Encore!

With a sensual voice that contrasts with the strength of her lyrics, Mélissa Laveaux creates music that blends her Haitian and Canadian heritage with themes of history, sexuality, and the dark humour she brings to questions of life and death. She joins us in the studio to discuss her latest album, “At My Softest, I Am Most Dangerous”, and her exploration of Voodoo traditions and beliefs surrounding mortality. We also look at her personal geography – the places and influences that have shaped her artistic journey. We also discuss Paris's first Pride Ball, a star-studded gala celebrating LGBTQ+ communities.

Superstar director Steven Spielberg has returned to his first love – aliens – for the blockbuster of the summer. Film critic Emma Jones tells us why "Disclosure Day" is a timely, entertaining and funny movie, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor and Colman Domingo.

One hundred years after his death, Antoni Gaudí remains one of the world's most influential architects and the creator of Barcelona's most iconic landmarks. In this special edition of arts24, Eve Jackson travels to the Catalan capital to explore the extraordinary legacy of the visionary behind the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Batlló. Through exclusive access, interviews with the architects continuing his unfinished masterpiece and a journey through the buildings that shaped modern Barcelona, discover why Gaudí's imagination still captivates millions a century later. 

US citizen Nick Hinman moved to London six years ago, where he nurtured his music project Fast Money Music – a name partly inspired by New York band Suicide's track of the same name. He popped by the arts24 studio to tell Marjorie Hache about his influences and working with band members from Klaxons and The 1975. They also take a look at new releases by Olivia Rodrigo, Fatoumata Diawara and Vince Staples. 

A film about Iran's protest movement is making cinema history. "Dreams of Violets" is the first fully AI-generated feature film ever selected by a major international film festival. The 75-minute drama will premiere at New York's Tribeca Festival next week. Created by Iranian-British director Ash Koosha from his home in London, the film took just three months to produce and cost less than 2,000 euros. There were no actors, no cameras, no sets and no film crew. Koosha says the film simply could not have been made through conventional means. Living in exile and unable to safely film inside Iran, he turned to AI to recreate events linked to the country's deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters. The film is based on journalistic reports, photographs and eyewitness accounts, and explores themes of memory, censorship and resistance. But as Tribeca becomes the first major festival to embrace a fully AI-generated feature, the film is also reigniting a fierce debate. Can artificial intelligence tell deeply human stories? Does AI democratise filmmaking or threaten the future of the industry? Eve Jackson speaks to Ash Koosha about Iran, ethics and the future of cinema.

He's been described as a prodigy of African-American art. Khalif Tahir Thompson combines vibrant colours and family photos in portraits painted for his new exhibition, "Beautiful Land" at Paris' Zidoun-Bossuyt gallery. He talks to us about the two movements which inspired his work, Fauvism and the Harlem Renaissance and why Beauford Delaney inspired him artistically. He also talks about his upbringing and self-identity through his work.

Critic Emma Jones tells us why North Macedonian production "DJ Ahmet", starring first-time actors, is a gem of an independent movie and proof that the small country punches well above its weight when it comes to cinema. We also discuss unsettling thriller "The Plague", starring Joel Edgerton, as a group of teenage boys at a swimming camp prompts comparisons with "Lord of The Flies"-style dynamics. Plus, body horror "Saccharine" explores contemporary obsessions with weight loss and body image, and the "Scary Movie" horror spoof franchise returns for a sixth outing, 26 years after its Y2K debut.

Premiering in the Directors' Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival, "I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning" is Clio Barnard's adaptation of Keiran Goddard's acclaimed novel about five childhood friends from working-class Birmingham whose lives have drifted far from the futures they once imagined. "Peaky Blinders" actor Joe Cole stars as Rian – the one who escaped, made money and seemingly "made it", only to discover that success cannot free him from the place he came from.

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with sibling duo The Lemon Twigs. The Long Island natives could easily be mistaken for a British Invasion band, thanks to their unmistakable harmonies and retro blend of pop, folk and psychedelic rock. 

