When the Clooney family were granted French citizenship, the news made headlines around the world. The US president weighed in on their choice, sparking a war of words; we learn more about the transatlantic row pitting Hollywood against la vie en France. Also, a new film about the British featherweight who became a giant of boxing brings "Prince" Naseem Hamed's life and career to the big screen. Plus we take a closer look at the frozen landscape that helped Claude Monet refine his painting technique during a very cold snap. 

British-Hungarian author David Szalay joins Eve Jackson on arts24 to discuss his controversial Booker Prize-winning novel "Flesh", which follows István – a silent, violent and unsettling protagonist – from a bleak Hungarian housing estate to London's super-rich elite. Szalay reveals why he called his book "risky," how he made readers care about someone who says "OK" 400 times and what happens when Stormzy and Dua Lipa champion your work.

We take a look at the French films kicking off 2026, as Manon Kerjean tells us about 'Furcy', the true story of a slave living on Reunion Island in the early 19th century who discovers that he was, in fact, born free. We also discuss the moving family drama "The Wonderers" and hear from début director Joséphine Japy about bringing her personal experience to the film.

His photography captures faces, figures and fleeting moments, and gives us the bigger picture when it comes to the social, cultural and political landscape. Franco-British photographer Ed Alcock is the winner of the Prix Niépce Gens d'Images, France's oldest photography award, and he joins us to discuss the imagery that caught the jury's attention. From family mysteries to the Brexit vote in 2016, Alcock takes a socio-realist approach to making photographs; the artist tells us why his documentary series are often prompted by deeply personal questions.

French rap metal band Rise of the Northstar formed in 2008, but have been making a name for themselves over the last few years touring Europe and the Americas and collaborating with other hotly tipped French metalheads Landmvrks. They recently released their fourth album "Chapter 04: Red Falcon Super Battle! Neo Paris War!!" and sold out Paris's Olympia. Guitarist Eva B and drummer Phantom popped by the FRANCE 24 studios to chat to Marjorie Hache. Together they also check out new releases by London's Dry Cleaning, Mongolia's Uuhai and Manchester's The Cribs. 

Like it or not, AI is here to stay. Time magazine named the "architects of AI" as 2025's person of the year. In this edition, we focus on artificial intelligence and entertainment. A UK AI-focused studio recently released "Non Player Combat", which it calls the world's first AI-generated reality TV show. Dheepthika Laurent talks to Tom Paton, CEO of the studio and in a first, we interview Clara, the AI host of the show!

FRANCE 24's Charli James previews the new exhibit "All About Love" at the Grand Palais in Paris, which is celebrating the superstar American artist Mickalene Thomas. It spans 20 years of her striking, multi-disciplinary work that rewrites the role of Black women in art history. Plus, a special Christmas show at the Palace of Versailles imagines how the holidays looked inside the court of King Louis XIV.

Emma Jones takes us through the third installment of James Cameron's epic project, as "Avatar: Fire and Ash" takes us back to the spectacular setting of Pandora. We discuss the message at the heart of the movies and the new additions to its cast. Next, director Kleber Mendonça Filho plunges us into 1970s Brazil thanks to a swinging soundtrack and anamorphic Panavision lenses, as Wagner Moura gives an award-winning performance in "The Secret Agent". We also check out a moving tribute to Neil Diamond and small-time musicians the world over in "Song Sung Blue", starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. Plus Kate Winslet goes behind the camera for her star-studded directorial début, "Goodbye June".

FRANCE 24's Dheepthika Laurent tells us about Emily's adventures in Rome, as the heroine of "Emily in Paris" embarks on a fifth season in neighbouring Italy. We debate whether the show has run out of steam and discuss romantic lead Lucas Bravo, who plays Gabriel, as he stars in new French series "Les Saisons". Also, post-apocalyptic drama "Fallout" returns for a second series, with Walton Goggins as a ghoulish cowboy and Ella Purnell searching for her father in this re-make of the nuclear war-inspired video game. Plus we find out more about the new K-drama "Made in Korea", starring TV heavyweights Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung.

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with the frontman of British band The Spitfires, Billy Sullivan, as well as French musician Gaspard Royant. The Spitfires are back after having split up three years ago. The indie rock, nu-mod band are celebrating their musical renaissance with their sixth album "MKII". Meanwhile, Gaspard Royant has re-released his wildly successful festive record “All the Best for Christmas”: a soundtrack for a cool, classy Christmas.

