Encore!

Get ready for your ultimate cinema fix! This week on arts24, Eve Jackson and film critic Emma Jones dive into the hottest summer movie releases – from the psychological pandemic drama "Eddington" to the blockbuster reboot of "Superman", plus the colourful new "Smurfs" adventure. Discover why Joaquin Phoenix's latest film grapples with the turmoil of 2020, how James Gunn's Superman brings heart and humour back to the Man of Steel and why Rihanna's Smurfette steals the show in the beloved reboot. Plus, get a sneak peek at upcoming films this summer, including Luc Besson's "Dracula" and Pedro Pascal's sci-fi epic "The Fantastic Four: First Steps".

For three weeks every summer, the streets of the southern French city of Avignon are overrun with performances of all kinds, from classical drama to spontaneous stand-up comedy. FRANCE 24's Olivia Salazar-Winspear went to check out this year's programme, as festival director Tiago Rodrigues invites Arabic-speaking artists to show their work as part of his guest language initiative.

FRANCE 24's Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with British musician, poet, playwright and author Kae Tempest. He is back with "Self Titled", his most personal album to date, which among other topics talks about his recent transition.

As the Haute Couture collections wrap up in the French capital, we take a look at some of the highlights in a season where arrivals and departures have cast a shadow over many of the major houses' collections. Fashion editor Samantha Tse talks us through a transitional collection for Chanel, as the label awaits the arrival of its new artistic director, Matthieu Blazy. Echoing the Met museum's glitzy annual gala, the Bal d'Eté in Paris brought together celebrities like Keira Knightley, Sofia Coppola, Penelope Cruz and Diane Kruger to raise funds for the Louvre's Decorative Arts Museum.

Join arts24 presenter Eve Jackson on an exclusive journey inside the Grand Egyptian Museum – a colossal cultural masterpiece just a mile from the Great Pyramids of Giza. The museum's grand debut has faced multiple delays and was set to open this July, but ongoing tensions in the Middle East have pushed back the opening once again, making this your rare opportunity to explore its wonders ahead of time. 

Film critic Perrine Quennesson tells us why Palme d'Or-winning director Julia Ducournau's latest feature "Alpha" divided critics when it screened at Cannes. She explains how leading actor Tahar Rahim transformed himself for the role and salutes the French filmmaker's imaginative use of imagery in her daring films.

"House of Cards" actress Robin Wright speaks to Genie Godula from the Monte Carlo Television festival, where she received a special career honour. The Crystal Nymph Award pays tribute to her 40 years in the TV industry. Wright talks about her career choices, her family and the fight for equal pay with her male counterparts. 

This week on arts24, Eve Jackson is in the studio while our reporter Olivia Salazar-Winspear is on the ground at one of the world's most iconic theatre gatherings – the Avignon Festival in southern France. Now in its 79th year, the event is turning heads with a bold and timely focus on Arabic-language works, shining a light on one of France's most spoken – yet still underrepresented – languages on stage. Festival director Tiago Rodrigues continues his mission to open up theatre to new audiences with a more inclusive and international approach. This year's programme features powerful performances from Morocco to Palestine, and even a Sheherazade-inspired opening show at the majestic Palais des Papes.

Culture Editor Eve Jackson looks back on the career of the prolific star Michael Madsen, best known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs", "Kill Bill: Vol. 2", "The Hateful Eight" and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood". The American actor died suddenly on Thursday at the age of 67. Eve also covers the long-awaited Oasis reunion tour kicking off this Friday and celebrates musical icon Angélique Kidjo, who has become the first Black African singer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In this edition of arts24: the first of the Oasis brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher's concerts in Cardiff kicks off a 41-date world tour; a landmark exhibition celebrates a master of Post-Impressionism – Paul Cézanne – in Aix-en-Provence, the French city where he grew up; and we shine a spotlight on Bollywood leading lady Alia Bhatt, who talks about her new female-led spy drama, "Alpha".

Join Eve Jackson on arts24 as she sits down with two extraordinary artists shaping the sound of today's global music scene: South African radio host Nicky B and Haitian-American jazz sensation Tyreek McDole.

This week on arts24's film show, presenter Eve Jackson and film critic Emma Jones dive into four exciting new releases. First up is "Jurassic World: Rebirth", directed by Gareth Edwards, which reinvigorates the beloved dinosaur franchise with fresh faces like Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali.

