He may have made a name for himself in light-hearted British rom-coms like "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "About a Boy" and "Notting Hill", but Hugh Grant has undergone a startling transformation over the last decade, rebranding himself as a character actor in darker roles. His latest outing in "Heretic" is certainly in that vein; FRANCE 24's culture editor Eve Jackson caught up with him at the film's Paris premiere, where he told her why playing the baddie is more fun. We also check out a...

The multi-faceted performer Dorothée Munyaneza has adapted Kae Tempest's play "Hopelessly Devoted" for the stage, in a French-language production at the Bouffes du Nord theatre. She tells us why she wanted to explore many different forms of love in her version "Inconditionelles", and how the emotion can be a powerful liberating force, whether it exists behind bars or in a time of war. The Rwandan-British artist also reflects on revisiting historical pain and injustice in her performances, the...

French director Michel Hazanavicius decided that an animated feature was the best approach for his latest film, which follows the trajectory of a baby thrown from a train headed for Auschwitz. Film critic Emma Jones tells us why the fairy-tale tone of "The Most Precious of Cargoes" adds to its poignancy, and why this fable is worth telling many decades later. We also discover an up-and-coming talent in French filmmaker Agathe Riedinger, as her Cannes début "Wild Diamond" impresses with its...

After losing his home, along with countless friends and family, Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha escaped Gaza with his wife and three children. Now in exile, the award-winning writer is on a mission to share the stories of those left behind. He speaks to FRANCE 24’s Culture Editor, Eve Jackson, about documenting the situation through social media, publications like The New Yorker and The New York Times, and his poetry. Abu Toha is presenting his latest work, Forest of Noise, at Paris' Maison...

This week, Marjorie Hache speaks with award-winning French-Canadian pianist Alexandra Stréliski about her new album "Neo-Romance", which she is currently touring in France. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Hampus Lindwall tells us about American avant-garde composer and filmmaker Phill Niblock, who passed away earlier this year. Lindwall, along with drone metal guitarist and composer, will pay tribute to Niblock on November 25 at L’Église de Saint-Esprit in Paris. We also take a look at U2’s new release,...

His risky market trades at French bank Société Générale saw Jerôme Kerviel convicted of breach of trust and forgery in 2008. Now, the docu-series "Breaking the bank: One trader, 50 billion" revisits his story. Director Fred Garson tells us why he wanted to hear Kerviel's point of view, as well as accounts from his colleagues at the bank, and discusses the psychological investigation within the series. Also on the show: Dheepthika Laurent tells us why author Marlon James's adaptation of his...

This year's Booker Prize winner Samantha Harvey speaks to FRANCE 24's Culture Editor Eve Jackson about her wonder-filled space novel "Orbital". They discuss climate change, fiction's role in politics and Elon Musk's space endeavors.

It's been 24 years since Russell Crowe stepped into a dusty arena as the mighty Maximus. Now, Ridley Scott has returned to his blockbuster hit for a sequel starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Connie Nielsen. Film critic Emma Jones tells us why it's a spectacularly entertaining time at the cinema. We also discuss the documentary made by an Israeli-Palestinian collective about forced displacements in the West Bank, and Emma tells us more about Demi Moore's big comeback in "The...

She was on the show back in June to discuss her bilingual viral comedy sketches about the French and English that have millions of views. Tatty Macleod is the ultimate FRANCE 24 guest who fits right in here in our “franglais” world. She’s back as she’s just moved to Paris from London and she’s got three dates coming up in the city of lights at the Théâtre de l'Atelier. The British comedian speaks to FRANCE 24’s culture editor Eve Jackson about starting a new chapter in Paris, the difference...

In this music show on arts24, Jennifer Ben Brahim is joined on set by American-Haitian multi-instrumentalist Leyla McCalla. She’s on tour with her fifth studio album “Sun Without the Heat”. It blends sounds from the diaspora – Afrobeat, Ethiopian modalities, Brazilian tropicalism, folk and American blues. The title of the record is a reference to a 1857 Frederick Douglass speech made six years before the Emancipation Proclamation. The songs on the record juxtapose grief and joy and despite...

Dheepthika Laurent talks to Lebohang Kganye, recipient of the 2024 prestigious Deutsche Börse photography prize. The South African visual artist is displaying her work at the 27th edition of Paris Photo, one of the biggest photography fairs in the world. She talks about how her upbringing in a township post-apartheid influenced her work, why light installations, real-life silhouettes and theatre are part of her photography and the importance of language and literature. She also tells us about...

"7 Days", 'Walking Away", and "Rewind" were songs that defined an era of UK music and made waves across the globe in the early noughties. With these catchy lyrics and melodies, Craig David became the voice of the UK garage genre. The multimillion selling album "Born to Do It" led him to be one of the most successful artists in UK chart history. Nearly a quarter of a century on, Craig David is on tour, set to release his ninth album and has just completed his seventh season residency in Ibiza....

Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Harrison Ford and even The Avengers have come out in support of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, while Republican hopeful Donald Trump has the likes of Elon Musk, Kid Rock and Hulk Hogan supporting him. In this edition of arts24, Eve Jackson tells us more about the American culture wars, including book bans in schools and colleges in Florida. We also hear from some of arts24's previous guests about America’s political situation, including...

FRANCE 24 Journalist Jenny Ben Brahim tells us more about Quincy Jones, the superstar producer behind Michael Jackson's thriller album, who died at 91. Born in Chicago, Jones’ decades-long career started in smoky jazz clubs where he collaborated with jazz innovators like Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. He also worked on arrangements for Frank Sinatra. Jones also left his mark on pop music, notably through his collaboration with Michael Jackson for whom he produced what is still the biggest...

The 2024 Prix Goncourt, France’s top literary prize, was awarded Monday to French-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud for his novel “Houris” (ed. Gallimard) that looks back at the Algerian Civil War in the 1990s. Executive Director at the American Library in Paris' Audrey Chapuis tells us more.

On today’s music show on arts24, Jennifer Ben Brahim is joined on set by Norwegian-American singer Okay Kaya and Syrian-British musician Ziyad Al-Samman. Okay Kaya is known for juxtaposing her sweet vocal melodies with her unfiltered take on the human experience. She’s just dropped her fourth album called “Oh My God – That’s So Me”, a reflection on social media and “meme culture”. The album also discusses isolation and storytelling. Okay Kaya is playing this week at Paris’ Pitchfork music...

In this edition of arts24, Jennifer Ben Brahim meets the master of millinery, Stephen Jones, at a monumental exhibition of his work at Paris's Palais Galliera museum. The British designer has been working for over four decades on both sides of the English Channel, for the likes of the late Princess Diana to Lady Gaga at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. From collaborating with couture houses like Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier, Stephen Jones has made the hat more than just an accessory,...

We learn more about the history and traditions surrounding zombies at the Quai Branly museum in Paris, as our reporters take a tour of a new exhibition there. Contemporary art from Benin is in the spotlight at the Conciergerie in Paris, as dozens of creatives from the West African country show pieces as part of the Festival de Francophonie. Plus we check out work from artists shortlisted for the UK's most prestigious award, the Turner Prize, as Tate Britain hosts an exhibition which explores...

It won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival this year: "Anora" is Sean Baker's most sophisticated film yet, according to critic Emma Jones. She tells us why there is lots to love in this story of a sex worker and an oligarch’s son, and why lead actress Mikey Madison is tipped for great things. We also discuss Clint Eastwood’s courtroom drama "Juror No. 2", as the 94-year-old director reunites Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette for this rumination on justice and truth. Plus, Emma tells us...

“We have no other land to go to," a Palestinian woman responds to Israeli soldiers seeking to displace her community from their village in the West Bank. It's one of the many moving moments captured in the documentary "No Other Land", by an Israeli and Palestinian collective of filmmakers: Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor. Yuval and Basel join us in the studio to discuss working together to collect evidence in the village of Masafer Yatta, where Israeli soldiers have...

English singer-songwriter Katy J Pearson has just released her third album "Someday, Now", which sees the indie-folk artist reconnect with people around her while drawing in 1980s-tinted aesthetics. We also hear from Xavier Boyer, the singer of the indie-pop French band Tahiti 80, who are celebrating their 25th anniversary with a tenth album, "Hello Hello". Plus we take a look at new releases by The Cure, who are releasing their first album in 16 years; and Tyler, The Creator, who is back in...

His 1989 film "The Killer" is a cult classic of Hong Kong action cinema, featuring John Woo's dynamic style as a filmmaker and highlighting Chow Yun-Fat's charisma as its protagonist. Woo has now revisited the film for a 21st-century audience, shifting the action to Paris and putting Nathalie Emmanuel in the leading role, a femme fatale with a strong sense of remorse. We caught up with cast at the film's Paris premiere, where Omar Sy told us more about playing the good cop and doing his own...

When the cult French film "La Haine" came out 30 years ago, it sent shockwaves through the world of French cinema. The movie has now been adapted for a musical; our reporters went to La Seine Musicale theatre to check it out. Meanwhile, Lyon is currently hosting its contemporary art biennale, with hundreds of pieces popping up in the streets and in venues around the city. This year’s theme is "Crossing the Water" and includes artwork from all over the world. Plus, we take a look at a...

He was an icon of la chanson française. Charles Aznavour's lyrical talent illuminated the 20th century and shone until his death in 2018. The singer-songwriter's life has now been brought to the screen by Mehdi Idir and slam poet Grand Corps Malade. Film critic Perrine Quennesson tells us why actor Tahar Rahim's performance as "Monsieur Aznavour" is an excellent reason to see the film. We also discuss another biopic, "Niki", which revisits the trials and triumphs of Franco-American artist...