4K
Searching for the perfect waves in Corsica
Four surfers from the island of Corsica talk about their ups and downs in search of the perfect waves.
On this island, where the link to the sea has been built on conflicting relationships throughout its history, surfing has undergone a singular, almost anachronistic development.
Far from the poster images associated with this sport, this film takes us into a world where passion and thirst for freedom have sometimes come up against marginalization, frustration, failure, and rejection.
A TALK WITH THE CAMEL 52’
A racing champion
Born in the arid south of Morocco, D'jamal, a young white dromedary with a gift for racing, draws the attention of a camel driver who decides to make him a champion.
AQUARIUMS TO VISIT IN JAPAN [2x30’]
Unique marine exhibits
When it comes to aquariums, Japan holds 2 world records.
In Nagasaki, you can observe no less than 9 species of penguins while in Yamagata 50 species of Jellyfish are there to dazzle you.
ARJEPLOG, THE WINTER CAR CAPITAL 52’
The vehicles of tomorrow tested under extreme conditions
If you own a car, it has been most likely heavily tested in Swedish Lapland, more precisely in Arjeplog.
Unknown to the public, this small town of 2,000 inhabitants, located 50 km north of the Arctic Circle, is the world capital of the automobile industry in winter.
It is a secret location where the biggest manufacturers torment the vehicles of tomorrow under extreme conditions.
ARKTIC, A 62 DAY SOLITARY JOURNEY 52’
On and under the ice pack
In some parts of the world, climate change is more obvious than elsewhere.
French explorer Alban Michon, a specialist in ice diving, achieved a world first by crossing the Arctic "Northwest Passage" alone. Carrying over 180 kilos of equipment, Alban traveled nearly 500 kilometers, braving temperatures as low as -53°C.
This film is the story of this extraordinary adventure on and under the ice pack.
ASTEROIDS 52’
A hope for the survival of humanity
Asteroids are the most primitive bodies we know. There are probably billions of them, and no two are alike. They bear witness to the first moments of the Solar System.
Originally a source of threat, they now represent a hope for the survival of humanity.
AT THE FRONTIERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC [3x45’] | [1x41’]
Inspired by popular melodies
Since the end of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century, classical music has incorporated tradition and popular melodies.
Brahms was inspired by the sailors' songs he heard in the cabarets of the port of Hamburg. Liszt sometimes used traditional Hungarian music as a starting point for his compositions. The revolution came thanks to the quasi-ethnological work of Bartok and Kodaly who undertook to record and archive all the traditional songs of their regions to incorporate them into their music.
BAHIA, THE AFRICAN HERITAGE 52’
The story of the "Bay of All Saints"
In 1500, in the region of Salvador in Brazil, the first Portuguese settlers landed and built their first colonial city: Salvador de Bahia, known as "the Bay of All Saints".
The indigenous tribes were decimated and replaced by African slaves working mainly in mills.
Today, Salvador's African heritage can still be felt in the culture, the music, and the arts while its inhabitants strive to perpetuate the memory of their ancestors.
BECOMING BUTTERFLY 52’
A miniature odyssey
On a lemon tree, a caterpillar is born. It is supposed to grow there until morphing into a butterfly, but a storm destroys this preset scheme and makes it fall.
The caterpillar has only about three days to return to its tree, the only place to achieve its mutation.
Through this journey of survival, we discover the incredible richness of microworlds, where one small step for man is a lifetime expedition for a tiny insect.
BEYOND THE EARTH [5x52’]
Understanding our solar system
This series is a fascinating journey to the farthest reaches of our solar system to unveil its history, present, and future.
Every planet in our solar system, be it Venus or Jupiter, plays a part in it, which we discover through breathtaking images and scientific explanations.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE 52’
The heritage of 321 million people
The French language was officially born in the 16th century.
Since then, it has traveled to every continent and is spoken by 321 million people. It is their shared heritage and, in many cases, the cement of their culture.
This film takes us to the lands where it has landed and tells the difficulties and achievements that the centuries have bestowed upon it.
BUILDING BASTILLE 52’ or 72’
A clash of egos
In 1982, newly elected French president Francois Mitterrand decided to build an ultra-modern opera house on the Bastille Place, the symbol of the Revolution. In a blind competition, 750 hopeful firms send designs.
During the formal announcement, the Minister of Culture stutters an unexpected name: Carlos Ott from Canada. No one has heard of him before. So, what happened?
François Mitterrand looks thrilled, unlike his sworn enemy and Mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac, who will do everything he can to stop the Bastille Opera in its tracks.
CONFLICTS & VERDICTS [52x26’]
Inspired by real-life events
There's a quick and easy alternative to overcrowded courts: arbitration. Regulated by law, this procedure allows disputes to be settled by a professional arbitrator whose decision is enforceable.
Inspired by real-life events, each episode follows the trial of a case between two parties: a neighborhood problem, a contentious inheritance, unfair dismissal, bullying at school, or a consumer scam. These are just some disputes that plague everyday life if they are not resolved swiftly.
During these hearings, the arbitrators must sort out the facts to bring out the truth and reach the fairest decision possible.
EDOUARD LOUBET AND THE FLAVOURS OF PROVENCE 52’
When less is more
Edouard Loubet is a celebrated 2 stars French chef, voted Chef of the Year in 2011. His cuisine is as local as you can get and his search for exceptional ingredients leads to a savory cocktail of flavors.
Both an innovator and guardian of traditions, Edouard Loubet is a proud champion of the flagship ingredients of Provence and their producers who provide the basis for his culinary achievements: truffles, asparagus, cherries, melons, herbs, cheese, wine... They all share the same attributes: simplicity and tastiness.
