival where it recently premiered to great acclaim. We asked him what’s on his cultural radar.

Music

I am all about singer/songwriter Labrinth. The work he did for the soundtrack of Euphoria is part urban hymn, part modern opera. Genius.

Television

I have a radar overload on this front but a piece of work I can’t stop thinking about is The Boys. Its blood and guts brand of anti-super hero Marvel universe take-down is amazing.

Film

Another overload but on my radar is Ad Astra. The idea of James Gray making a space adventure conjures up Kubrick-esque expectations.

Art

I am a little obsessed with the work of Beeple aka Mike Winkelmann. It’s part artwork, part film work, part totally wack imagination overload. I love the fact that I’ve simply never seen anything like what he is doing before. Check out @beetle_crap

Place

Rome! I recently spent a week on holiday there and found myself tapping three times on a door, hoping to get into The Jerry Thomas Project. Miraculously, my friend and I were let in and got to experience a speakeasy that is one of the most elusive in the world. The atmosphere was amazing — pokey little bar, teeming with people seated on top of one another, drinking glorious cocktails, listening to perfect jazz. Top tip: the password is … well … haha.

Filmmaker

The Safdie Brothers. Their film Good Time was truly unexpected and brilliant. Their latest offering, Uncut Gems, looks like an even further fall into their very warped but exhilarating imaginations.