Investigation & Social Issues
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2003 HEAT WAVE, A DEADLY SUMMER 52’
From exceptional to tragic
In August 2003, France experienced an exceptional heat wave, the longest ever recorded since the creation of meteorological records in 1873.
However, at that time, nobody really grasped what was happening.
From exceptional, the heat wave became tragic. In 2 weeks, 14,802 people passed away because of the heat, mostly elderly people dying alone at home or in hospitals, revealing their loneliness.
50 SHADES OF COUPLES 70’
Relationships at odds with conjugality
Over the last 40 years, the traditional model of what defines a couple has been turned upside down.
43% of French people admit to having had an affair. Some couples are reinventing relationships such as the so-called polyamorous, sex-friends, or open couples, which are completely at odds with conjugality.
Meanwhile, others can’t conceive of sharing their partner with someone else.
A BETTER FAST FOOD 52’
Speedy but tasty
In France now, the fast-food sector counts 34,000 outlets, 3 times the number 10 years ago.
Every day, millions visit these restaurants bypassing traditional ones due to shorter lunch breaks and attractive prices.
The industry turnover has doubled in 8 years. But in the country of gastronomy, a new type of restaurant is emerging, combining speed, taste, and healthy food.
A QUEST FOR GEMS 60’
Romancing the stones
Stones have always made people dream, even fantasize. They have even driven some crazy at times.
Three unusual gemologists, passionate about precious stones, travel around the world in search of the most beautiful ones.
They take us behind the scenes of one of the most cutthroat industries, from the mines of Asia to the most famous jewelers.
A SECOND LIFE FOR FOOD 52’
Fighting wastage
In France, 10 million tons of food are being squandered each year. To fight this unspeakable waste, regulations have been adopted. Since 2017, the law prohibits supermarkets to throw away unsold food and requires them to give or recycle it. Thus, obsolete products become a new business.
Stores must manage their past sell-by-date products and companies have positioned themselves in this new food recycling business.
What are the limitations of this promising market?
A STOLEN LIFE 52’
A huge child trafficking scandal in Spain
Over the span of 40 years, 200,000 to 300,000 babies have been stolen from their parents at birth to be sold to couples in search of children to adopt. These foster parents had to comply with ultra-catholic, conservative right-wing ideology.
This traffic was conducted by doctors and nuns with the help of nurses, lawyers, and officials.
The silence that covered these crimes broke, and tens of thousands of alleged victims are now seeking their natural mothers, children, brothers, or sisters.
A WOMAN'S WORLD [5x85’]
Iconic female figures in diverse cultures
How is the day of a businesswoman in Tunisia? What is the life of a mother in India like? And that of a Brazilian pensioner?
This series presents women with vastly different profiles.
Alongside our host Chékéba Hachémi, we meander the neighborhoods of Delhi, explore the magnificent landscapes of Tunisia, and tread the sand of the beaches of Rio to meet these women of the world who open their doors.
ABASTOS, MEXICO'S CARTELS PLAYGROUND 52’
A financial powerhouse and prey for the cartels
In Mexico City, the Abastos market is the largest fresh produce market in the world. Its 150,000 employees work there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The market is the country’s second-largest financial center behind the stock exchange, and as a result, it attracts great interest. Not least that of Mexico’s most violent gang, the Jalisco cartel, which is said to have made its way to the top management.
AF447 RIO-PARIS, WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? 70’
One of the deadliest plane crashes of all time
At 2:14 am on June 1st, 2009, Air France flight 447 crashed into the Atlantic killing all 288 passengers on board making it one of the deadliest plane crashes of all time.
To this day, the fatal course of events remains without explanation despite the technical reports, the investigation, or the recovery of flight recorders from the far bottom of the ocean.
What really happened? What about the human factor? Were the problems only technical? Can this accident happen again? To what extent are we safe when we board a plane?
AFRICA, THE BUSINESS OF FOOD [2x23’]
Profitable business solutions to an endemic problem
Africa has been confronted with major food shortages.
This series takes look at what can be done to counteract the fatality, including successful new cultures and practices that have been implemented to deal with the situation and allow families to feed themselves.
More surprisingly, these experiences have turned into solid and profitable businesses.
AGAINST ALL ODDS 52’
A different tsunami story
Northeastern Japan shelters a fragile treasure, oysters. This sanctuary has been almost wiped out by the tsunami which flooded 600 km of coastline, destroying numerous fishing ports.
This is the story of Shigeatsu Hatakeya, called the father of oysters, who has spent all his life trying to understand this extraordinarily complex shellfish. He made a discovery that might well change our vision of how nature works. This is also the story of a fantastic international solidarity move between oyster farmers following the disaster.
Oysters represent a millenary treasure that is still holding many secrets.
AGRO MAFIA IN ITALY 52’
The new criminal scourge
Italy is among the top 5 food exporters in the world thanks to tomatoes, olive oil, and mozzarella. These products are loved worldwide and generate substantial profits, which has not escaped the attention of the mafias.
The Camorra in Naples, Ndrangheta in Calabria, and Cosa Nostra in Sicily have infiltrated the agricultural sector. Indeed, much more than drugs, food is tomorrow’s business and carries fewer risks.
ALMOST FAMOUS [4x52’]
I want to break free
Within a social and cultural landscape considered to be largely conservative, some people are pushing the boundaries of what is generally considered acceptable and appropriate in polite Asian society.
These Asians are speaking their minds in unlikely or alternative forms of expression with the aim of breaking the codes and loosening up powerful social mores.
Now they are starting to get attention.
AMAZON'S RECKLESS AMBITIONS 39’
Simplicity, time saving and an endless catalog
Twenty years ago, it was just a small bookstore over the internet. Today, it is one of the largest online sales sites in the world.
Its assets are simplicity, time-saving, and an endless catalog.
Every year, the site wins over millions of consumers, individuals and even professionals, who benefit from its international reputation.
AMAZON, KING OF RETAIL, EMPEROR OF WASTE 36’
A practice of mass destruction
Amazon is a gigantic sale machine but, in its warehouses, a revolting mass destruction of new products also take place.
In one of its smallest sites in France, 293,000 products were discarded, almost all of them new, in just over 9 months this year. This is a widespread practice in all Amazon warehouses. Why is the American juggernaut sending all these new products to the dumpster?
This film goes behind the scenes to reveal one of e-commerce's best-kept secrets.
ASIA EXPOSED [16x23’]
The camera never lies
This series follows established photographers who are challenged to take on unusual and sometimes heart-wrenching topics, embarking on eye-opening quests to capture such magical or dramatic moments.
Nothing is off limits: plastic surgery, drug addiction, "third sex", teenage smoking, prostitution...
BANGKOK BITES 52’
Death lurks underground
Bangkok is a world metropolis. On the surface, the inhabitants of this tropical Manhattan teem furiously under the sun, but, unlike other big cities, below ground, in dark corners and the damp of the canals, death lurks. Millions of snakes and other venomous creatures wait for prey, ready to strike when disturbed.
In this film, we get to know these fascinating animals and try to understand why they bite, sting, and kill. It does not simply send shivers down our spine; it also shows us how each animal, in its own way, plays a part in the grand balance of the living world.
BATACLAN GENERATION, HOW DO THEY FACE UP THE TERROR? 20’
Hurt but resourceful
After the attacks of November 13, 2015, that killed 129, the shockwave spread throughout the whole Paris region.
This film is an encounter with young people, hurt but resourceful, who must learn to live with the threat of terrorism.
BEAUTIFUL MINDS [2x52’]
Understanding Asia best and brightest
What makes someone a genius? What's the definition of talent?
This unique series explores the genesis of geniuses in Asia, coinciding with the continent’s rapid growth in the global arena.
From Korea to India, Singapore to China, we examine to what extent the acts of nature and nurture play a role in the molding of the brightest and the factors that contribute to their incredible mastery in various fields such as sciences, sports, or arts.
BECOMING WOMAN 52’
The fight of a new life
Becoming a woman means, among other things, adopting a new voice, at the cost of long speech therapy sessions, but also a new wardrobe and a new walk.
Day after day, these people will have to tame their femininity to finally become who they have always been inside.
They have decided to free themselves from the gaze of others to fight the battle for a new life.
BEER, THE PRESSURE IS ON 52’
The success of local breweries
Beer is becoming increasingly popular, thanks to the explosion in locally produced craft beers, often made with organic cereals and the diversification of recipes.
In just a few years, France has become Europe's leading country in the number of breweries; huge beer bars are springing up, and specialized sections are appearing in supermarkets.
Hops are being grown all over the country, and fortunes are being made.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF A PALACE: THE BRISTOL 45’
An unparalleled service
Standing tall amongst the very few palaces in Paris is the Bristol.
It has 200 rooms and suites and a 3-star restaurant headed by chef Eric Fréchon. Its 600 employees offer an unparalleled service for customers willing to pay up to 24,000 euros per night.
BLACK CODE 90’
When states play Big Brother
This is a gripping account of how governments control and manipulate the internet to censor and monitor their citizens.