EXCEPTIONAL TRANSPORTATION: PLANES ON THE ROAD 52’ or 75’
Supersize everything
On the Airbus assembly site near Toulouse, pieces of planes come from the 4 corners of Europe by air, road or water.
Shipping XXL cargo and putting together the puzzle of aircraft parts require complex and ingenious technology.
This film goes behind-the-scene of this technological prowess and the incredible machines used to achieve it.
Also available as a 75'
FACING CLIMATE [9x52’]
An alarming future
This series raises the issues of global warming's effects and consequences on populations. How can they be anticipated and prevented? Are we all impacted equally?
From the Netherlands to the Mediterranean basin and North America, we cover six cases with an alarming future, six regions strongly impacted by global warming, and six different kinds of threats to urban or rural populations.
FEAR ON THE SAVANNAH 52’
A primal emotion
This is the story of the rehabilitation of an African national park.
After the first step of successfully acclimating herbivores, it is time to reintroduce lions. But with them comes predation, and suddenly, fear overtakes the park.
This epic wildlife film illustrates a universal feeling: terror.
FLAVORS [96x52’]
Sublime escapes
Discover the magic and beauty of some of the world’s most enchanting destinations, including their natural wonders, outstanding monuments, crafts, and breathtaking landscapes.
This series is an invitation to travel to the heart of the traditions and peculiarities of the world’s most celebrated countries.
FREE SPIRITS [8x40’]
A world of extreme sports
Léo Urban, the Tarzan of the cities and star of parkour, has set himself the goal of becoming the best athlete in his discipline.
To perfect his training and overcome his last mental and physical barriers, he learns from the maestros of weightlessness and extreme sports.
FRENCH MASTERS OF WINE 52’
The miracle combination of nature and man's know-how
Wine is more than just the simple fermentation process of grape juice. It is the result of a miracle marriage between a gift of nature and human expertise.
Nowadays, wine is part of France's cultural and gastronomic heritage, and vineyards are shaping the landscapes of well-known regions such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, or Alsace.
This film takes us to the most prestigious "grands crus" to meet the men and women behind the nectar connoisseurs the world over rave about.
FROM AFRICA WITH LOVE [8x52’]
The great metropoles
What do the names of West African cities such as Dakar, Yaoundé, Cotonou, Bamako, or Abidjan suggest?
This series offers an immersion in these big cities that just want to be seen in a different light by focusing on their assets. Combining tradition and modernity, it presents an urban and booming Africa.
FROM ONE CENTURY TO THE NEXT [1x53’] | [2x41’] | [1x38’]
The evolution of musical genres
The 20th and 21st centuries are characterized by the appearance of a profusion of musical genres such as jazz, then rock, electro or hip hop.
The great historical events, in particular the wars, as well as technological developments have contributed to the emergence of these genres and the so-called classical music has become even more distinct from popular music than before.
GREAT REPERTOIRE [1x47’] | [1x41’] | [1x34’] | [1x27’]
The most recognizable forms of chamber music
This series of recordings explores the most recognizable forms of chamber music interpreted by the new generation of the best French performers.
First, the string quartet, an intellectual and emotional summit under the bows of the young Mona Quartet.
The trio (piano, violin and cello) embodied by the brilliant pianist and composer Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, the young and already famous violinist Sarah Nemtanu and their accomplice Grégoire Korniluk.
The duo, piano and violin, with the young Eva Zavaro who plays Brahms and Ravel accompanied by the pianist Tatiana Chern.
HAITI, LIFE AT ALL COSTS 52’
The Kangaroo method
On January 12, 2010, a brutal earthquake killed more than 200,000 people in Haiti.
Eight years later, the situation in the country is still chaotic, particularly in maternity wards. The one at the public hospital in Port au Prince is still a makeshift, an unsuitable premise without running water. Premature babies, the most fragile, have little chance of survival.
A few kilometers away, however, the Saint Damien maternity ward is saving most of these little lives. Subsidized by an Italian NGO, and equipped with state-of-the-art neonatal equipment, it relies on a program that has been proven in other poor countries: the Kangaroo method.
HOW WARS END AND HOW PEACE CAN SUCCEED 52’
Peace heroes
At a time when there are over 100 armed conflicts worldwide, this film focuses on peace heroes instead of war heroes.
We try to understand the escalation of violence in global conflicts, the art of diplomacy and reconciliation, and how sustainable peace can be achieved.
IN THE GIANT MAMMOTH TRACKS 52’ or 90’
Bringing to life a million-year-old skeleton
Over a million years old, the Durfort mammoth is the icon of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and one of the biggest skeletons in the world.
Fragilized by time, this giant fossil needed urgent care and had to be disassembled and reassembled for a complete restoration, a World Premiere, which we follow step by step. This tricky operation is also an opportunity to learn more about the animal.
Through incredible CGI and thanks to all the knowledge collected by the Museum, this film brings this fascinating yet little-known giant back to life.
Also available as a 90mns
IN THE LAND OF THE BLACK BEE 52’
The turbulent life of a swarm
On the gentle slopes of a mountain, between the green ferns, sits a hive inhabited by hundreds of little black bees.
Through the four seasons, this film follows the life of a swarm from the inside. We witness the awakening in the spring, the rearing of new queens, the nuptial flight of the virgin queens and the subsequent ban of bumblebees, the massacre of the males, the pollination, and then, little by little, with the coming of winter, the return to the great sleep.
This film is an epic story set in a tiny wooden box.
IRAN, THE LAST GREAT NOMADS 52’
An exhausting and spectacular transhumance
In central Iran, the mountains of Zagros are the domain of the Bakhtiaris, one of the last great nomads.
They are proud shepherds who still practice a long, exhausting, and spectacular transhumance. They remain attached to centuries of traditions as well as a way of life dating back to ancient Persia.