Nearly 20 years after his first Palme d'Or, Romanian auteur Cristian Mungiu once again takes the festival's top prize for “Fjord” – a film exploring the tensions between religious conservatism and social liberalism. It stars “Marvel” actor Sebastian Stan and Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve as parents accused of domestic abuse. Before the big win, Eve Jackson sat down with Mungiu and Reinsve in Cannes.

Critic Dheepthika Laurent unpacks this month's TV releases, including the gripping Soviet space race drama told from the Russian side, "Star City", the return of the outrageously scandalous 1980s hit "Rivals" and Nicolas Cage stepping into his very first TV role in "Spider Noir".

Ben Croll takes us through four films from the Cannes Film Festival which are being released in cinemas this week. One of France's biggest film events of the year is Antonin Baudry's "De Gaulle: Resistance", the first of a two-part WWII epic centred on French general Charles de Gaulle, from the fall of France in 1940 to the liberation in 1945. Ben tells us why this film is part of a new trend of French blockbusters focused on uniquely French stories.

One hundred years after the late Miles Davis was born, the revolutionary trumpet player remains one of the 20th century's most influential artists. We look back at the life and legacy of a complex, visionary figure with one of his collaborators, musician Jason Miles, who recorded the albums "Tutu", "Music for Siesta" and "Amandla" with Davis during his later years. Jason's latest record "100 Miles for Miles Davis" is a reflection on those recording sessions.

Formed in Brittany in the late 2000s, Sax Machine blend funk, soul and hip-hop thanks to their joyous beatmaking and brass-infused melodies, as well as featuring the rapping of Chicago native MC Days. 2026 is looking exciting for the band, who will be releasing a new album this autumn and are set to tour Colombia extensively in September. They popped by arts24 to talk about their new single "Untrapped", which celebrates intellectual freedom.

Romanian director Cristian Mungiu has won the Palme d'Or for "Fjord", a tense family drama starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve. In FRANCE 24's special Cannes awards programme, Eve Jackson and critic Emma Jones break down all the major winners from the closing ceremony – from the Grand Prix for "Minotaur" to the double acting prizes for "All of a Sudden" and "Coward".

From giant pink bows to dramatic Valentino capes, the Cannes red carpet delivered plenty of standout style moments this year. Demi Moore dominated the Croisette with elegant jury looks, while Bella Hadid paid tribute to Jane Birkin in a vintage-inspired Schiaparelli gown. For the men, Colman Domingo stole the spotlight in a theatrical purple Valentino cape ensemble.

As the final features competing for the Palme d'Or hit the big screen in Cannes, Eve Jackson takes us through her highlights of the 79th film festival. She tells us why "Fjord", a powerful drama from Cristian Mungiu starring Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan, packs a psychological punch and flags up the charming ensemble drama "I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning" from British filmmaker Clio Barnard.

Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek has returned to the Cannes spotlight with "The Man I Love". The latest film from indie director Ira Sachs is premiering on the Croisette alongside co-stars Rebecca Hall, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Tom Sturridge. The film sees Malek play a downtown New York performance artist during the late 1980s AIDS crisis – a role the actor compared to portraying Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard returns to the Cannes Film Festival with "Avedon", a new documentary about legendary photographer Richard Avedon. From "Apollo 13" to "A Beautiful Mind", Howard reflects on a lifetime of storytelling, the changing face of America and the creative curiosity that still drives him after nearly seven decades in Hollywood.

As one of the world's largest film events, some 140 nationalities are represented at the Cannes Film Festival. This year, however, local talent is front and centre, with a strong showing of French productions and co-productions. Critic Manon Kerjean takes us through some of the French features competing for the Palme d'Or, as well as the international films boasting French talent.

After Baby Yoda's success on the small screen, "The Mandalorian and Grogu" marks the return of the Star Wars franchise, eight years after the multiplanetary saga last graced our movie theatres. We take a look at this latest instalment starring Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver. Meanwhile, in Cannes, local talent is in the spotlight with more than 60 French productions and co-productions screening at the festival.

