James Williams

Professor James Williams holds the position of Professor of Modern French Literature and Film at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is Director of the Centre for Visual Cultures and Research Director for the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. His academic journey includes degrees from University College London and Queen Mary, with prior teaching roles at Rutgers University, University of Kent, and others before joining Royal Holloway in 2004.

Research focuses on French/European cinema, Francophone African film (particularly West/Central Africa), modern French literature, and interdisciplinary themes like ethics/aesthetics, queer theory, and postcolonial studies. His award-winning work includes Ethics and Aesthetics in Contemporary African Cinema (2019 R. Gapper Prize winner). Upcoming publications explore topics like race, Holocaust film, and queer world cinema.

• Teaching: Courses include French language, cinema history, transnational film, and comparative literature.
• Collaborations: Works with institutions like Centre Pompidou, Tate Modern, and Institut Français.
• Editorial Roles: Editor of French Screen Studies and Studies in World Cinema.

Recent activities include curating exhibitions, contributing to media outlets like The Guardian, and organizing academic conferences on Holocaust film and queer cinema.