These majestic valleys framed by mountains and glaciers present an unexpected image of Iran.
ISLAND OF THE SUNKEN CITY 52’
A different Japan
Yonaguni is one of the smallest inhabited islands and the most western point of Japan’s archipelago, much closer to Taiwan than Tokyo.
Its remoteness gives the place a singular dimension embodied in a dramatic past as well as in traditions which have all but vanished in the Northern islands. One can find there an endemic species of small horses or puzzling underwater stone structures deemed, by some people, to be the remains of an antic suken city.
Between legend and reality, tiny Yonaguni offers diverse facets, the most intriguing one being the discovery of a Japan caught in a time warp.
KAI SAFARI [64x24’]
Exciting experiences and great food
Sonia Gray and Russell Harrison share a love for fishing, hunting, the great outdoors. and "kai" (food).
The food duo travels to some of New Zealand's most remote and spectacular corners. From camping outdoors with family and friends to visiting out-of-the-way holiday houses, wherever they go, they share stories and songs and highlight the history and passion of local communities.
This series is about living off the land, whether on the beach or in the bush, and sharing exciting experiences around food gathering, fond memories, and great eating.
KELP, A FOREST UNDER THE SEA 52’
The unheard benefits of seaweed
Kelp is a type of seaweed that grows in shallow underwater forests. These algae are as crucial as trees in capturing carbon dioxide and can also be used as a food source.
From France to Chile, this film investigates kelp’s history and economic and scientific potential to build a new type of sustainable agriculture, maintain biodiversity, or fight global warming.
KOMODO, SEX AND DRAGONS 52’
An eventful courtship
An imposing adult male is determined to mate with a young female. One might think it is a trivial episode in the animal kingdom. But when it takes place in one of the most hostile archipelagos in the world, and when the animals involved are the ferocious Komodo dragons, we know the courtship promises to be eventful.
Baby dragons perched 10 meters high in trees, an old one who wants more offspring, a young male ready to mate but who must deal with a rival bent on killing him, a recalcitrant female, and macaques, deer, and buffalo living near their predators are the characters in this saga.
Dramatic scenes, imposing landscapes, and beautiful photography combine to make this a spectacular film.
KOREAN BROKEN FAMILIES 52’
The heartbreaking reunion
The diplomatic relations between North Korea and South Korea are warming up but there is still a deep wound going back to the time of the Cold War: the separation of refugees’ families.
Lee Geumsum was a young mother when she had to flee the Korean War in 1951. She wandered several hundreds of kilometers hunted by famine and diseases when, one morning, she had to stop to feed her daughter who was only a few months old, losing sight of her 4-year-old son. She never saw him again.
Thanks to the reunion of families organized by the two countries, this 91-year-old lady will see again a son she had lost 68 years ago.
LANDS OF LEGENDS [4x52’]
A journey to the heart of the elements that forged our Earth
Fire. Earth. Water. Air. These four elements have crafted unbelievable landscapes and generated extraordinary natural phenomena.
These geological, physical, or biological wonders have always fascinated humanity and given birth to numerous legends. But what is the scientific reality behind these legends? Scientists and storytellers combine their knowledge to tell the story of unique locations.
Visually breathtaking, both informative and entertaining, this series offers a cinematographic journey to some of the world’s most beautiful natural landmarks.
LANDS OF THE EARTH - THE 52' COLLECTION [12x52’]
Exploring with wide open eyes
Today, exploring the world doesn’t have the same meaning as in the past. Indeed, very few corners of the planet remain unknown, although it would be wise for them to stay so.
With infinite passion and curiosity, the directors of these films brought back from their travels the discovery of small villages whose beauty had gone unnoticed, touching encounters and fascinating stories.
These modern explorations are done with wide-open eyes on foot, by train, or by boat.
LIFE AT THE EDGE 30’
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are among the most popular in the United States.
At Yellowstone, hot water gushing out from the earth and colorful microbes are said to signify primeval ecosystem. But the charm of the park also lies with the various animals living there, including the bison, as well as stunning scenery.
Meanwhile, Grand Teton National Park has been described as the most beautiful in the country.
LOVE IN THE CITY [4x52’]
Capital romancing
Our cities are made of stones, shaped by wars, emperors, or presidents, and designed for business, politics, or faith. But there might be another way to tell the story of our streets, buildings, and monuments.
Nowadays, lovers travel the world to share their love and thus create a new romantic topography of cities.
Our journeys show how love shapes the environment and what lovers need to know to prepare for the perfect romantic holiday in Paris, Mexico City, Rio, and New York.
MACAU FROM ABOVE 52’
East meets west
Discover in the most scenic way a unique place in Asia.
Macau might be tiny, but it has an incredibly rich cultural history which stretches from old European colonial heritage to Chinese modernity.
Displaying quaint Portuguese architecture, glittering casinos, and a futurist skyline, this one-of-a-kind destination, where east meets west, is revealed from a bird’s eye perspective.
MAMMA GIRAFFE 52’
A singular mother
The film tells the life of a young female giraffe from the birth of her first baby to the delivery, 20 months later, of a second one.
It is an opportunity to discover the everyday life of a giraffe in all its aspects between the two births: the moves, feeding, schedule, social organization, reproduction, vulnerability to predators, connection to the offspring, coexistence with other species, connection to the environment.
MANON BRUNET, BEHIND THE MASK 52’
The first French woman to become an Olympic sabre champion
Manon Apithy-Brunet won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first French woman to become an Olympic sabre champion.
To achieve this triumph, one needs preparation of the highest caliber, and this film follows her throughout the months leading up to her victory, particularly within the Cercle d’Escrime Orléanais, a true institution in the world of fencing, alongside Christian Bauer, the most decorated coach in the world.