Sebastian Stan delivers one of his biggest transformations yet in 'Fjord', Cristian Mungiu's tense Competition drama about a Romanian family who move to rural Norway and become increasingly isolated from the local community. Co-starring Renate Reinsve, the film marks Stan's first role in Romanian.

From stepping out at the festival with Wim Wenders and Diane Keaton to recent appearances as an ambassador for L'Oréal cosmetics, Andie Macdowell has become a regular at the Cannes Film Festival. She sits down with FRANCE 24's Eve Jackson to talk about movies, motherhood and promoting a more inclusive definition of beauty. Eight years after Cannes first grappled with the #MeToo movement, actress and director Judith Godrèche brings her adaptation of Annie Ernaux's “A Girl's Story” to the screen, pointing out that its themes of sexism and sexual violence are just as pertinent seven decades after the events it describes.

Football legend Éric Cantona is back on the Croisette with two films in Cannes: "Marvellous Mornings", the debut feature from director Avril Besson, and "Cantona", a British documentary exploring his turbulent years at Manchester United. Away from the premieres, the festival is also facing a growing political controversy after hundreds of film figures accused Canal+ and billionaire Vincent Bolloré of contributing to a far-right shift in French culture.

Eve Jackson brings us an update from the mid-point of the 79th Cannes Film Festival as Adam Driver joins Miles Teller and director James Grey on the red carpet for "Paper Tiger", a film that explores corruption and moral downfall in the United States of the 1980s.

FRANCE 24's Culture Editor Eve Jackson is live at Cannes, where Day 4 is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded yet. The biggest arrival of the day is John Travolta – star of "Grease", "Saturday Night Fever" and "Pulp Fiction" – presenting his directorial debut "Propeller One-Way Night Coach", based on a children's novel he wrote for his son about the golden age of aviation. A licensed pilot as well as a Hollywood legend, this is a passion project in every sense.

French legend and Cannes regular Catherine Deneuve returns to the Croisette with not one but two films. Meanwhile Hollywood icon and licensed pilot John Travolta makes his directorial debut with an adaptation of his own children's novel about the golden age of aviation. FRANCE 24's Culture Editor Eve Jackson also tells us about the latest collaboration from former French power couple Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet – their first since splitting up last summer.

It's a simple action movie that grew into a billion-dollar global franchise. "The Fast and the Furious" marked its 25th anniversary with a midnight showing at the Cannes Film Festival. Lead actor Vin Diesel was joined on the red carpet by the daughter of his late co-star Paul Walker, to whom he paid an emotional tribute. FRANCE 24's Culture Editor Eve Jackson also tells us about the other films that have festival-goers revved up, from an "unhinged" slasher flick with Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder, to a film starring Barry Keoghan as the charismatic leader of a Circassian immigrant family.

FRANCE 24's Culture Editor Eve Jackson brings us the latest from the Cannes Film Festival, including a look at one of the wildest movies the festival has seen in a while: "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma", from director Jane Schoenbrun. It's part-slasher movie, part-fever dream and part-commentary on fandom and identity. It stars Gillian Anderson, who we know best for "The X-Files" and "Sex Education". Opposite her is "Hacks" actress Hannah Einbinder playing a young queer filmmaker.

It's Day 1 of the annual cinematic marathon for the Cannes  jury weighing up the features in competition for the Palme d'Or, with 22 films to consider. Critic Emma Jones tells us more about the members of director Park Chan-wook's jury, and we discuss the first two competition screenings: "Nagi Notes" and "A Woman's Life", as well as the hotly anticipated features from Asghar Farhadi, Pedro Almodovar and Cristian Mungiu.

It's time for the Cannes Film Festival jury to begin weighing up the 22 films competing for the Palme d'Or. FRANCE 24 film critic Emma Jones is on the French Riviera to walk us through the main themes emerging from this year's competition. The official selection boasts a strong Asian presence, with one South Korean film in competition and three Japanese features, including Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Sheep in the Box".