With stories from exiled Tibetan monks trying to circumvent China’s surveillance apparatus, Syrian citizens tortured for Facebook posts, Brazilian activists using social media to distribute alternative news, and Pakistani showing online violence against women, this film shows firsthand the high-stakes consequences that our unprecedented level of digital communication can produce.
As this battle for control of cyberspace is waged, our ideas of citizenship, privacy, and democracy are being challenged to the very core.
BLOODSHED ON THE RIVIERA, THE TERROR ATTACK IN NICE 54’
86 dead and 458 wounded
On July 14, 2016, at 10 pm, fireworks illuminate the city of Nice. Tens of thousands of onlookers came to watch the festivities on the Promenade des Anglais. The show is breathtaking, and the atmosphere is friendly. But it will not last.
A truck rams through the crowd, spreading terror and chaos. The attack leaves 86 dead and 458 wounded.
Four years later, through the accounts of direct witnesses and families of victims and thanks to a thorough investigation, this film looks back at the circumstances of the tragedy.
BORN POLYNESIANS 52’
The essence of the myth on Tahiti
“Vahine” means woman in Polynesian. But the word, associated with a myth forged by foreigners, has become almost embarrassing to use in Tahiti.
Even though Polynesian women are indeed beautiful and welcoming, they are more into substance than looks.
This film presents some of these women: dancers, writers, herbalists, and politicians. All of them play a key role in Polynesian society, especially in the preservation of its traditions and the integrity of its language and cultural identity.
BRAZIL, THE GREAT LEAP BACKWARDS 52’
The squandering of a democracy beacon
Following President Dilma Rousseff's impeachment, Brazil entered a time of great political instability. The members of Parliament who drove her out are often corrupt themselves and charged for that, sometimes even for murder.
Between democracy and government graft, this film explores the situation of a country where the incredibly powerful and partisan media seems to have confiscated the people’s voice.
Through Gregorio Duvivier, one of Brazil's most popular humorists and the spearhead of a new online digital resistance, we unearth the dream of a Brazil that could reinvent itself as a model for the whole continent.
BREATHE, YOGA SAVED MY LIFE 52’
A path to healing
After a risky back surgery, a man in his 40s ended up paralyzed. He was told that he will never be able to walk again. After years of suffering, he found a path to healing by practicing yoga.
This inner journey not only brings him back in touch with himself but also opens him to different people. In the farthest reaches of the world, he meets fascinating human beings that have also been saved thanks to yoga.
BUGS FOR BREAKFAST 52’
A solution to world hunger
Juab, a young farmer from Thailand, wants to start an insect farm.
Indeed, many countries consume crickets, spiders, cockroaches, ants, and many other species and the benefits of such eating habits are numerous. First, insects are plentiful, and using them as food could be a solution to world hunger. They also offer an environmental alternative to the increase in meat consumption which, as we know now, represents a real threat to the planet.
Last but not least, the nutritional value of insects is 3 to 4 times higher than that of meat or fish.
CAMEMBERT, A NATIONAL ROMANCE 52’
The rival of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum
Since its invention in the 18th century by a small farmer, the camembert has become a French myth.
This film traces the cheese's journey from its humble beginnings in the village of Camembert to the international fame it enjoys today, to the point where it rivals the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum.
CHILD LABOR IN BOLIVIA, THE BROKEN TABOO 52’
A scandal or a necessity?
Nowadays in Bolivia, children as young as 10 years old are legally at work. They can be seen everywhere.
If this regulation outrages international organizations, the children themselves, and their union that led the campaign in favor of lowering the legal working age, welcomed it.
This law reopens the debate on child labor. Should it be banned, thus denying a country’s social reality? Should it be acknowledged to provide young workers with some kind of protection? Will the Bolivian example become a source of inspiration for other countries?
CHILDREN SLEEPING ON THE STREETS 52’
Emergencies without answers
The economic situation in France has pushed many modest families into poverty. Nearly 3,000 children, 700 of them under the age of three, sleep rough with their parents.
In the Paris region alone, hundreds of requests for homeless shelter go unanswered.
Why are these emergencies still unanswered?
CHILDREN, NO THANKS! 52’
A deconstruction of triumphant motherhood
Since high school, director Thérèse Shechter has known she didn't want to have children. Supported by her family, she nonetheless wonders how one lives with this choice in a world where motherhood is sanctified.
She reviews decades of natality promotion, witch-hunts, and sterilization refused or forced based on skin color.
She also gives a voice to many "child-free" women, who take pleasure in deconstructing the discourse of triumphant motherhood.
CHINA CLOSE-UP [12x26’]
Striving. Living. Loving.
China is steeped in history, tradition, and culture but with a population of over a billion people, it is also a land where countless personal tales unfold every day.
This series takes an intimate look at stories of love, life, and longing providing a riveting insight into the daily reality of the country's inhabitants.
CHOCOLATE IS THE NEW BLACK GOLD 52’
A guilty pleasure hard to resist
As a Christmas gift, a night craving, or a mood booster, chocolate is a man’s best friend. It is a guilty pleasure hard to resist.
Chocolate is now flooding Asian countries, and these millions of new consumers are raising an issue no one had envisioned: a cocoa shortage, the main ingredient of chocolate products, is looming. It is about to become a scarce commodity. Inevitably, the chocolate price is rocketing, doubling within a year.
From the Ivory Coast plantations to trading rooms, we investigate the cocoa industry and tried to unravel this new black gold mystery.
CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK 52’
Dressed up like in a fairy tale
In New York, the range of activities and visits is not only infinite but spectacular.
But if one has to choose a specific period to go there, none beats Christmas, when the city dresses up like in a fairy tale.
CHRISTMAS MAGIC IN LONDON 45’
As long as it shines
Every December, Christmas madness takes hold of London.
The lights are everywhere, from Oxford Circus to Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden to Hyde Park.
There's something for every taste and style as long as it shines.
CHRISTMAS, THE MASTERS OF ILLUMINATION 52’
Thousands of lights to dazzle passers-by
When Christmas arrives, cities go all out to dazzle passers-by. It's a race to see who can do the best job with their illuminations.
From New York to Moscow or Paris, a French company dominates this market.
CLIMATE, WHAT HAS CHANGED [2x52’]
Global warming on the field
Climate change is already in action, as evidenced by the disappearing islands and receding shores.
Blind journalist Sophie Massieu sets out to explore the French coasts and inlands to assess the consequences of global warming and meet those who are suffering its consequences.
COVID CENTURY 90’
Preparing for the next pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every country and will continue to shape global politics and our daily lives for the foreseeable future.
Scientists even speculate that this could be the first in a series of new viral pandemics for which humanity must prepare.
This film looks at how to strengthen international coordination to better cope with the next such scourge.
COVID-19, THE ASIAN WAY 52’
A message of hope
Regarding the Covid 19 virus, Asia is both the problem and the solution. The problem stems from the Chinese consumption of wild animals, the seedbed to most of the recent epidemics. The solution thanks to civic-mindedness and flawless organization - even if the governments can be heavy-handed. These have enabled the Asian countries to weather the worst part of this storm.
This film reveals the upheavals and measures that have helped curb the epidemic: total seclusion in China; the massive use of technology in South Korea; national solidarity In Taiwan; the effectiveness of sanitary measures in Japan.
These 4 Asian countries are delivering an important message of hope. They may have suffered from the epidemic, but they are showing that there is a way out of this health crisis.
CRILLON, THE REVIVAL OF A PARISIAN PALACE 48’
A complete overhaul to offer the ultimate in luxury
On the Place de la Concorde in Paris, the Crillon is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. The palace celebrates French civility and welcomes superstars such as Madonna or Mick Jagger.
Closed for 4 years for a complete overhaul, the establishment had lost ground to other Parisian palaces.
To return to the forefront, the Crillon 400 employees are working hard to make it a home away from home for its very demanding customers.
Also available as a 93'
CRUISES, THE HIDDEN FACE 55’
An expensive reality
For many, a trip on a cruise ship means high living and unforgettable holidays.
But the reality can be somehow disappointing.
This lucrative business, which sometimes costs passengers more than expected, is also seriously damaging the environment.
DAESH FINANCING SYSTEM 56’
The multinational of terrorism
Led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Daesh is the wealthiest and most powerful terrorist organization in the world with a fortune estimated at $2 billion.
In addition to exploiting oil fields and extorting taxes of all kinds, Daesh exports cotton to its Turkish neighbor on a massive scale at knock-down prices.
An exclusive investigation on Daesh's underground economy.
DEATH AND THE SOLDIER 52’
The ultimate sacrifice
What is death to a soldier? Why is he willing to sacrifice his life? How can one prepare to die or to kill? How do newly enlisted men experience their first battles?
This film is not about the merits of that profession or a military or anti-militarist manifesto. It’s an attempt to penetrate the psyche of soldiers confronted with the idea of death. Their own, that of their comrades as well as their foes.