Behind the mask is a hypersensitive woman whose daily life is a constant struggle to tame this flaw that sometimes becomes her strength.
MASTERS OF CHEESE 52’
An ancestral and authentic produce
For a long time, cheese has been an ancestral and authentic produce, demanding a real savoir-faire and a deep knowledge of pasture and cattle. Today however its production is industrialized, leading to a loss of taste.
From the Roquefort cellars to the Swiss mountain pastures, this film introduces us to die-hard farmers who hold this fine produce in their hearts. These passionate people devote their time to protecting local traditions and give us an insight into how they achieve the making of exceptional cheese.
MASTERS OF CHOCOLATE 52’
Artisans in search of rare beans
The Mayas and the Aztecs were the first to treasure the cocoa bean, which they believed possessed divine powers. Since then, chocolate has become a universal product and a source of gustative pleasure.
From the African archipelago of Sao Tome and Principe to the Peruvian edge of the Amazon Forest and Madagascar, this film follows artisans of premium chocolate on their quest for rare beans, which they will transform into divine delicacies.
A visually striking and mouth-watering journey.
MASTERS OF HONEY 52’
A universal ingredient
One of the oldest contributions from Nature to Mankind, honey is one of the few ingredients to be truly universal. It is part of the culinary heritage everywhere and can be found on the menus of the best chefs and on the shelves of local markets.
From Corsica and Provence to the Greek island of Ikaria and the eastern mountains of Kackar in Turkey, we meet passionate beekeepers extracting exceptional honey with unique taste and texture.
In this film, we visit incredible landscapes to discover the tasty world of the masters of honey.
MASTERS OF RICE 52’
A grain with many faces
Rice is one of the most widely consumed staple food. It may look like a deceptively simple grain but requires grueling work to grow, harvest, and process.
This film takes us on a rice journey deeply rooted in Asia where we discover local customs around this "common" grain: in Thailand, people massage their babies with rice milk; Japan produces wine from it to create the famous sake; in India, farmers grow the Navara, a very original variety with a unique taste and medicinal virtues.
MASTERS OF SAVOURS [16x52’]
The taste of Nature
Nature has provided humanity with edible plants that offer infinite tastes and sensations. Over the centuries, with patience and passion, Man has developed the know-how to transform them into exceptional food.
From tea to chocolate, rice, olive oil, or honey, this series offers a culinary exploration of the world to meet these men and women who have learned to magnify these gifts of Nature.
MASTERS OF TRUFFLE 52’
The secrets of the "black diamond"
The truffle has grown from scented mushrooms to the highly coveted "black diamond" in just a few years. Indeed, it has made a remarkable and unprecedented ascension into the world of luxury and haute cuisine.
France and Italy occupy a dominant position in the truffle market, where prices keep breaking records year after year. But other countries are emerging, such as Spain or, more surprisingly, Oregon in the USA.
This film takes us around the world to understand the secrets of this precious tuber.
MASTERS OF VANILLA 52’
The favorite spice of lovers of sweet things
It is one of the favorite spices of lovers of sweet things. Its evocative name is synonymous with subtle aromas.
However, it must be authentic because the vanilla can only be natural for purists, like pastry chefs or ice-cream makers. Unfortunately, the market has gone wild, and artificial flavor retailers are everywhere.
This film takes us on a journey from Madagascar's primary forests to the islands of Polynesia, where growers have one obsession: to magnify this green vine for the pleasure of our taste buds.
MATTHEW PERRY, THE ONE WHO LEFT WITHOUT A SMILE 52’
An actor who marked an entire generation
This film explores Matthew Perry's life and career, from his early years to his breakthrough as the unforgettable Chandler Bing in the Friends series.
With the help of numerous excerpts and archive footage, we retrace his film roles, his struggle with personal demons, particularly his addiction problems, and the challenges he overcame right up to his tragic end.
A poignant tribute to an actor who marked an entire generation.
MEKONG, MOTHER OF ALL RIVERS 52’
Life along the banks
The Mekong river runs over 5,000 km and across 6 countries: China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam where it ends with its famous delta.
For hundreds of years, it has provided shelter, food and all kind of natural resources to over 60 million people who lived in harmony with the generous mother of all rivers. However, with the rapid growth that South East Asia is experiencing, as witnessed by the ever increasing constructions and economic development projects, the fragile balance of communities living by and from its waters is at stake.
Facing a threat as well as an opportunity, the future of the Mekong lies in the diversity of the cultures and the beauty of its landscapes shaped both by the river and its inhabitants.
MEMOIRS OF AN ELEPHANT 52’
Reminiscing 60 years of adventures
This elephant is almost 60-year old, he is huge but weary. Like all the ancients, he now lives on his own accompanied by his many memories.
So many things has happened in his very long life. There were the joyful youth years, the struggle to hold his rank within the group before quitting it, the never ending migration because of the dry season, the joy of bathing to shrug off the tyranny of this big body which need feeding again and again.
This film is his story and his memories.
MIYABORI 52’
Carving Divinity
Miyabori is a traditional wood carving technique used in Japanese temples and shrines.
It’s an obscure and underrated form of art that has been offered a new lease on life thanks to long trained and skillful masters.
Elizabeth Tinsley, a specialist in Buddhist culture and former fellow at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is exploring landmarks as well as workshops of Miyabori master carvers to unveil this Japanese hidden treasure that might have inspired Hokusai’s Great Wave.
MOONS 52’
What are they hiding?
There are several hundred moons in the solar system.
In our never-ending search for extraterrestrial life, some of these stars could harbor the elements essential for the development of life.
MOTU HAKA 52’
The Marquesas Islands Arts Festival
The Marquesas Islands Arts Festival, Matavaa, is a time of intense celebration.
Each edition is an opportunity for the locals to unite with much fervor around their culture.
