Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons The first night of the London Literature Festival is opened by Sayaka Murata, interviewed by Octavia Bright. Sayaka Murata is a new-generation Japanese writer, celebrating the translation of her speculative fiction novel ‘Vanishing World’ into English. She has sold over two million copies of her books in over forty countries; famous for challenging family, romance and societal conventions in her blunt, defiant writing.  Her book ‘Vanishing World’ follows...

Abou Sangare in Souleymane’s Story (2024); Photo courtesy of Conic Films Souleymane’s Story (Boris Lojkine, 2024) is a French language film following breakout star Abou Sangare as Souleymane, an asylum-seeker from Guinea. This film follows Souleymane through the 48-hour period before his citizenship interview where he must revise a fabricated story sold to him by Barry, a “social worker” who helps him prepare documents and memorise dates.  The question this movie asks at its core is, “Who...

Hania tackles the discourse surrounding "hook-up" culture and casual sex.