DOES PRICE HAVE GENDER? 52’
The gender marketing
Pink for girls and blue for boys. These color codes have always defined consumers by sex. However, a recent study has revealed that not only do manufacturers differentiate products by their customers’ gender, but they also charge different prices.
The media are taken by storm, social networks are buzzing, and already several products are singled out: razors, toys, cosmetics, dry-cleaning... Suddenly, the expression "pink tax" is everywhere.
This film investigates the strategies of "gender marketing".
EARTH ON EDGE [38x52’]
The grim realities of climate change
This series talks about countries facing climate change.
People in Madagascar, Mexico, or Kenya suffer from hurricanes, water floods, and desertification.
Each film takes us to a different country facing its climate challenge.
EATING LIKE A POPE 52’
Gastronomy in the Vatican
What do popes eat? How do people eat in the Vatican?
From Eve’s apple to the miracles, food has always had a special place among Roman Catholics.
This film opens the lid on a little-known world: the gastronomy of the Vatican.
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS 52’
Everyday poisons
Toothpaste, nail polish, hair dye, fruits and vegetables, vacuum cleaners, curtains... All these everyday products carry harmful chemical pollutants.
Pesticides, benzophenone, triphenyl phosphate. These substances with barbaric names are endocrine disruptors, they affect our hormonal system and that of our children.
These pollutants are thought to cause birth defects and infertility problems. However, they are found everywhere.
FACTORY TOWNS [2x45’]
God created the world, and the rest was "Made in China"
Workers were once at the vanguard of the Chinese socialist revolution. Today, they are employed to generate private profits, submitted to state policies, and molded to fit the needs of the market economy.
Behind this new proletariat lie moving human stories.
FASHION WEEK UNDER THE EIFFEL TOWER 42’
A celebration of women
Every year, L'Oréal Paris organizes a fashion show on the forecourt of the Eiffel Tower, open to all, to celebrate women's emancipation, inclusiveness, and sisterhood.
FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT 52’
Security in the hot seat
Flying is considered the safest form of transportation, but do companies really take all necessary precautions to ensure flight safety?
From the USA to Burkina Faso, through France, Spain, Germany, and Italy, this film investigates the disasters which have raised questions about the airline industry.
FILET OH! FISH 54’
Food from troubled waters
Everyone agrees that fish is healthy. In 40 years, global consumption has doubled. Every year, the market needs to find more fish and new production methods.
Where does the fish in our sushi come from?
How is it fed?
In what water does it live?
A dramatic investigation into so-called "healthy" eating.
FINANCING TERROR 60’
An unprecedented weapon: money
In the aftermath of 9/11, an unprecedented weapon has been used to “starve terrorism”: financial warfare.
Initial successes were followed by setbacks with the insurrection in Iraq and the fiasco of the Syrian war, rooted in inconsistent foreign policies. Some states are financing terrorism while others face tough choices between political and economic pressure.
Treasons, shaky alliances, lies by omission… In this fight, no holds are barred.
FIRE ISLAND 52’
A gay haven
Fire Island is a tiny island just over 2 hours from New York. It is a place of privacy, protected from prying eyes, and a haven for the LGBT community.
In the summer, it is an island of contrasts, with partygoers running amok and the temperature rising quickly in pick-up areas.
But Fire Island can’t be summarized as a place of unbridled sexuality. A red-hot real estate market has attracted millionaires from the community who gather every year to raise funding for the LGBT cause at a time when no right can be taken for granted.
FOOD BUSINESS INVESTIGATIONS [11x52’]
The reality behind the most popular staples
Mozzarella, smoked salmon, honey, French fries, and Parmigiano have all become staple foods found on tables worldwide.
But how did they become so popular?
They developed into huge businesses that were sometimes affected by dubious practices.
These investigations tell you all, from the recipes of their triumphs to some much less appetizing aspects of their success stories.
FOOTBALL AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE, A TIME BOMB 52’
Damning testimonies
An exclusive, never-before-seen investigation into the flaws in a system that allows sexual predators to be around young sportsmen and women with complete impunity.
With testimonies from child victims, their parents, and pedophiles.
FORTUNES FROM FUN [8x22’]
From vision to fruition
"Fun" (or, more loosely, "happiness") is like a commodity, intangible though it may be.
However, it can lead to successful business stories by making it the keystone of a product, an experience, or a brand.
This series goes behind the scenes to uncover the vision, challenges, and "eureka moments" that define a company’s path to fortune, peeking inside the studios, labs, meeting rooms, launches, and other events to find out how ideas are shaped, and products conceptualized from an original personal passion.
GARD DU NORD 52’
GARLIC, A SMELLY BUSINESS 52’
The most widely used condiment in kitchens around the world
Every summer, on the English Isle of Wight, garlic brings together more than 20,000 enthusiasts.
This condiment, one of the most used in kitchens around the world, has been known for centuries which does not prevent French producers from fiercely competing against Spain and China, the undisputed leader with more than 80% of world production. There, garlic is a juicy business and a particularly good financial investment, it is also considered a medicine.
GAWAI ANTU 72’ or 52’
The festival of ghosts
In Borneo, an ancient tribal community works to retain its identity and traditions by calling back the dead, thereby reasserting the orderly relationship between their world and the surrounding jungle.
Known as Gawai Antu, “the festival of the ghosts”, this ritual is so complex and powerful that most will experience it only once in a lifetime.
Also available as a 52mns
GHB, SATURDAY NIGHT FEAR 30’
The date-rape drug
Panic is reaching the nightclubs. Mysterious injections have raised fears that GHB, the notorious date rape drug that appeared in the 1990s, is making a comeback. Victims rendered unconscious remember nothing.
How to protect oneself and find the culprits when the drug disappears from the bloodstream in a few hours?
This drug is also used at parties where some people seek its "coma" effect.
HELLO, DICTATOR 52’
Orbán, the EU and the rule of law
Renowned historians agree: Hungary is no longer a democracy, and the European Union cannot stop this development. Worse, it seems that EU money is allowing Viktor Orbán's government to strengthen its grip on the country by implementing cronyism using EU funds.
How can the EU uphold the rule of law in Hungary and prevent the advent of a dictatorship within its borders?
The legislative tools are currently inadequate and, as the disbursement of the EU funds linked to the recovery plan looms, there is a pressing need for an answer.
HERITAGE HEROES [6x24’]
Revamping historical neighborhoods
Whether restoring ancestral homes in China, revitalizing a derelict railway line in New York, or renovating colonial seafront buildings in Zanzibar, this series scours the world for the people and organizations responsible for rescuing, safeguarding, and reviving our built heritage.
Several exceptional characters from all continents reveal how urban preservation transcends national borders and leads to positive effects.
Indeed, such endeavors can not only contribute to a greater sense of cultural identity and well-being but also foster trade by creating jobs and attracting tourists.
HIT AND RUN ON THE MOTORWAY: THE STRANGE DEATH OF ANTHONY MURONI 52’
An unusual obstacle on the road
On March 7, 2020, at around 2.30 am, a motorist raised the alarm: there was an obstacle on the road, and he had been unable to avoid it.
He seemed unaware that he had driven over the body of Anthony Muroni.
HITLER'S MEIN KAMPF, A DANGEROUS BOOK 52’
Why do the author's thoughts remain so fascinating?
The State of Bavaria prohibited MEIN KAMPF at the end of World War II.
In 2016, 70 years after the death of his author, the book entered the public domain.
Several questions arise. Why does the book remain so dangerous? Why do Hitler’s thoughts remain so fascinating? In today’s world, is it wise to reprint MEIN KAMPF?
HONEY WAR 52’
A dubious origin
The bees are a dying species yet in France, 45,000 tons of honey are consumed each year. Beekeepers produce only 10,000 tons, three times less than 30 years ago. Where do the other 35,000 tons come from? It is difficult to know because indications of their origin are scarce.
Half of the jars sold are said to come from much further afield and, more importantly, some honey does not come from hives.
In China, industrialists are making fake honey.
HOPEFUL EARTH [8x52’]
Tomorrow energies
This series travels around the world to meet the people who create the energies of tomorrow through unusual ideas.
An extraordinary journey in 8 different countries to unearth imaginative solutions to the present energy and environmental issues.
HOW FRENCH WOMEN LIKE IT 52’ or 100’
With or without you
A liberating, entertaining, and informative road movie about women's pleasure and desire: a sex odyssey told by women, commented on by pundits, and carried out by a 100% female team.
This film presents a playful and surprising overview of women's sexuality. Can the subject be discussed openly with them today?
To find out, we met them with one question: what do women do in bed?
Also available as a 100mns
I LOVE MY BAG 52’
An iconic object
Dangling on women’s arms, ubiquitous in magazines and on catwalks, the handbag has come to define elegance. It also reflects the personality of its owner through what it holds and hides.
Through encounters with anonymous people or celebrities, this film attempts to pierce the souls of all those who loudly proclaim, "I love my bag".
It also tells how, over the centuries, the handbag has become this iconic object arousing an unreasonable, even irresistible, desire.