The 79th Cannes Film Festival is officially underway, and FRANCE 24 is live from the Croisette for its very first Cannes 2026 special. Join Culture Editor Eve Jackson and Film Critic Emma Jones as they break down the biggest moments from opening night: the honorary Palme d'Or presented to Peter Jackson, the arrival of Hollywood stars on the red carpet and the films already creating buzz on the Croisette.

As the 79th Cannes Film Festival opens on the Croisette, politics is competing with glamour for attention. Hundreds of figures from the French film industry have signed an open letter warning about what they describe as the growing influence of the far right within French cinema and media. At the centre of the controversy is French billionaire and media tycoon Vincent Bolloré, owner of Canal+, the powerful television group that plays a major role in financing French films.

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with Scottish-American duo Witch Post. Despite living more than 4,000 miles apart, Alaska Reid and Dylan Fraser crossed geographical barriers to form this band, united by a shared love of indie-rock, songwriting and folklore from their respective homelands. They are on tour with their sophomore EP "Butterfly", a record steeped in fantasy and the supernatural.

She took the world by storm with her "Hit Me Hard and Soft" tour; Billie Eilish returns to the global stage now via the big screen. The pop star has joined forces with director James Cameron, best known for "Titanic" and "Avatar", to bring her live performances to cinemas in 3D format. 

After nearly four decades at the heart of Radiohead, Ed O'Brien is entering a new creative era. In a candid interview with arts24's Eve Jackson, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist discusses depression, healing in the Welsh countryside, the making of his deeply personal new solo album "Blue Morpho" and why Radiohead's carefully planned 2027 global tour marks a new beginning for the band.

We look ahead to some of the French films making a splash on the Riviera at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, as Manon Kerjean takes us through some of the home-grown talent gracing the red carpet this year. She tells us why opening feature "The Electric Kiss" strikes the right tone with its bittersweet, supernatural elements and how Arthur Harari's "The Unknown" has revisited the body-swap genre with panache.

After six decades in Hollywood, James L. Brooks' latest heroine "Ella McCay" is a natural successor to his pioneering star of the small screen, "Mary Tyler Moore". This new, 21st-century heroine is juggling a political career with family drama, and her creator tells us why Ella's approach to social and political change is at odds with way democracy is being managed today in the US.

British 1980s rock heavyweights Def Leppard have delighted fans with a new track "Rejoice" and the announcement of their first concert in the French capital in nearly three decades. Their frontman Joe Elliott stopped by arts24 ahead of their July 8 show at the Accor Arena to chat to Marjorie Hache. We also look at new releases by Tori Amos, Lykke Li and Lady Gaga and Doechii.

Over the last 18 years, the FEMUA has established itself as a major date in the African cultural calendar, with concerts in Anoumabo and Dimbokro in Ivory Coast. Showcasing a continent of musical styles – including Afrobeat, rumba and rap – the event was founded by A'Salfo, frontman for the band Magic System. FRANCE 24's reporters tell us more about this year's line-up, special guest country Gabon and the wealth of cultural events taking place at FEMUA 2026. 

In this edition we head to Morocco for the Marrakech African Book Festival (FLAM), a key gathering for writers, thinkers and novelists from across Africa and its diaspora. Our team sits down with Nigerian writer Chigozie Obioma, whose acclaimed works "The Fishermen" and "An Orchestra of Minorities" were both shortlisted for the Booker Prize. 

We discuss the harrowing incident at the centre of Marta Bergman's poignant new film, as critic Manon Kerjean tells us why "The Silent Run" is a powerful, haunting take on the terrifying scenarios that many refugees face. We also review Alain Gomis's atmospheric journey through family rites and rituals in Guinea-Bissau in "Dao". Plus Laure Calamy and Vincent Macaigne negotiate belly laughs and bittersweet moments in "What is Love?" as a separated couple re-visiting their past on a trip to Rome.