MUSTANG, THE HORSES KINGDOM 52’
A spectacular and ancestral migration
The Mustang region spans about 80 kilometers northeast of Nepal. Every year, villagers of this kingdom surrounded by mountains bring their horses south to escape the winter’s harshness.
We follow these men through this spectacular and ancestral migration, crossing remote and beautiful valleys, discovering old villages, and always with the majestic peaks of the Himalayas in the background.
NATURE SANCTUARIES [6x52’]
All is not lost
Some places on the planet still haven’t been spoiled by human activity.
Renowned for their natural beauty, they represent a heritage worth looking after for future generations.
NORTH KOREA VS USA, A NUCLEAR CHICKEN GAME 52’
The winning survival strategy of the Kims
In North Korea, the Kims’ communist dynasty has tried to become a nuclear power since the Cold War.
While it kept unrelentingly at its plan, the USA went through 13 Presidents, each with its own vision. This became the Kims' big advantage.
This film is the riveting account of a 60-year deception plan which reached its climax with Trump's historical acknowledgment of the North Korean regime.
ON THE TRAIL OF THE STORM 52’
Between lightning and thunder
The landscapes of the Pyrenees, one of Western Europe's wildest regions, fascinate photographer Maxime Daviron.
Specializing in high-altitude thunderstorms, he climbs to 3,300m and takes refuge in precarious shelters to capture the furtive connection between sky and earth.
A quest between lightning and thunder.
POLYNESIA, THE QUEST FOR ORIGINS 52’
The ancestry of the people of Tahiti
Where do the people from French Polynesia come from? South America, as the Kon-Tiki tried to prove? Alaska? Southeast Asia?
This mystery is compounded by another more recent one. How did the numerous Chinese come to play a critical role in the island's demography?
Through Teiva's quest, a young Polynesian dancer, and Kyle's, a Chinese boy in high school, this film is a fascinating ethnological study with a surprising result; even though everything seems to set them apart, they are cousins since their ancestors came at different times from... China!
REBIBBIA PRISON, PRISONERS ON STAGE 52’
Acting criminals
Rebibbia, Italy's largest high-security prison, houses convicts with lengthy jail terms.
Mafia members, criminals, and traffickers, most of them never entered a theatre. However, a performance hall, quite unusual in a prison facility, welcomes them three times a week to introduce them to this art.
A woman, Laura Andreini Salerno, convinced them to leave their cells for a unique experience: to put together a play they will perform in a few months in front of their fellow inmates and wardens.
RETRO ARCHITECTURE TOWNS [2x30’]
Quaint neighborhoods
Yokohama and Tokyo have always been business centers and trading bases since the early Meiji period.
Some neighborhoods have kept their historical architecture, making them testimonies of the time passing by, while subjected to the influence of modern western-style buildings.
SACRED PILGRIMAGE IN NEPAL 52’
Honoring Shiva
In Nepal, ancestral customs are the highlights of numerous religious festivals that attract huge crowds. They take place in magnificent temples where sadhus, monks who have renounced all material ties, officiate.
We follow Shivadas who treks along dizzyingly steep trails in the Langtang mountains for a spectacular pilgrimage.
His destination is the lake of Gosaikunda, at an altitude of 4,380m, to honor the god Shiva.
SAINT BRANDON, THE LOST ARCHIPELAGO 52’
The heavenly islets
The Saint Brandon archipelago, off the coast of Madagascar, is part of Mauritius Island. It’s a shoal of thirty tiny islets, some mostly sandbars.
This lost heaven accommodates only birds and about a dozen fishermen and is so remote that it only appears on a limited number of marine maps.
Saint Brandon is a magical and pristine place under threat, hosting unconventional inhabitants craving an authentic and timeless lifestyle.
SAVING SUMATRA'S BIG 4 52’
Threatened by human activity
Sumatra's priceless biodiversity is today threatened by human activity. Elephants, tigers, rhinos, and orangutans, all endemic to the island, are facing extinction.
How to share the land between humans and animals? Can they both be protected? Is there a chance to save these last big representatives of wildlife?
We follow a passionate naturalist, accompanied by elite squads and committed activists, to meet those who dedicate their lives to the animal cause in what remains one of the last natural paradises on earth.
SECRETS OF MATSU 52’
From military outpost to artistic haven
The Matsu Archipelago is Taiwan’s most exposed outpost, located at the southeastern tip of Fujian Province, mainland China. After years of living under martial law, the islands returned to a more normal life.
In 1997, British photographer Chris Stowers visited Matsu and witnessed these dramatic changes, turning this militarized region into an artistic center.
He is now back. With its picturesque villages and quaint customs, Matsu seems to have successfully achieved its transition.
SHUKLAPHANTA, THE OTHER WILD NEPAL 52’
A successful coexistence between man and animal
The Shuklaphanta Reserve is the first national park created in Nepal in 1973. This area is exceptional on many accounts, including its diverse landscapes and hundreds of animal species - 22 of which are critically endangered. It may look like a mix of Europe and Africa, yet we are indeed in the heart of Asia.
The reserve is a small paradise. Despite human pressure, it has managed to strive to offer wildlife a haven. However, the fragile cohabitation is a daily struggle for associations and park rangers who must raise awareness and educate the people about the advantages of co-existing with Nature.
If the nearby inhabitants’ quality of life improves, the need to plunder the forest will diminish, and the kingdom of Shuklaphanta can look forward to a bright future.
SPACE TOMORROW [6x52’]
The fabulous journey of a man passionate about the skies
When he took off to reach the International Space Station, the young French astronaut Thomas Pesquet became the new hero of a generation.
His exceptional destiny was probably the result of the epic stories he heard as a child: mythical conquests of Space, men walking on the moon and experiences defying the laws of gravity. But the astronaut of today is also a man of the future contemplating life in space or the first manned missions to Mars.