INSIDE [2x52’]
The jail system
Pierre Botton, a former famous businessman and inmate, tells us all about the French jail system.
He has made it his mission to improve prison conditions.
INSIDE CHINESE FOOTBALL 52’
The soccer business sees red
Chinese soccer is in a pitiful state, much to the dismay of its managers and fans. However, the means are there, and the clubs spend lavishly on foreign players and coaches. So why can’t the country achieve success in this sport as it has in many other fields?
To answer this riddle, we must immerse ourselves in the strange, even surreal world of football in China.
This film, with a slightly provocative tone, aims to go further than a strict sports analysis; it allows us to understand that in China, soccer, entertainment, and politics are quite intertwined.
INSIDE IKEA 48’
A most secretive business
Thanks to its low prices, the Swedish company IKEA has become the leading furniture retailer. Every year, 680 million people around the world shop there. But the company is also one of the most secretive.
This film reveals its inner working, from the manufacturing plants to the stores and the top-secret design department. It explains where the 4,000 new products that arrive every year come from, the brand strategy to sell ever more, the positioning of the products, the controlled customers’ pathway, and the skillfully highlighted promotions.
Also available as a 80'
INSIDE ISLAM [13x52’]
Understanding 1.6 billion people
Islam is very much in the zeitgeist and the center of attention the world over. Yet, this is a religion that many barely know.
INSIDE ISLAM provides an opportunity to better understand this religion though extensive journeys to 15 Islamic countries. The series addresses questions such as what does the word “Koran” mean, who was Allah, how people live their faith in different places, what’s their cultural heritage and how it spread across continents.
We explore various faces of Islam, which enable us to take a new look at one of the oldest and widely practiced religion on earth.
INSIDE MARINELAND 52’
Diving backstage alongside the stars
This film dives backstage alongside dolphins, killer whales, and polar bears to discover how they prepare for the famous water ballets that fascinate so many families.
Besides the animals, the most important characters of the Marineland are the keepers who know these mammals very well and have a unique relationship with them.
We also share the first steps of those who want to join this profession. Success in their first performances is paramount if one hopes to be selected.
INSIDE VATICAN 110’
The Pope and his world
Pope Francis was elected on March 13, 2013, and right away cameras followed the new pontiff around the Vatican.
For several months, television crews shared the daily life of the men and women, religious or lay, who work in the service of the pope and the Vatican City.
It also allowed privileged access to the masterpieces of the greatest artists and to visit the majestic St Peter's Basilica in Rome, where Catholics from all over the world congregate.
INSTANT BADASS 52’
From the street to the cage
Away from the postcard image of Bangkok exists a world of violence and social antagonism.
Jakkrapong created the first Street Fight club in the city, providing a space for anyone to come and experience fighting. Operating on the fringe of society, and considered by most to be thugs, these young men meet to confront each other. Not for money or glory, but just to feel alive.
These are men that ultimately want to build, in their own way, a social bond within a hostile society.
ITALIAN-STYLE SCAMS 52’
Massive food product deceptions
Every year, exports bring in almost 45 billion euros for Italy.
But the country is actually missing out on a substantial fortune, as it could earn up to three times as much if it did not face the scourge of counterfeits.
A study has pointed out increasingly massive food product deceptions. This market alone is estimated at 100 billion euros.
JEAN-LUC MELENCHON 52’
A controversial political figure
Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a major French leftist political figure often decried in the media for his outrageous positions.
From the strategy behind his presidential campaign to the background of major events and the meetings with protesting workers all over the country, this is the unexpected portrait of a major politician.
KAMLAHARI, THE STOLEN CHILDHOOD OF NEPAL 52’
Sold as modern-day slaves by their own families
In the Teraï region of Nepal, many young girls confront a harrowing destiny: they are sold off as modern-day slaves by their own families.
These girls, called "Kamlahari", are deprived of their childhood, kindred, and education and doomed by ancient traditions to be exploited as cheap labor in rich households.
Urmila Chaudari has made it her mission to raise awareness of this plight and give these girls, some as young as 5, access to school and security.
KIDZANIA 13’
The future workers' amusement park
Kidzania is an unusual amusement park in Tokyo. Kids come here to experience what an adult working day is like by trying the job of their dreams. At hand, they have a real plane cabin, a full-size TV studio, or firemen trucks. Everything is highly realistic.
But thanks to sponsors, Kidzania also offers much less glamorous positions that the children must experiment such as fast-food waiter or delivery man.
And after a full and exhausting day at “work”, there is one last mandatory place to stop by: the job center.
LEGO: THE GOLDEN BRICKS 52’
The world's most famous toy empire
Every hour, more than 7 million bricks and figurines are sold under the Lego name, the most famous toy brand in the world.
80 years after its creation, the company is doing better than ever and has become a world leader.
This film takes us behind the scenes of this empire: the historic headquarters in Denmark, the surprising community of passionate builders, and the stores that generate huge sales.
LINO'S DREAM 52’
A refuge for the disabled
The little village Baracé, with a population of 500, harbors “la Maison Perce-Neige”, a home to 31 disabled people.
It owes its existence to Lino Ventura, the father of a mentally disabled child and a major movie star of the 60’s.
At the height of his fame, the actor was committed to defending the rights of the disabled.
LIVING WITH PTSD 52’
An invisible disease
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or war sickness, is now recognized as an injury in its own right, even if it remains an abstract and invisible disease.
Through the testimonies of the wounded and their families, this film retraces soldiers' inner struggles upon their return from war zones.
With the help of an army program, they try to overcome their difficulties to restart a family and civilian life and build the possibility of a peaceful future.
LIVING WITH TOURETTE’S [18x60’]
A debilitating and socially isolating disease
Around 1 in 300 people are born with the genetic predisposition to developing Tourette syndrome. Some will only have mild tics that ease as they get older. But others will have massive tics (including swearing, spitting, and hitting themselves) that are debilitating and will get worse as they age.
This heart-warming series follows five young people with this affliction as they try to make their way in a world that would rather see them hidden away.
They face bullying and ridicule, loneliness, depression, and self-harm. Yet, most are intelligent, creative people who need understanding and tolerance from the wider community.
LOVE AND SEX IN ISRAEL 52’
A torn youth
The Promised Land is a recent state where religion and institutions are intertwined while mores and modernity clash.
In a country swept by conflicts since its creation, where carelessness and patriotism coexist, the youth torn between thousand-year-old traditions and Western influences must find its own way.
LOVE AND SEX IN THE MAGHREB 60’
A generation gap
In the Maghreb, traditions and laws forbid relationships outside marriage, a social norm that seems frozen in the past.
However, the reality is very different as young people flirt, date and have sex.
Love and sexuality are lived in secret, revealing a growing generation gap.
LOVE RUINS LIFE 40’
Painful ordeals
Relationships have always faced painful challenges.
This film explores the causes of break-ups and the quest for personal reconstruction. It takes us on an emotional journey to the heart of the stories of those who have seen their love crumble and who cling to the hope of starting over.
LOW COST FLIGHT, IS IT ALWAYS A GOOD DEAL? 30’
The ticket is only the first expense
Low-cost airlines are opening more routes. It is now possible to make a round trip between France and New York for less than 400€.
To ensure their margins, these companies charge for almost every service: hold luggage, but also cabin luggage, meals on board, and, during the flight, the staff is encouraged to offer other products.
LUXURY IN THE HEART OF THE VINEYARDS 42’
A palace in the Champagne region
This film takes us on a tour of a unique 5-star hotel.
Nestling in the middle of the vineyards in the Champagne region of France, the Royal Champagne is trying to outshine the Parisian palaces with its panoramic views, Michelin-starred restaurant, and 1,500m2 spa.
With arguments like these, this luxury establishment is fully booked almost all year round.
MAMADOU, THE MAGIC HEALER 52’
The chiropractor with thousands of patients
Born in a small African village, Mamadou N'Diaye settled in the small town of Roubaix, in the North of France, in the 1930s where he became a local figure.
Mamadou started as a boxer and then became a famous chiropractor. In his office in a working-class neighborhood, he treated thousands of patients, including many Belgians who did not hesitate to cross the border to be treated.
He left behind 2 daughters whom he did not acknowledge and who are now trying to understand their own history through the testimonies of those who knew him.
MASTERS OF THE MIND 50’
Reflecting on a world losing boundaries and meaning
Dharamsala is home to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of 7 million Tibetans.
Around him live hundreds of monks and numerous great masters who dedicate their lives to study, prayer, and meditation. They are the Masters of the Spirits.
This film invites us to reflect upon a universal philosophy that is making its way into a world agitated by the loss of boundaries and meaning.
MIGRANTS 52’
From misery to disenchantment
Five young Afghans decide to take a shot at a better life and migrate to Europe, more specifically Paris their dream destination. Then begins a two-year, 12,000 km, journey, across 6 borders and full of first times: the ocean, girls in mini-skirts, bars, and skyscrapers. What they only saw on TV is suddenly becoming real.
