In this edition of our Arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with poet and activist Aja Monet. She started putting pen to paper at just eight years old, thanks to a fascination with storytelling and typewriters. Her poetry has garnered critical acclaim, such as the collection "My Mother was a Freedom Fighter". Her activism has taken her from New York to Palestine. Aja's debut album "When the Poems Do What They Do" is a fluid blend of poetry and jazz. It is also an ode to some of the greats from the Black Arts Movement like Nikki Giovanni and Amiri Baraka. Aja described how she felt like a "spiritual archivist" when putting together the album. She is on tour in Europe with the record and is set to drop a new collection of poetry entitled "Florida Waters" this June.

FRANCE 24 meets the musicians behind the Oscar-nominated soundtrack for "Emilia Perez", as the French film establishes itself in pole position at the upcoming Academy Awards. While the musical has been applauded at many international film festivals, director Jacques Audiard has come under fire in Mexico for his portrayal of drug cartels and failing to cast more Mexican actors. And, we hear more from Chinese artists drawing up their own rules, as a group show in Paris shines a light on contemporary talents coming out of the country. Finally, we take a stroll through the Dolce Vita inspirations of fashion duo Dolce & Gabbana, as the iconic Italian fashion house shows off its visual universe in an exhibition in Paris. 

The French-made, Spanish-language musical "Emilia Perez" leads the Oscars race with 13 nominations, making history as the most nominated non-English-language film ever. FRANCE 24's Culture Editor Eve Jackson tells us more about French director Jacques Audiard’s film and the other frontrunners.

His artistic vision and talents as a painter have contributed to some of the fantastical backdrops featured in "Star Wars", "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial". As art director Michael Pangrazio receives the Génie d’honneur prize for outstanding achievement in visual effects at the Paris Images Digital Summit, he tells us about starting out in the film industry at an experimental time and how specialising in matte painting saw him create iconic scenes for Steven Spielberg. We also talk about how AI is set to revolutionise the movie industry and discuss the young filmmaking talents that have impressed him recently.

Film critic Emma Jones tells us why the CGI chimp who stands in for Robbie Williams does a good job at conveying the British pop star's fundamental loneliness in the quirky biopic "Better Man". We also discuss Mel Gibson’s latest stint behind the camera in "Flight Risk", as Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Dockery provide some old-fashioned comic relief in this cockpit-set caper. Meanwhile, French film "The Quiet Son" sees Vincent Lindon put in an award-winning performance as the single father of two young men, as filmmakers Delphine and Muriel Coulin explore the socio-economic reality in the east of France. Plus we check out a new take on the life of German anti-Nazi theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

FRANCE 24's Culture Editor Eve Jackson co-hosted the the Lumières awards, France's equivalent of the Golden Globes, on Monday night in Paris. She tells us about French gangster transgender musical "Emilia Perez" picking up five awards, including best director for France's Jacques Audiard.

The Oscar-nominated director Bennett Miller, celebrated for films like "Capote", "Moneyball" and "Foxcatcher", speaks to Eve Jackson about his new AI-generated art. The filmmaker is showcasing his new photographic prints at Paris's Gagosian gallery. The exhibition blends artificial intelligence technology with traditional photo aesthetics. The works were created using the image creator DALL•E.

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim talks to Nigerian singer-songwriter Keziah Jones as he releases his first record in over a decade: "Alive & Kicking". The album is an autobiographical journey from Lagos to London to Paris; a musical résumé of his career spanning more than 30 years. The "blufunk" singer’s record features some of his biggest hits like "Beautiful Emilie", as well as two original songs. It was recorded in Lagos at Femi Kuti’s studio, a symbolic decision for an artist who cites singer Kuti as one of his biggest inspirations. Keziah shares with us how he was one of the last people to ever interview the Afrobeat legend. He also talks about his love affair with France and his recent debut art exhibition at Paris's Eric Dupont gallery.

As the film world mourns the loss of legendary director David Lynch, arts24 looks back at the life and career of a true icon. Known for his surreal and unsettling style in films like "Twin Peaks", "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive", he redefined cinema and television, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking works. Film critic Emma Jones talks to Eve Jackson about his importance to cinema, his love of France and how he even made the weather interesting.

Spanish series "Machos Alfa" was so successful on Netflix that it has now been adapted for a French audience, with local stars bringing some comic relief to this very timely subject. Dheepthika Laurent tells us why the series is worth a watch, and highlights another French show that has inspired an American version, coming to screens on the Disney+ platform. "HPI" was a huge hit in France, focusing on a mother of three whose sharp intellect sees her become a detective; we find out more about the American version of the show. Also, the wait is over for fans of the chilling psychological drama "Severance" as the second season arrives on Apple TV+; we discuss the stylish, existential details that made the series a hit. Plus, FBI spy drama "The Night Agent" returns for a second season of intrigue and mystery after a chart-topping first season on Netflix.