SPACE TOMORROW depicts the fabulous journey of a man passionate about the skies, the big adventures of the past and the challenges of tomorrow.
THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 52’
The 2020 race, a year like no other
The 24 hours of Le Mans, the mythical endurance race, usually occur in June. Due to the health crisis, the 2020 race was held in September without a public. This film follows the EDEC team in this unprecedented context.
Two cars broke down during qualifying and had to be repaired overnight, resulting in a one-lap penalty on the starting line. At the end of the first lap, they were in last place.
This was the start of an improbable comeback.
THE ANGEL'S LINE 42’
A highline to the Mont Saint Michel
Nathan Paulin is a slackliner with an impressive track record who has turned his passion into a profession.
Despite his apparent ease of walking on a 2cm wide strap, he’s always looking for new challenges.
For over a year, the camera follows his preparation for what will be, if he succeeds, his longest line: 2,200 m to the legendary Mont Saint-Michel.
THE BLUE CRAB, CHRONICLE OF AN INVASION 52’
The great troublemaker of the Mediterranean
The Callinectes sapidus has a blue carapace ringed with slightly orange spines and pincers powerful enough to break oysters.
This crab of American origin is now spreading all over the Mediterranean, ravaging the local crustacean and mollusk population and affecting the fish stocks.
From France to Sicily and from Tunisia to Catalunya, this invader has dramatically disturbed the local ecosystems with sometimes surprising consequences.
THE CAIMAN AND THE DOOMED SWAMP 52’
The dry season ordeal
The Pantanal, in Brazil, is the world's largest swampland; every year, without fail, it inflicts a frightful ordeal on its inhabitants. Indeed, the dry season shrinks it to drastic proportions, sending the local wildlife into a desperate race against the clock.
The animals must reach one of the few remaining humid areas, knowing there won't be enough room for everyone. For the numerous caimans, this comes down to a struggle for life.
This film follows one of them, a young male. Will he be able to find space in a safe zone and stay there until the rains come back, synonymous with survival and mating?
THE CHALLENGE OF BRIDGE MAINTENANCE 52’
Massive constructions under pressure
Even the most basic bridges are engineering challenges exposed to the elements (wind, rain, seawater...) that damage these massive constructions. Intensive road traffic is also a factor of additional constraints. A crack, even a microscopic one, or a rust point in the wrong place can have serious consequences.
To avoid the worst, bridges are subject to permanent controls and repairs using advanced techniques such as, for example, breaking concrete with high pressure water or cutting a cable so tight that it could unleash like a giant whip.
Maintenance specialists perform daily tasks that are not well known to the public in order to prevent tragedies.
THE CLAN OF THE BABY BABOON 52’
The young and the restless
This film tells the daily life of a baby baboon and its clan.
There are the boisterous teenagers, other moms with their babies and, most impressive of all, the Leader. And then they are those who covet its place accounting for why young males are constantly fighting to train.
Interactions within the clan are rich and incredibly complex. But, above all, the group is highly organized and united to address the challenges of everyday life: guarding against the leopards, finding food...
THE GENUINE DRIED TANGERINE PEEL [4x25’]
A small piece can arouse homesickness
This series introduces the intricate relationship between an icon of traditional ingredients and people from China or abroad.
From Xinhui to Paris, Hong Kong, the United States or Singapore, each episode explores a different theme: the merit of dried tangerine peel, the history of its production, its innovative use and the nostalgia it begets.
THE HERD 52’
There's a buffalo in every cow
With their clipped horns and tagged ears, cows are the ultimate portrayal of animal domestication. Yet, a closer look at their behavior reveals features reminiscent of their wild counterparts.
Shot over a year like a blue-chip documentary in the savannah, this surprising film shows us, day after day and season after season, that, in the end, taming has not erased the essence of the species.
THE IMMORTALS 52’
Living beings with superpowers
Living beings have a very variable lifespan; it can be centuries, years, or just a few days, but all eventually face extinction. Yet some animals defy both death and time. They are called tardigrade, lobster, and naked rattaupe and possess real superpowers that enable them to fight disease and aging.
In trying to unravel their mystery, a question arises: do they have the secret of eternal life?
THE INCREDIBLE AFRICAN WILDLIFE [9x52’]
Everything you always wanted to know about the savannah
Nowadays, images of African wildlife are familiar, yet audiences seem to never tire of them as they are always a source of wonder and bewilderment. Although one might think to have seen everything, there is still more to learn and discover.
This series covers some of the most filmed animals, yet its innovative and comprehensive approach to African fauna has attracted the most prestigious broadcasters worldwide.
THE KIM DYNASTY, A FAMILY AFFAIR [2x45’]
A winning survival strategy
It is a small country, barely the size of an American state, with 25 million inhabitants and an insignificant economy.
Yet, North Korea has become a nuclear military power to reckon with, and its ruling family has been incredibly successful at keeping a grip on the country when other dictatorships have vanished long ago.
Their favorite tools are to terrorize the population and blackmail the world. This is how one ensures the survival of the first communist dynasty in History—an ongoing winning strategy.
Also available as 90mns
THE KINGDOM OF MANASLU 52’
A natural gem between heaven and earth
In the heart of the Himalayas, the Nepalese region of Manaslu is a natural gem between heaven and earth.
Here, Man and Nature have existed since the dawn of time. Humans and animals have learned to adapt and survive under the most extreme conditions.
These valleys - still secluded not long ago – are opening to the outside world, and the local communities try, often successfully, to control these unavoidable mutations and maintain their traditional lifestyle while adjusting to modernity.