It will be 2 years of hope and misery, successes, and failures but always in clandestinity. In the end, only two of them reach Europe while the others are sent back to their Afghan fate. However, for all begins a time of disenchantment.
This striking film puts faces on the human tragedy currently submerging Europe.
MIRACLE MOLECULE, CHRONOLOGY OF A HOPE 52’
A suppository against Covid
March 2020. As soon as the word "pandemic" is officially out, a task force is set up at the Pasteur Institute in France. Researchers, virologists, biologists, and pharmacists get together to find a cure for Covid-19.
They give themselves two months to identify among the 2,000 active ingredients contained in their chemical library the one capable of inhibiting the multiplication of SARS-Cov-2. By May 2020, they identify clofoctol. Marketed in the form of suppositories since the 1970s and sold at an extremely low price, this antibiotic is prescribed to treat bacterial infections of the respiratory tract.
An incredible obstacle course begins.
MISSIONS OF HOPE [7x52’]
Change actors
From Asia to Latin America, this series takes us around the world to encounter actors committed to sustainable development through active associations or innovative ideas.
Meeting these unique characters allows us to experience their lifestyle and understand what drives them daily in their quest to make a difference.
MONEY IN A DIFFERENT WAY 52’
The emergence of local currencies
Aside from the known financial instruments, new approaches to money and the local economy offer a different way of thinking about finance.
Local currencies, for example, have sprung up all over France in the form of local exchange systems. There are more than six hundred of them in existence.
Some banks choose to support these initiatives, which originated in the world of culture and the social economy.
MOTHER CROCODILE 52’
Pets like no other
Retired nurse Vicki Lowing lives in a cozy house on the outskirts of Melbourne together with her five rescued pet crocodiles. They are her closest companions, her dearest friends, with her favorite, Johnnie, even occasionally sharing her bed at night.
Thanks to her patience and perseverance, Vicki has peacefully cohabited with these prehistoric predators for over 20 years.
Now, the government department in charge of wildlife wants her to get rid of her crocodile friends, but she will stop at nothing to keep them.
MOULINEX 52’
The story of a worldwide household name
Founded in 1932 by a self-taught genius, Jean Mantelet, the Moulinex company became a part of 20th-century French industrial history, creating a multitude of objects that became classics, until it went bankrupt in 2001.
This film unfolds this story, between greatness and downfall, following in parallel the story of the founder's life and that of a brand that became a worldwide household name.
MOVIE STAR ANIMALS 55’
From training to shooting
The dogs Rin-tin-tin-tin, Lassie and Beethoven, killer whale Willy, piglet Babe, and many other animals have long since joined the pantheon of great movie stars.
Behind these leading animals are men and women who are driven by passion, determination, and patience.
This film shows the work of these lovers of animals and cinema, from the first training sessions to the shootings.
MOZZARELLA, THE NEW WHITE GOLD 52’
The most popular cheese in the world
Mozzarella is now the most popular cheese in the world. The little white balls are flooding the market.
Mozzarella is such a lucrative business in Italy that the mafia took it over. Major producers are suspected of having links to the mob. This move has generated several health warnings, such as the dioxin scandal in years past.
These controversies have opened a space for new Italian cheeses such as burrata. This marketing counterattack wants to make people forget Mozzarella's bad reputation.
NAKED CITY 52’
Nudists vs libertines
The nudist village of Cap d'Agde has a sulfurous reputation. Infamous for being the world's largest clothing-optional beach resort, it is often depicted as the place of all excesses, the international rendez-vous for swingers.
Beyond the nudist/libertine divide, this is the fascinating story of a unique spot that has been at the vanguard of the evolution of mores since the late sixties.
Despite all the contradictions and controversies, there is however one thing everyone agrees upon in Cap d'Agde: freedom is paramount.
NATIVE WARS [13x26’]
The battle of Maori people to defend their customary rights
This series is about the tribulations of New Zealand’s Maori dedicated to following in their ancestor’s footsteps by taking physical action to protect their land, mountains, and rivers, and, ultimately, their culture and identity before all is lost.
Kiri Danielle is on a personal mission to clean up dumped rubbish in her hometown of Rotorua and shame the perpetrators by dumping it back on their doorsteps. Phil is prepared to be jailed to clean up the country’s dirtiest lake. Cousins Teina and Wiremu put their lives on the line in rough seas to chain up a stolen national tourist attraction that is rightfully theirs. Rewi is on a crusade to not let native Maori cuisine slide into oblivion against a modern addiction to fast food.
These guardians will stop at nothing to make their world safer, cleaner, greener, and more equitable for the coming generations.
NEW ROMANCE, LOVE, SEX AND GIRL POWER 52’
A caricatured and sexist literary genre
Contemporary intrigue, love, and, above all, sex that's the promise of "new romance". This new literary genre, written by women and featuring modern heroines and female pleasure, has been a big hit in recent years.
Halfway between "mom porn" and "chick lit", these works are often caricatural and sexist, with sex scenes conveying unrealistic and archaic representations.
How has such literature exploded in the #Metoo era? Where does the worldwide craze for these spicy romances come from, and what does it say about our society?
NEW WORLD WITHOUT STRANGERS [10x23’]
The new collaborative economy explained by Henry Golding (''Crazy Rich Asians'')
The concept of sharing within communities isn’t something new. In fact, it goes back thousands of years, to a time when people didn’t really have much. Nowadays, this notion has made a comeback but with a twist. Welcome to the age of the "collaborative economy”.
It’s an ecosystem built upon the partaking of human and physical resources. At its heart is a marketplace for the exchange of ideas, experiences, used goods, underutilized spaces, and so on. It's a far-reaching movement that impacts human relationships, notions of ownership, and, more importantly, our lives in general.
Our host, Henry Golding, embarks on a journey across 3 Asian countries to discover how the collaborative economy has transformed the way people shop, meet, eat, sleep, and even relate to one another.
NIGHT AT THE WAX MUSEUM 52’
The French "Madame Tussaud"
The Grévin Museum opened in 1882 in Paris. It displays some 250 characters from across the world, ranging from actors, writers, sports athletes, and other well-known personalities. More than 800,000 people are visiting each year.
Thomas, a 12-year-old kid, decides to lock himself inside the Museum. He finds the place fascinating and has planned to spend the night there. At closing time, he manages to hide from the security guards and is about to discover the mysterious world of wax figures who tend to become quite animated during the night.
This film reveals the secrets of the Museum by day and night.
NORTH KOREA, THE GREAT ILLUSION 50’
Beyond the propaganda
In 2011, the sudden death of Kim Jung Il brought to power his Western-educated son and basketball fan, Kim Jun-un, 30. But very quickly any hope of liberalization raised by the new leadership faded in front of the dictatorial logic of the first communist dynasty in History.
This is the testimony of a journalist invited to North Korea to film whatever the regime wanted to promote. He did come back with loads of official images but couldn’t help putting them in perspective with accounts of North Korean refugees, shedding a blinding light on the ghastly reality of their country.
Propaganda, mass enrollment, brainwashing, and a cult of personality are the cogs thoroughly dissected in this reference film, a striking case study of the mechanics of a totalitarian country now threatening the world's peace with its nuclear fire.
NOSTALGIC SHOPS [4x52’]
Driven by passion
They are booksellers, hairdressers, haberdashers, grocers...
This series paints the portrait of merchants who, against all odds, carry on their activities despite the daily difficulties and the competition from the Internet and supermarkets.
We meet these men and women who keep these nostalgic small businesses alive in a rapidly changing world, driven by their passion and love of their profession.
Also available as 12x13mns
NOTRE-DAME RENAISSANCE 52’
The cathedral before and after the fire
April 15, 2019, 6:30 pm.
Paris is in shock. Flames are wreaking havoc on the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Almost instantly, cameras capture the burning landmark and the alarming situation. Indeed, some of the building treasures have disappeared forever, like the 19th-century clock or the spire.
Through an original visit to the nave and the roofs of the wounded structure associated with sequences shot a few weeks before the tragedy, we see Notre Dame as we will never see again.
OCEAN'S CARTELS 55’
The new Wild West
One fish out of five comes from illegal fishing. It is an ecological scandal with serious environmental consequences. Some species are endangered. As Paul Watson from the Sea Shepherd NGO says: "if the ocean dies, we die".
This business also hides a human tragedy since aboard obsolete boats, Burmese, Thai, or Cambodian slaves work up to 22 hours a day under the orders of captains who do not hesitate to throw them overboard in the high seas.
This investigation takes us to Spain, where Antonio Vidal, one of illegal fishing's bosses lives; Indonesia, where the Secretary of State for Fishing is at war against these pirates; and France, where Paul Watson now lives.
OFF-SEASON TRAVELING 90’
Tips and tricks
Off-peak travel offers unsuspected advantages.
This film reveals off-season adventurers' unique experiences and savings and invites us to rethink our vacations to discover destinations from a new angle.
OUR BODIES, OUR MINDS [9x52’]
Women’s perspectives
Over the last few decades, our societies have undergone major economic, political, and social transformations, which have had important consequences for individuals' relationships with their bodies.