New romantic comedy "Materialists" dives into the world of high-end dating in Manhattan, where luxury, status and desire blur the lines of love. Dakota Johnson stars as a professional matchmaker, caught between Pedro Pascal's millionaire dreamboat and Chris Evans as her idealistic ex. Oscar-nominated director Celine Song describes the film as a "Victorian romance for 2025", showing how dating today can feel like a game of social value and transactions. Eve Jackson meets Celine in Paris – and hits the streets – to ask: is love still about connection, or has it become a carefully calculated deal?

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with Franco-Egyptian-Iranian singer KUKII about her new EP "Rare Baby". The artist been part of France's avant-garde music scene for more than a decade, using the stage name Lafawndah. A recent trip to Cairo was more than just a homecoming; it was a transformative experience and the creation of a new musical identity – that of KUKII. "Rare Baby" is inspired by music from North Africa and the Middle East, mixed with her trademark blend of emboldened pop. The EP also feels like a battle cry or manifesto, and KUKII is no stranger to using her platform to call out what is happening in Gaza – as well as in Iran, where she grew up.

Her protagonist is a cinematic Sheherazade, captivating viewers with tales of courageous feats and astonishing achievements. Yet Heiny Srour's "Leila" is not dealing in fiction but in fact: re-telling the story of the Palestinian and Lebanese people with women back in their rightful roles, as active participants in their country's stories. As the film returns to cinemas 40 years after it was made, the Lebanese director tells us why its themes are still extremely topical today. We also discuss her pioneering documentary, "The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived", which made Srour the first Arab women to present a feature at the Cannes Film Festival in 1974.

Our TV critic Dheepthika Laurent brings us the latest international and local productions screening at Monte Carlo's 64th festival, with American star Robin Wright presenting her latest project, a psychological thriller called "The Girlfriend". We discuss the major prizes at this year's event and hear from multi-talented former tennis player Yannick Noah on his first television appearance in "Mort sur terre battue". We also look ahead to the third and final season of South Korean mega-hit "Squid Game" and consider a new Marvel spin-off from the world of Wakanda, starring promising young actress Dominique Thorne.

Brad Pitt is in the driving seat for the latest action spectacle from US director Joseph Kosinski, with a performance that even got the thumbs up from F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. Film critic Emma Jones tells us why the big-budget movie won her over despite some flaws in the storyline and frequent sightings of F1 sponsors. We also discuss the Nasser brothers' latest surreal comedy Western, "Once Upon a Time in Gaza", as the award-winning Palestinian directors return to a quieter time in their home region, via a tale of sandwich-making and illicit substances. Plus we check out British filmmaker Danny Boyle's long-awaited horror "28 Years Later" and reflect upon the film's socio-political relevance in a post-Covid, post-Brexit landscape.

In this episode of Arts 24, Eve Jackson speaks with Arab Nasser, co-director of "Once Upon a Time in Gaza" – a striking, Cannes‑awarded film that reframes Gaza not through destruction, but through resilience, surrealism and cinematic boldness. Blending genre and personal memory, the film offers a hauntingly beautiful portrait of life under siege.

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with Franco-Togolese singer Laura Prince. She's just released her second album "Adjoko", a voyage between memory, identity and authenticity. "Adjoko" is Laura's Togolese name, and symbolises her quest to reconnect with her African roots. She produced the record between France, Togo and Ouidah in Benin, a port town famous for its dark role in the slave trade. She also references her West African links to slavery through her name Laura Prince. It's an homage to author Mary Prince, the first Black woman to publish a book about her experiences as a slave.

It's France's biggest music festival, drawing up to 300,000 people to the little town of Clisson every year. We check in with music critic Marjorie Hache who brings us the latest from Hellfest, with headliners Judas Priest, Korn, Linkin Park and British rockers Muse debuting their new single at this year's festival. We also get a glimpse of a new exhibition at La Défense showcasing the huge diversity of street art from around the world, and learn how the V&A museum in London has taken a radical new approach to their collections. 