THE LUCKY ZEBRA 52’
Some fare better than others
In nature, there are the herbivores to whom nothing smiles right away (barely born already eaten) and others who fare better like THE LUCKY ZEBRA. How else to call this little male born in the dry season who, throughout his life, will enjoy a lucky star.
Confronted with drought, predators, competing males, he always manages to get by. Over the years, he has led without fail and damage the small harem he has patiently built.
But in the end, is it just luck or is this zebra just more cautious, skillful and smart than the others?
THE MASTER OF FORTRESSES 52’
Military superstructures
Vauban is probably the best military architect and engineer in History.
Endlessly copied around the world, his unique system of fortifications protected France from invasions, making Louis XIV the most powerful monarch of his time.
The Vauban system consisted of an iron belt of 180 fortresses scattered around the country, each rivaling in technical ingenuity.
THE MASTERS OF THE REICH [4x52’]
Making silent archives speak
This series gives a new life to silent archives.
It shed new light on WWII and the preceding years by revealing what the masters of the Reich and their acolytes were really saying to each other while being filmed, thinking no one could hear them.
Surprising or trivial, mundane or astonishing, their words now deciphered give a new perspective on these historical archives and get us closer to the harsh reality of these tragic days.
THE MEDITERRANEAN IS NOT DEAD 52’
The sea repairmen
"If we do nothing, in 20 years, the Mediterranean will be a dead sea". This sentence by Jacques Yves Cousteau in 1979 is still relevant today, and as is often the case, there is good and bad news.
The good news is that measures have been taken to ensure the Mediterranean does not die. The bad news is that more than 40 years have passed, and the newspapers are still headlining the same sentence.
But what is the reality? Is the battle lost in advance? What measures have been put in place?
THE OTHER FRENCH GASTRONOMY 52’
Northern France gastronomy
Close to the Belgian border, Northern France was better known for its earthy and basic country-style dishes than its culinary sophistication.
But things are changing, and Lille, the main city, is fast becoming a gastronomic destination with emerging talents.
This film unveils this transition from traditional cuisine to creative gastronomy steeped in the region’s roots and local products, showcasing dishes that deserve to be known.
THE OTTER, HEATING UP 52’
Adapting to climate change
After having almost disappeared, the otter has begun to reclaim rivers thanks to the ban on trapping, river clean-up measures, and the protection of its natural habitat.
But a new tragedy threatens its survival: global warming.
THE PATHS OF THE BAROQUE [1x55’] | [1x49’] | [1x41’] | [1x39’]
Torn between tradition and modernism
The rediscovery and interpretation of the Baroque repertoire (a musical genre that spans the 17th and first half of the 18th centuries) has been one of the most passionate and exciting debates of the past decades.
The movement began in the early 1950s with the advent of the LP and the creation of the Erato label and reached its peak in the 1970s with the heated debates between the proponents of the classical and symphonic tradition on the one hand and, on the other, the advocates of a return to the sources, to period instruments and tuning forks.
THE PEOPLES OF NORTH VIETNAM 52’
A mosaic of cultures
The far north of Vietnam is home to various small ethnic groups with different languages, lifestyles, and clothing styles. They often live in isolation in this magnificent mountainous region and try to keep their traditions alive by wearing splendid costumes that distinguish the groups.
Rehahn is a photographer who has settled in the country and opened a gallery where all his work is collected. He has made the diversity of traditional costumes his favorite subject.
Once again, he heads north on a colorful journey to document and bear witness to these remote ethnic groups.
THE REALM OF ANTS 52’
United to survive
In the garden of a country house, a colony of Rufibarbis ants wakes up after the winter.
In the six months from spring to autumn, it faces the age-old challenge of survival.
The hard workers, the dedicated soldiers, and the precious queen join forces to meet the demands of reproduction and to fight the dangers of theft, slavery, or flooding.
THE SCENE 52’
The best spots in the world of climbing
Moab, Utah. A desert town with massive sandstone towers where climbers test their limits.
Boulder, Colorado. The social hub of US climbing.
Innsbruck, Austria. The highest concentration of talent.
Catalunya, Spain. The sport climbing capital of the world.
This film is a fast-paced ride through the centers of the climbing universe.
THE SEA LEAGUE 52’
Patagonia's coastline and ocean protection
Former Patagonia CEO Kristin Tompkins shared with her late husband the dream of rewilding Chile and Argentina.
Thanks to their foundation and coordinated work with scientists and the native population, their mission to create a national park is taking a new dimension by extending its reach to Patagonia’s fjords and seashores.
THE SEA OF ITAMI JUN 52’
The architect of the elements
Itami Jun is a Japanese-born Korean architect.
In this film, he revisits the places he cherished, specifically the thoughtful and sensitive architectural works he designed.
His original and innovative approach has been revealed in the design of ensembles and by a meticulous choice of materials. Favoring wood, stone, and metal, he has revived the tradition of harmony with nature for a more humane architecture.
Also available as a 112'
THE SECRETS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN [3x52’]
A window into nature’s evolution
Because it is susceptible to the consequences of global warming, the Mediterranean Sea has recently become the focus of scientific attention.
What do we know about the mechanisms that regulate its ecosystems and biodiversity?
This series focuses on three areas where animal and plant species have adapted in surprising and unprecedented ways, giving researchers a window into nature’s evolution.
THE SILENT PANDEMIC 52’ or 90’
The resistance to antibiotics
The world is on the cusp of a major threat: bacteria are developing resistance to existing antibiotics faster than new ones are coming onto the market. An ever-widening gap is opening.
For the first time in recent history, we must accept that not all bacterial infections are treatable - with implications in all areas of medicine, from surgery to oncology.
The WHO has been using the term "silent pandemic" because antibiotic resistance is creeping, unnoticed in society, but with the potential to upend our health system.