This series deals with themes such as sex, relationships, and self-perception; issues of today and tomorrow that concern us all.
OUR LAND IN DANGER 52’
King asphalt
Like many other countries, France must combat an alarming trend: the disappearance of fertile lands to maintain its food independence.
Hectares of arable land are being lost at an alarming rate to shopping malls, roads, parking lots, and housing estates. Asphalting the soil means killing what nature has taken millennia to create. It not only deprives us of agricultural capacity but also harms the environment.
How can we breathe new life into a land killed by concrete?
OUT 64’
The moment their world teetered
Through a montage of compelling videos posted on the Internet by young gays, bis, lesbians, or transsexuals, this film makes us experience from within the groundbreaking moment of their coming out – after which their intimate and social life shall be forever changed.
PARIS, SHOW-OFFS AND CRIME IN THE UPPER-CLASS NEIGHBOURHOODS 52’
The hidden face of the French capital’s chic districts
With its beautiful buildings and shops, the western part of Paris is an ideal target for thieves. The police anti-crime squad is always on high alert to catch the offenders in the act.
Nearby, the Champs-Elysées, the Bois de Boulogne, and the Eiffel Tower are the scenes of agitated evenings with drunken revelers, fights, and defacing. The surrounding area is under heavy surveillance.
This is an investigation into the hidden side of the French capital's chic neighborhoods.
PARMESAN, THE GRATE WAR 52’
The second most counterfeited food product in the world
Is Parmesan a luxury product or a mass-market food? In any case, it is a product whose production has been jealously guarded for centuries in the Po Valley in Italy. Thefts of whole wheels have multiplied there, and a parmesan cheese bank has even been created in an ultra-secure place.
While certain production methods are under debate, the United States, a country with little regard for Protected Designation of Origin and traditions, offers a US version of the famous Italian cheese.
The second most counterfeited food product in the world, Parmesan has flooded restaurant tables and supermarkets.
PLANET KINBAKU 52’
The art of binding
Kinbaku is an erotic practice from Japan that consists of binding one's partner with ropes.
Although its origins lie in the alcoves dedicated to classical sadomasochism, Kinbaku has invested many artistic disciplines in unsuspected ways.
This film introduces us to a mysterious tradition and its links with art.
POISON IN OUR HOMES (THE) 52’
Daily life hazards
Without knowing it, we use everyday products that pollute our homes.
When we buy a liquid to clean floors, we have in our hands a cocktail of VOC (volatile organic compound). When we acquire a piece of furniture, it is often made of agglomerated wood that releases formaldehyde in the air. When we offer a doll to a child, she also gets a load of phthalate.
Our interiors are supposed to be protective cocoons, yet we are surrounded by objects that intoxicate us. Contrary to popular belief, the air inside our homes is 5 to 10 times more polluted than outside. The chemicals in our furniture, cleaning products, and building materials are particularly at fault.
PROGRAMMED TO KILL [2x52’]
The diseases that puzzle science
This 2-part series investigates the most infamous and deadly tropical diseases: dengue fever and melioidosis.
Dengue was first detected over 2 centuries ago. It is the world’s most debilitating, rapidly spreading prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease, and yet it is extremely difficult to treat. But there is hope. The first-ever dengue vaccine has just been released. A historic breakthrough in medical science
Melioidosis is one of the world’s least-known tropical ailments that torments its victims, baffles clinicians, and intrigues scientists. Classified as a biological weapon, it is a life-threatening disease caused by relatively harmless soil-dwelling bacteria that can remain dormant in a receiver for weeks, months, or even decades or just kill within 48 hours.
PROPAGANDA, THE MANUFACTURE OF CONSENT 52’
The emergence of Public Relations
How to control crowds in a democracy?
In 1914, an unpopular war had to be promoted in the United States. Thus, a handful of thinkers developed the first tools of persuasion.
In less than 50 years, they would create one of the most booming industries of our time: Public Relations.
QUINOA, THE SECRETS OF A MAGIC SEED 52’
Its success has attracted attention
Over the past 20 years, Western consumers have discovered the nutritional virtues of quinoa, and consumption of this seed has exploded. It is now everywhere, from supermarkets to restaurants.
It is still produced in the Andes Cordillera at an altitude of nearly 4,000 meters. It is cultivated following Andean tradition, i.e., by hand and without chemicals, because it is a hardy plant.
But its success has attracted attention.
RACISM, THE DARK SIDE OF AUSTRALIA 52’
The rise of the extreme right
In Christchurch, New Zealand, 50 Muslim victims were shot dead by a right-wing extremist in the middle of Friday prayers. The terrorist was a 28-year-old Australian. If such an event was unheard of in this region of the world, it is a symptom of a much broader problem.
In recent years, new xenophobic parties have emerged in Australia that openly display their hatred of immigrants. Whether they have been there for several generations or are newcomers, many communities are the target of discrimination.
But racism does not only affect foreigners. Aborigines are the first victims of exclusion, poverty, school failure, and unemployment. How can the rise of the extreme right be explained? Why is the situation of aborigines worsening?
READY MADE MEALS 52’
Easy cooking is not without risk
In the last 30 years, cooking time has been cut by half in developed countries. Fixing dinner today often means warming food in a plastic pouch, a can, or a brick.
In a world where every minute counts, ready-made meals are a scalding success. You can’t argue with their convenience and, most of the time, tastiness.
But is this form of feeding really without any risks to our health?
RED CODE FOR THE BEEF 52’
Behind the steaks
From pasture to slaughterhouse and butcher to plate, beef follows a chain that sustains and feeds millions of people.
Behind the steaks we eat lies an incredible global industry. But today, some people are trying to change how we consume and produce meat.
What are the new practices? How do they fit into the journey of a piece of meat? On the other hand, what processes should we go back to?
RENEE’S BRAIN 52’
A revolutionary and risky operation to change one's life
Debilitated and isolated by increasingly extreme symptoms of Tourette’s, and desperate for a normal future, Renee, the mother of a 7-year-old boy, has exhausted every medical avenue. Nothing has worked. She swears uncontrollably, often hits herself or those within reach, spits constantly, and her head and neck jerk frequently.
Despite her condition, Renee is very intelligent, funny, and generous. Yet she has never had a job and is worried she won’t be able to look after her son for much longer.
A recent and revolutionary yet delicate and highly risky operation called Deep Brain Stimulation could be a lifeline.
RICE, A STICKY ISSUE 52’
Performance at all costs
One out of every two people on the planet eats rice every day.
In its natural state, rice is particularly nutritious, but industrialization has changed the situation with fast-cooking grains. In 50 years, preparation time has been divided by 4. What is the real benefit of such high-performance rice?
For example, Basmati has seen multiple transformations. An analysis of the market's leading brands shows that manufacturers may have given up their soul, namely their fragrance.
ROMA IN FRANCE 52’
The other face of the country of human rights
One night, Colette sees from her window a big fire in a wasteland across the road. She decides to see and is greeted by a Gypsy family from Romania. Touched by Eva, Sami, and their two children, she decides to help them.
Although, over time, living conditions improve somehow, but life outside of the camp is challenging and reveals the hardships the Romas face.
This humanist film goes beyond clichés and polemics to show the daily life of a Roma family in France.
ROSEWOOD, INSIDE THE WORLD'S CRAZIEST HOTEL 40’
Cidade Matarazzo, the future ideal city
In Brazil, a city like no other is being built. Connected, green, sustainable, responsible, and self-sufficient, Cidade Matarazzo could well become the ideal city.
The project was born out of Alexandre Allard's love affair with a former maternity hospital abandoned since 1933 and is part of São Paulo's historical heritage. He imagined a 5-hectare Eldorado that would unite several spaces: the first 6-star hotel in South America, a tower with ultra-luxury flats, a market, more than thirty restaurants, and a space dedicated to creativity and Brazilian art.
The buildings are taking shape thanks to internationally renowned architects Jean Nouvel and Rudy Ricciotti and star designer Philippe Starck.
RUNET, THE BATTLE FOR THE RUSSIAN WEB [10x6’]
A space for freedom or propaganda
Supporters and opponents of Vladimir Putin are fighting a bitter battle on Runet (the Russian Internet).
The Kremlin is closely interested in Runet, which is now bombarded with propaganda and fake news. But despite repressive legislation and the zealous vigilance of cyber-militiamen supported by the government, independent political video bloggers have millions of followers and weigh in on public issues.
This web series presents those who use this space for exchange, freedom, or propaganda for an unprecedented radiography of Russian society.
RWANDA, THE PRICE OF SUCCESS 52’
The multifaceted wunderkind of Africa
After one of the worst genocides in history, Rwanda is unrecognizable. The country is one of the safest on the continent, one of the cleanest, and most dynamic. It attracts investors from all over the world thanks to record economic growth, and millions of tourists come to admire the mountain gorillas.
This renaissance is to the credit of Paul Kagame, the country's strongman, who has been President for the past 10 years. The former rebel leader has succeeded in reconciling his country and turning it around, but at a price. The opposition is muzzled, and the few independent journalists are sometimes imprisoned. In Kigali, the capital, modernization is being carried out through expropriations.
