arts24

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.