THE SOLAR SYSTEM 52’
The genesis
This film is a journey through space and time to understand our origins.
It starts with the creation of our solar system 4.8 billion years ago, takes us through its changes and evolutions until today, and looks at its future.
THE TREE GODS IN THE LAND OF THE STONES 52’
Vehicles of myths
In the north of Togo, marking the border with the Sahel, a mountainous relief shelters the Kabyé Country.
Ancient volcanoes have left behind a landscape of stones and rocks that the Kabyé people have learned to tame over the centuries.
In this sparse vegetation, the trees have passed along all the myths and serve as intermediaries between men and the gods.
TOFUKUJI 25’
A Buddhist paradise
Built in 1236, the Tofukuji temple is the largest Zen temple of Japan with 19 statues of Buddha, the Sanmon Gate designated as National Treasure, 3 wooden bridges and nearly 2,000 maples trees.
The combination of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage makes it a Buddhist paradise through the magical changing of the seasons.
TOLLUND, THE ENIGMA OF THE SWAMP MUMMY 52’ or 110’
A rare face-to-face encounter with the past
It is a precious archaeological relic, an exceptional find, preserved in a Danish marsh for over 2,500 years. The Tollund Man is a natural mummy offering a rare face-to-face encounter with the past.
When we contemplate this sleeping face that has miraculously survived the centuries, a host of questions come to mind: Where did it come from? Who was he? How did he live? What was he doing here, in the peat, with a rope around his neck?
TRADITIONAL PERUVIAN MEDICINE 52’
An age-old medicine based on the relationship between man and nature
Traditional medicine continues to thrive at an altitude of 4,000 meters in the Huaraz region of Peru.
Thousand-year-old practices are perpetuated by women who gather plants in the mountains and shamans who perform treatments.
In sumptuous landscapes, from Huascaran, its highest peak, to the dizzying slopes of Machu Picchu, Andean cosmovision is explained through a gallery of fascinating and colorful characters.
WHEN WINE GOES NORTH 52’
The challenge of daring growers
Seeing vineyards in the North of France and above in Europe seems incongruous.
And yet, this film travels along this northern wine route from the Flanders to Sweden. This road has been in the making for several years now.
Climate change, consumer behavior, and the evolution of territories may have changed the map of wine growing forever.
WILD CARIBBEAN 52’
An environment built by winds, birds and waves
The Caribbean archipelago is a string of islands sheltering a bountiful nature.
With unwavering resilience, life took hold in these isolated environments transported by blowing winds, migrating birds, or washed ashore. Today, these islands offer one of the richest biodiversity in the world.
This film explores this mesmerizing yet fragile wild Caribbean and its exceptional ecosystems.
WILD NAMIBIA 52’
Nature and fauna both unique and fragile
In Southern Africa, Namibia stretches its wild coastline for over 1000 kilometers and contains vast and beautiful arid desert areas.
Stubbornly, life always finds its way, and against all odds, these austere conditions have not discouraged wildlife from thriving.
With its stunningly beautiful images, this film reveals the glorious spectacle of nature and fauna, both unique and fragile.
WILD TROPICAL AUSTRALIA 52’
Surviving plant and animal species from ancient times
Along Australia’s east coast, facing the Great Barrier Reef, lie vast wetlands occupied by rainforests, swamps, and mangroves.
More than any other region in the country, Queensland has exceptional biological diversity, with unique plant and animal species survivors of ancient times.
To enter these primary forests is to travel back in time to the earliest days of the island continent and tropical Australia’s origins.
WILD TUAMOTUS [3x52’]
One of the last untouched territories on the planet
In the tradition of great wildlife documentaries, we discover one of the last untouched territories on the planet, an archipelago of coral islands lost in the heart of the South Pacific: the Tuamotus.
This series offers a spectacular immersion into a unique ecosystem to highlight the beauty and complexity of this oasis.
It nestles one of the wealthiest underwater lives in the world, from small exotic fishes to giant ray mantas, sharks, and whales.
WITHOUT RIGHTS OR TITLES 52’
The people of the Lencois National Park in Brazil
In 1981, Brazil created the Lencois National Park in the state of Maranhão, which is home to an ecosystem unique in the world: pristine white sand dunes that wave for tens of kilometers, punctuated by lakes of fresh water and deserted beaches where turtles and birds take refuge.
Communities have lived here for more than 200 years, but the government wants them to leave because the country’s environmental law does not allow anyone to live in natural parks.
This film meets these inhabitants, sheltered in shacks without running water or electricity, who make ends meet with fishing and a little farming.
WORLD HERITAGE CANAL 52’
An architectural wonder and a technical prowess
In the 17th century, Louis XIV financed the digging of a canal connecting the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the second largest construction of his reign after the Palace of Versailles.
Using the latest technology of its time, the beautifully conceived Canal du Midi is among the oldest functioning canal in Europe and is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.
YURU CHARA CRAZE 26’
In Japan, every organization has a mascot
The craze for Japanese mascots has reached such a level that the country has now literally hundreds of these little characters. Every region, city, company, and even firefighters and the army, all have their mascots.
The economic stakes have become so high that a dedicated festival was created: the Yuru Chara Grand Prix. Over the years, the Yuru Chara, meaning mascots in Japanese, have become more than just marketing tools, they are now deeply rooted in society at large.
This film delves into this singular phenomenon.
ICELAND, A SANCTUARY FOR PUFFINS 52’
An endearing sea bird
With its exotic appearance and demeanor, sometimes affectionate, other times rowdy but often considered "comical", the puffin is a particularly endearing seabird.
A national emblem and a tourist attraction, its fate is nevertheless a matter of concern to Icelanders as couples have stopped breeding for a decade now.
Faced with this situation, a handful of enthusiasts mobilized to save the puffin.