40% of the population still lives below the poverty line.
SAINT-JACQUES [2x52’]
A hiking adventure
Heading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain means leaving behind your job and the comfort of a quiet life.
For these hikers, the adventure will last about two and a half months, with many ups and downs along the way.
SAVE THE BANANA 52’
The future of the most consumed fruit in the world
Banana is the most consumed fruit in the world. Twenty million tons of a single variety, the Cavendish, are sold each year.
How is this fruit grown to meet the transportation, ripening, and color requirements of the international market? Has intensive production made it vulnerable to a small, invisible but devastating fungus, to the point of extinction?
This film takes us from France to the West Indies to meet the scientists, producers, harvesters, and carriers who are moving heaven and earth to find the banana of the future.
SAVING THE CHIMPS 52’
A sanctuary for broken primates
How did Bobby, the gentle chimpanzee, manage to pull through after years caged up in isolation in biomedical labs? How did "space chimp" Emily, trained to test space capsules and rockets, survive her stressful NASA training program?
Appalled by such treatment, Carole Noon decided to help discarded apes and created the sanctuary “Save the Chimps”, a unique site in Florida and home to over 300 chimpanzees.
SINGLES, LONG LIVE REAL LIFE! 52’
The end of dating apps
More and more singles have decided to put an end to virtual dating in order to reconnect with authenticity.
What challenges do those looking for love face in the real world, away from dating apps?
In this film, we discover touching and inspiring stories celebrating human connection.
SISTERS IN ARMS 52’
An unrelenting struggle to save the planet
In Greta Thunberg’s wake, youth has commenced an unrelenting struggle to save the planet. Young women have become the movement’s figureheads, sometimes despite themselves.
We follow 6 extremely driven activists, like Julia Butterfly Hill, who, 20 years ago, after having lived for 738 days at the top of a majestic California redwood tree, managed to save the trees in an age-old forest from being felled.
SKIN ON SKIN 52’
Touch, a vital link
Touch carries a dimension of trust and security, a vital link with the other, but it can also be experienced as a painful intrusion into our intimacy.
The paradox of this sense is that it is desired and feared at the same time. It is essential to our well-being yet can cause psychological, social, and physical atrophy if we are deprived of it.
From the kiss of peace to physical distancing, this historical and cultural exploration of touch through the prism of art or philosophy highlights its specificity in society.
SPIRITUALITY FOR SALE 52’
A new craze
For centuries, Asian families have been going on temple retreats lasting anything from a few days to a few years. Now, Westerners are turning to this way of getting in touch with their inner souls.
In recent years, this craving for spirituality has led to an increase of people to exotic destinations, such as monasteries, meditation centers, retreat camps, or specialized tours.
But are these spiritual quests around the world appropriate for everyone?
SRI LANKA, THE DARK SIDE OF PARADISE 52’
A divided country
The pearl of the Indian Ocean is a trendy destination, but behind its natural treasures and pristine beaches, Sri Lanka is still licking its wounds after more than 40 years of civil war. The island was torn apart by a bloody conflict opposing two communities: the Sinhalese Buddhist majority and the Tamil Tigers.
Today, the army has taken over and controls the economy, but the North of the country remains off-limits to tourists.
SURVIVING 9/11 52’
Trapped in the Towers
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Colin, John, and Bruno return to their offices in the North Tower while Brian does the same in the South Tower. Jay has just finished his night shift and leaves his fire station 5 minutes away from the World Trade Center.
Suddenly, the twin towers become the target of a ghastly attack.
For the first time, the tragedy of September 11 is told through 5 survivors and 5 heroes trapped on different floors in the hell that has become the World Trade Center towers.
This is the story of their struggle for life.
SURVIVING THE PARIS ATTACKS 52’
The Bataclan venue from the inside
Several years have passed since the attacks of November 13, 2015, when terrorists struck in the heart of Paris. Among the places targeted, the most emblematic was the Bataclan concert hall.
We met several witnesses who were present at the Eagles of Death Metal concert that evening and who experienced this attack from the inside.
Minute after minute, they recount how they managed to escape from hell: the choices they faced, the encounters they made, and the hazards they confronted.
TAXI TO ASIA [10x26’]
Follow the driver
Taxi drivers are probably the first people you meet upon setting foot in a new country, but they are also the most colorful and clued-in characters.
TAXI TO ASIA is the first travelogue to tap the lively personalities of these informal ambassadors with their personal treasure trove of tested tips and tricks to get around Asia's most dynamic destinations.
But cabbies are also representative of a city's working class, and following them allows us to better understand the common man’s pains and hopes. They show us that living in a big bustling city isn't always a bed of roses and give us a reality check on how people live today in Asia.
TECHNOSEX 52’
Sex in the future
Technology is everywhere. At work, during our downtime, and now it’s even invading our beds: vibrating underwear, connected sex toys, sex robots… Ecstasy is turning high-tech.
Soon, we will experience remote lovemaking, bliss will be virtual, and humanoids would make ideal partners. Sounds like science fiction? Not so much since researchers, scientists, and marketers are working hard to make it a reality. Their goal is to corner a market worth several billion dollars.
Where will this innovation take us? What will sex be like in the future?
THE AMBASSADORS OF HOPE [11x52’]
One cause, one celebrity
These exceptional women use their fame to promote and serve causes that are close to their hearts, ready to shake up their image out of conviction and to serve an ideal.
For these ambassadors, becoming a spokesperson for the voiceless is a choice, and sharing their experiences is a duty.
Each episode presents an association that provides concrete answers to a growing number of challenges.
THE ART OF NAPPING 30’
Snoozing around the world
Taking a nap is the ultimate symbol of holidays, especially on the beach.
Though in some countries, like Spain, it is a well-known daily custom, in some less anticipated countries, like China, it is quite usual for workers to stop in the middle of the day to snooze, sometimes even right on the floor.
From Barcelona, Beijing, and New York, we take a world tour of the nap.
THE CHINESE WHITE GOLD 26’
Winter sports Wild East
Chinese new middle class can now enjoy a sport they knew nothing about until recently: skiing. So far, it remains a quiet family experience. However, this craze has led to a shortage of adequate facilities.
With their extensive experience in winter sports, some westerners are targeting this growing market. Paul Bojarski crisscrosses the most remote parts of China on horseback in search of the right spots to build ski resorts.
Like in other areas, the Chinese see big and are quick to invest in this white gold, to learn how to manage the tourists and even to implement stringent safety rules. As of now, skiing is only for a passionate handful of several thousand. But 10 years from now, they should be 20 million.
THE CHOCOLATE SHORTAGE 48’
Growing demand in the face of disorganized producers
A chocolate crisis is looming. The cocoa tree is a fragile and low-yielding tree. The plantations are rustic and aging. Producing countries are often unstable and poorly organized. However, investments are pouring in because of heavy speculation in the face of a dramatic increase in Chinese and Indian demand.
Starting from the harvests on the red lands of Madagascar and the Ivory Coast, we investigate the pressure exerted by middlemen, the heft of the trading rooms of London, the strategies of industrial groups from Abidjan to Switzerland, and, finally, the consequences on chocolate makers and consumers.
THE COLOR OF JUSTICE 52’ or 70’
A deadly choke hold
In July 2014, Eric Garner, a black American, died in the street after being violently arrested by an NYC Police officer who is seen pulling him to the ground and choke holding him. His death was recorded in an amateur video that shows him telling repeatedly “I can’t breathe”.
Five months later, a grand jury declined to indict the policeman because of insufficient proof and the case was dismissed.
A few years later, a legal team conducted a mock trial to rectify this denial of justice.
Also available as a 70'
THE EARTH'S WRATHS [4x52’]
Tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions
This series looks at the origins of natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, or volcanic eruptions and how to limit their impact.
THE FLAN, A FLANTASTIC SUCCESS 52’
A heritage dessert
The flan is a popular dessert that exists in many countries. Both classic and modern, it has established itself on the menu of the greatest pastry chefs.
Although the recipe is simple, we prefer to buy it ready-made, freeze it and then reheat it in the oven.
This film is an investigation into this heritage dessert.
THE FOUNDING STORIES OF THE BIBLE 52’
As you have never read, heard or seen it
When we tell Bible stories, we are always talking about the world we live in : migrations, wars, passions and power.
From the novice to the initiated, each reader discovers or rediscovers those 3,000 year-old stories that have so greatly influenced our culture.
THE FRENCH MASTERS OF BEER 52’
Taste, congeniality and sharing
The North of France has weaved beer into its art of living. Together with French fries or the carnival, the beverage has been a stalwart tradition in the region.
This film is part exploration of a world of fine bubbles, malt, and hops, part discovery of unusual places, and part encounters with enthusiasts who cherish the beer and have turned it into a refined product.
Taste, congeniality, and sharing, beer sums up the values of the local people.