Bossa Nova rhythms, trap, rap and reggaeton all go into Bianca Costa's musical palette, and the results have got her tens of millions of streams. As the artist releases her first full-length album, "Gringa", she joins us to talk about making peace with her Brazilian and French identity, singing in two languages and drawing on very diverse musical traditions. We also talk about the strong female artists like Diam's, Sia and Chaka Khan who've inspired Bianca and crossed her professional path, and we discuss the juxtaposition of religious values and sensuality which marked her formative years.

He's currently on screens as "Jay Kelly", an ageing movie star on an existential quest in Europe. And it’s not too far from George Clooney's own reality, as the actor tells journalists how he's enjoying his new life in the south of France. We also look back at the impressive legacy left by "starchitect" Frank Gehry, after the death of the visionary architect behind landmarks like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. The world of photography has also lost a major talent in Martin Parr; we take a look back at his distinctive style and unique body of work.

Critic Manon Kerjean takes us through the week's French film releases, starting with an assured début from Alice Vial. "You Found Me" deals with medical emergencies, mortality and a medium who helps souls leave our earthly realm, managing to balance its heavy subject matter with a gentle tone. We also discuss "Love Me Tender", Anna Cazenave Cambet's adaptation of a novel by author Constance Debré, in which a mother is left fighting for the right to raise her child. Motherhood is also a theme in Jérôme Bonnell’s film "The Condition", which explores the power dynamics in a bourgeois home in early 20th century France, and we check out the psychologically driven "The Girl Without a Name", featuring an impressive performance from young actress Diane Rouxel.

The author and journalist Taffy Brodesser-Akner has been awarded the Grand Prix de Littérature Américaine for her novel "Long Island Compromise" and its translation by Diniz Galhos. Brodesser-Akner tells us about the kidnapping that kicks off this sprawling family saga, and its repercussions through younger generations. We also discuss the pivotal role of wealth and privilege in American society, and why the aspirational lifestyles peddled by the rich and famous prompt such heated debate, after Brodesser-Akner's profile of Gwyneth Paltrow in the New York Times Magazine went viral.

French-Armenian guitarist Waxx has just released a new cover album "Etincelles 2", which features collaborations with beloved French artists such as rapper MC Solaar and singer Jain, as well as up-and-coming musicians like Solann. He tells Marjorie Hache about this new record and his first book "Shuffle", which explores the stories behind the songs. They also check out new music from Guns N' Roses, Sampa The Great and Melody's Echo Chamber.

Award-winning chef Mashama Bailey and hospitality mastermind Johno Morisano are behind a Parisian restaurant where dishes pay tribute to a wealth of culinary traditions, from both sides of the Atlantic. They join us in the studio to talk about bringing corn and braised meats to a menu featuring French bistro classics, including the innovative pairing of foie gras and grits. Mashama and Johno tell us how setting up their restaurant "The Grey" in Savannah, Georgia was a formative experience, helping to refine their vision of gastronomy and hospitality. Plus we learn why "kitchens have a built-in soap opera", as films and TV series set in the world of fine dining dominate our screens.

From the latest arrest in the audacious October heist to the grand opening of the Louvre's Gallery of the Five Continents, the museum is making news for both drama and ambition. Arts24 takes you inside the museum's newest spaces and explains the rising ticket prices for non-EU visitors. Beyond the Louvre, we explore Paris's sprawling manga exhibition at the Guimet Museum and dive into James Cameron's latest cinematic spectacle, "Avatar: Fire and Ash". Don't miss this packed roundup of art, culture and entertainment from around the world.

Arts24 dives into the life of France's most explosive cinema legend as a new documentary pulls back the curtain on Brigitte Bardot – the star who became a myth and then walked away from it all to fight for animal rights. Director Elora Thevenet joins us in the studio to reveal how she gained rare access to the fiercely private 91-year-old, while our critic Manon Kerjean breaks down the film's intimate portrait of a woman once adored and still controversial decades later.

From Lisbeth Salander to Mother Teresa, Noomi Rapace has never shied away from transformative, fearless roles. In her latest film "Mother", directed by Teona Strugar Mitevska, the Swedish actress takes on one of her most radical characters yet: a young Mother Teresa in 1948, on the brink of leaving the convent to follow her calling. But this is no reverential biopic. "Mother" is raw, provocative, and intimate – a "punk rock" portrait that demystifies the saint and reveals the ambitious, conflicted woman beneath.

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with Ambroise and Zoé from indie band Astral Bakers. The French four-piece have a real Americana, soft-grunge sound, blending warm harmonies with stripped-down arrangements. Their second album "Vertical Life" was recorded in the Catskills in upstate New York, and celebrates their collective identity. We also look at the return of the cassette tape, which is hoping to emulate the same success vinyl records have had in recent years.