Her images reveal the impossible, the invisible, and the many, many layers behind a photograph. Taryn Simon's singular and meticulous approach to fine art photography produces pictures that interrogate our political structures, our social conventions and our governing principles. Her latest exhibition “The Game”, on show at the Almine Rech gallery in Paris, zooms in on symbolic and significant moments during the presidential election last year in the United States, questioning the random nature of democratic processes. We talk about the power of photography in a world of smartphones and artificial intelligence and reflect upon the universal moment of mourning during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Film critic Perrine Quennesson joins Eve Jackson to talk about the latest French films of the moment, including a gripping real-life Kabul evacuation thriller that premiered at Cannes this May. "13 Days, 13 Nights" is the latest feature from Martin Bourboulon, the director behind "The Three Musketeers" saga.

As one of a handful of Western photographers working in Afghanistan, Oriane Zerah has a unique perspective on daily life in the country. Her work is on show at the Fragonard museum in Grasse, in the south of France, in an exhibition entitled "Unveiled Women, Men with Flowers: A new face of Afghanistan", with images that upend stereotypes about masculinity and femininity under the Taliban. She tells us about the place of beauty in Afghan culture, about her own experience during the Taliban takeover of 2021 and why art is even being prescribed to young women in Afghanistan who are suffering under the oppressive regime there.

Franco-Swedish artist Herman Düne has made a name for himself since the late 1990s thanks to his delicate rock and indie tones. He's just released "Odysseús", which he began composing when he was stranded in Montreal during the global Covid lockdown. The record led him to feel a connection to Homer's hero. He tells Marjorie Hache more about how this long-term layover in Canada impacted his music.

His looping melodies and bewitching harmonies were the soundtrack to an endless, Californian summer. Brian Wilson's death has prompted an outpouring of affection and admiration, as the music industry pays tribute to a man considered a lyrical genius and a master of harmonies, and whose compositions now constitute the gold standard in pop. Music editor Jennifer Ben Brahim tells us more about Wilson's hits with the Beach Boys, his legacy and his personal struggles. We also check out the frenzied fandom surrounding Billie Eilish's recent concert dates in Paris.

After adapting three of Stephen King's horror stories, director Mike Flanagan opted for the author's sweet and life-affirming novella "The Life of Chuck" for his latest film. Film critic Emma Jones tells us why Tom Hiddleston brings a sweet levity to this uncynical life story, told in reverse. We also discuss the latest big budget live action remake as the "How to Train Your Dragon" series gets a 2025 version, and we find out more about the quirky arranged marriage at the centre of "Sister Midnight", an Anglo-Indian production that amused critics at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Plus we get a preview of some of the highlights at this year's animation festival in the French town of Annecy.

She is Brazil's most compelling defender of Black feminism. Philosopher, writer and professor Djamila Ribeiro has been instrumental in calling out structural racism and pushing for societal change, be it in publishing or in politics. Ribeiro joins us to talk about her deeply personal book "Letters to my grandmother", which recounts her own experience as a young woman and reflects upon the socio-political context that her mother and grandmother were navigating in 20th-century Brazil. Ribeiro has used her public platform to boost feminist and anti-racist campaigns, discussing the "speaking place" that each person inhabits, a key concept in her best-selling text "Where We stand", in which she explains why multiple identities inform individual perspectives.

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with UK-based Nigerian musician Obongjayar. He's just released his second album called "Paradise Now", a danceable record inspired by partying. He even hosted a series of parties of the same name in London as he was producing the record. The Ivor Novello-nominated musician moved from Nigeria to London as a teenager and his music is infused with West African rhythms, pop, punk and dance. Aside from nightlife, "Paradise Now" also talks about love, religion, belonging and calling out political inaction – like on the diss track "Jellyfish".

In this special edition for World Oceans Day, we spotlight the urgent, haunting work of Mandy Barker, the award-winning British photographic artist using sea-salvaged fashion waste to expose the truth about plastic pollution. Her cyanotype series "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Imperfections" reimagines the work of 19th-century botanist Anna Atkins, replacing seaweed with clothing scraps collected from 121 beaches around the UK. The result is both poetic and jarring, earning praise from none other than Sir David Attenborough, who supports Barker's work for its power to inspire real change.

In this edition of arts24, Eve Jackson brings you a thrilling lineup of films and exhibitions shaking up the art and entertainment world. First up: a surprising box office showdown in France. Tom Cruise's latest "Mission: Impossible" instalment faces off against a small blue alien – and "Stitch" wins, selling 1.3 million tickets in just one week. It's the biggest box office opener of 2025 so far! How did this beloved Disney classic from 2002 out-muscle Hollywood's biggest action star? Eve investigates.

Ana de Armas takes on the high-octane stunts as a dancer-turned-assassin in the big-budget action thriller "Ballerina". Film critic Emma Jones tells us why de Armas's charisma and talent for physical feats make her a compelling lead for this detour within the John Wick universe.

Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent – the names that define Parisian chic are French. But did you know that the entire French Haute Couture empire was built by … an Englishman? Join Eve Jackson at the Petit Palais in Paris for a dazzling deep dive into a new exhibition on Charles Frederick Worth, the revolutionary British designer who transformed fashion from mere clothing into high art and big business.

With music festival season in full swing, we chat to Last Train frontman Jean-Noël Scherrer. His band have just had a sold-out tour here in France and played extensively in Germany, the UK and other European countries. We also speak to Tallulah Sim-Savage of up-and-coming English trio HotWax, whose debut album is a punchy blend of grunge and rock 'n' roll.

We bring you a report that crunches the numbers about how much Oasis fans will spend on food, drinks and tickets for a chance to see the 1990s British rockers when their tour begins in July. (Hint: hundreds of euros!).

Fresh from the Cannes film festival, our critic Ben Croll and Dheepthika Laurent look at the latest film releases, starting with Wes Anderson's star-studded whimsical film, "The Phoenician Scheme".

A second season of a French special ops war drama, a new series from “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong, a star-studded mafia drama called “MobLand”, and the Judy Blume classic teen novel “Forever” updated for our modern times. FRANCE 24's Charli James and Dheepthika Laurent discuss the hottest TV series of the moment.

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with Adrien Rozé and Clément Savoye from French pop rock band Kids Return. Despite being born and raised in Paris, they could be mistaken for being from the UK or the US, their musical references being the likes of Oasis and The Strokes. They've just dropped their second album “1997”, a nod to their year of birth but also two musical movements that started that year – French Touch and Britpop. Kids Return have just finished a North American tour, performing in locations such as the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. This month, they performed at the legendary Olympia venue in Paris, following in the footsteps of some of their musical idols such as The Beatles.

The Cannes Film Festival might be over but we've got one last treat in store for you. Viola Davis is not only an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actress, but also an author, advocate, and now, a L'Oréal Paris ambassador.

Arts Editor Eve Jackson and film critic Emma Jones take us through the winners of this year's Cannes Film Festival, including the Palme d'Or-winning "It Was Just an Accident" by Iranian dissident Jafar Panahi. It was a powerful and symbolic moment for Panahi, who returned to Cannes after a 22-year absence caused by repeated prison terms and travel bans. His film about prisoners confronting their jailer echoes his own fight for artistic freedom.

In this episode, we talk about a powerful moment at the Cannes Film festival as acclaimed Iranian director Jafar Panahi presents "A Simple Accident" – a film impossible to separate from his own harrowing story. Long targeted by Iran's regime with censorship, house arrest, and imprisonment, Panahi has defied the odds to attend the festival in person. His latest work offers a stark, unflinching portrait of Iranian society and a bold critique of the ruling powers. As buzz builds around his chances for the Palme d'Or, Panahi sits down for an interview with Louise Dupont from the French channel of FRANCE 24.

Arts Editor Eve Jackson reports from the Cannes Film Festival, highlighting the return of Belgian filmmakers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne with their new film "Young Mothers". The film offers a raw, intimate look at five young women navigating early motherhood in a communal home. Through their struggles, the Dardennes explore themes of resilience, solidarity, and liberation from generational hardship. Eve also contrasts this with Iranian director Saeed Roustaee's harrowing portrait of isolated single motherhood. She's joined by social media journalist Stella Elgersma to share some festival highlights and behind-the-scenes moments. 

Culture editor Eve Jackson brings us another special programme from the Cannes Film Festival. Today, we talk to actor Paul Mescal about his new film "The History of Sound", the moving gay love story starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor, premiering at the festival. Paul, fresh off his Oscar nomination for "Aftersun" and his role in "Gladiator 2", shares how he and Josh created undeniable on-screen chemistry in this intimate drama. Eve also speaks to the film's director Oliver Hermanus about bringing this touching story of love and memory to life.