THE GHOSTS' HUNTER 52’
Fighting autism
At the age of 2, Tom is already different. He doesn't make eye contact, has a language delay, has inexplicable fits, and has a passion for kitchen whips which he plays with for hours. Tom is my son.
After a series of examinations, the diagnosis is made: Tom has an autism spectrum disorder. This marks the beginning of a protracted battle.
Speech and psychomotor therapists as well as child psychiatrists see him every week to help him move forward. Surprisingly, his language improves significantly. He starts school accompanied by a dedicated assistant, and even though he doesn’t play with the other children and is allergic to mathematics, "he manages".
THE GREAT RETURN OF THE SCOUTS 45’
Inspiring a new generation
The Scouting movement is enjoying a worldwide renaissance thanks to its values of camaraderie, adventure, and community service.
This immersive film of young scouts and their leaders reveals how this century-old institution is adapting to contemporary challenges while inspiring a new generation.
THE HIDDEN SIDE OF GOOGLE 52’
"Do no Evil". Really?
Google is the richest search engine company in the world and has become ubiquitous to the point of being used as a verb. Searching the net, sending messages via Gmail, getting around with Google Maps, and watching videos on YouTube. The company is everywhere.
By being ever present in our lives, Google knows a lot about us. But how much do we know about it, the data privacy violations, the tax avoidance, the stressed-out employees?
THE LAST TABOO 90’
Football and homosexuality
In the world of football, gay men face a real struggle, and for the few who have dared to come out, passion for the sport meets hostility and exclusion.
This poignant film encounters these courageous individuals, revealing the universal ambivalence between concealing one's identity and the liberation of telling one's truth.
More than a narrative about combating homophobia in football, this film confronts our prejudices and urges us to embrace a future where love and identity are celebrated in all areas.
THE NEW WEB SLAVES, AMAZON’S MECHANICAL TURK 26’
How the Internet giants are circumventing labour legislation
The giants of the net have found a simple way to circumvent labor laws: they have invented the micro-jobs. Simple tasks with minimal wages, i.e. a few cents without the paperwork.
A trick that allows them to bypass the labor laws regardless of the country of origin of the employer, and which takes its inspiration from an 18th-century fraud called the "Mechanical Turk".
THE NOT SO FRENCH FRIES 52’
The most widely consumed food in the world
Without it, hamburgers wouldn't be as popular, and French fries’ shacks wouldn't exist. Crunchy or soft, eaten at the table or in the street, in a cone, or as a side dish, the French fry is a star.
This irresistible fried potato stick, which first appeared in the 19th century, requires a bit of know-how. Most of the French fries consumed today are industrial, bought in the frozen section of supermarkets.
The French fry has even become one of the most widely consumed foods in the world, even in China where demand is exploding. So much so that the "Potato King" is now Chinese.
THE OVERWEIGHT STIGMA 52’
Between normative images and medical pressure
It's summertime, the newsstands are flooded with magazines with covers devoted to the cause of the summer body. A quest for perfection that excludes the fat.
Caught between normative images and medical pressure, these bodies considered antagonists to success are put to the test.
But does the shape of success really exist? Are fat people destined to fail?
THE PARANORMAL ZONE [25x24’]
What we see may not be real. What is real we may not see.
Li Kim and her team investigate classified, strange and unexplained phenomena in Asia.
Do you dare to sit in a cemetery at night? Make contact with the unseen residents of haunted houses? Touch the bloody remains of a cursed fetus? Venture into the realms of dreams and past lives?
Li Kim talks to celebrities, researchers, practitioners, enthusiasts, believers, and skeptics about their supernatural encounters. She will do anything to bring the paranormal experience out of your television screen.
THE PRICE OF PROTEST 52’
The Colin Kaepernick's story
Imagine two of the most emblematic American values colliding: freedom of speech and patriotism.
Football icon Colin Kaepernick epitomized that clash when, in 2016, a simple gesture turned him into the most polarizing athlete of our times. While the crowd stood up for the national anthem at an NFL football game, he took a knee instead. It became the kickoff for a serious political crisis in the US and started a movement (#TakeAKnee) that made him world famous. To some, Colin is a hero; to others, a traitor, but still, many followed his lead.
Colin Kaepernick may have sacrificed his career, but his standing against social injustice will go down in history.
THE RACE TO CUT PRICES 45’
Aggressive strategies
The price war rages on in the retail sector.
This film reveals the aggressive strategies of retailers and their impact on consumers and the economy.
In this world, competitiveness and bargains reign supreme.
THE SEED WAR 52’
Fighting for food independence
Are seeds a commodity or a vital resource to be shared for the benefit of Humanity like the water we drink or the air we breathe?
Soon, farmers might lose the right to plant their own seeds. Indeed, in Europe, a regulation is emerging which will impose strict controls on the use of agricultural seeds. Behind this appropriation stand five corporations already governing half of the seeds market and looking to spread their stranglehold even further.
This film travels from India to France, and even the polar circle, to unveil a silent and unknown war whose outcome is critical for all of us: that of our food independence.
THE TALIBAN CALIPH 59’
Who really was the iconic leader of the talibans?
Mullah Omar, the Afghan Taliban leader, was at one point the most controversial and enigmatic man on the planet. Reported missing for years, his death was made official in 2015.
Was he just a dreadful Islamist? Was he branded evil to justify military intervention? Or was he a village idiot overwhelmed by events?
In 2014, three women journalists crisscrossed Afghanistan dining with militiamen, going through innumerable checkpoints or having a good laugh with the Taliban, trying to uncover the man behind the myth.
With the Taliban regaining control, this film remains essential to better apprehend the realities of this complex country torn apart by so many conflicts.
THE TREASURES OF VATICAN [2x52’]
A new Pope takes office
A rare and never-before-seen look inside the Vatican while it lives through a decisive moment in its history.
From the moment the new Pope took office, our crew has been able to capture life in this famously secretive environment.
During the course of several months, our cameras followed the daily lives of the men and women, both religious and secular, who work for His Holiness and the Vatican City.
THE WAR OF ODORS 52’
A nauseating business
Tobacco, sweat, dust... Smelly odors ruin our lives.
We spend our time trying to eliminate them. Spraying our armpits before a workday has become a ritual. We fight vigorously these odors that invade our living rooms or our cars. Industrial groups are benefiting from this obsession.
What are the marketing tricks deployed by manufacturers?
How are these products being made?
What are the risks to our health?
THERAPY, THE SECRET OF HAPPY COUPLES 40’
The challenges of life together
Couples that last are bound to have secrets.
One could be couples therapy, which offers invaluable tools for building fulfilling relationships.
This film is an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs of life together.
THEY ARE BACK FROM SYRIA… AND NOW WHAT? 30’
For the first time, they tell their story
They’re young, men and women, executives, or students. At first, they weren’t into Jihad yet, they left everything to go to Syria. Then one day, they came back.
Anti-terrorism services estimate that 500 French citizens wandered between Iraq and Syria. Among them, 200 have decided to come back to France. Most have been imprisoned awaiting trial. Rare are those who have been released.
For the first time, some have agreed to tell their story: why did they leave and what were their lives back there?
THEY GOT MARRIED AND HAD MANY LOVERS [2x52’]
Extra-marital experiences
In matrimony, the oath of fidelity is a primordial component.
However, some couples allow themselves extra-marital experiences under the condition of respect and transparency.
This two-part film addresses, through testimonies, a phenomenon that is less and less taboo in our modern societies.
THOSE WHO TELL THE TRUTH 52’
A protest music as old as time
In the back streets of Anatolia, Turkey, protest music resonates as old as time.
Through their stories, words, and sounds, musicians weave a symphony of resistance against the threatening shadow of authoritarian rule. Their saz, a long-necked lute, becomes the sharp blade of a musical-political adventure.
This film reveals the complexities, contradictions, and struggles of Turkish society today through music that symbolizes a history in constant reinvention.
TOMORROWLAND SUMMER 53’
The biggest techno festival in the world
Tomorrowland is the biggest techno festival in the world.
Created 15 years ago in Belgium by two brothers, it attracts 400,000 people every year and generates a turnover of 25 million euros.
This film takes us behind the scenes of this oversized and seemingly good-natured event of excess.
TOMORROWLAND WINTER 52’
Partying in the cold
Tomorrowland Winter, in the French Alps, is the winter version of the biggest techno festival in the world.
In addition to the usual risks, the rescue teams also have to deal with weather conditions that make the situation even more dangerous.
60 people are working day and night to ensure the safety of the revelers, having to deal with sometimes irresponsible behavior.
TOURING KIDS 75’
An epic journey of tolerance
24 kids aged 6 to 16 and from a cosmopolitan and rough neighborhood are part of a theater company coached by professionals.
With their show, Lord Stanley's Gypsy, they toured all over France to finally arrive in Slovakia, where they meet the real Gypsy people.
Their humor, rage, talent, and raw energy take us on an epic journey of tolerance.
TOYS FOR GROWN-UPS 52’
Opening up to new experiences
From Cleopatra and her papyrus cone filled with bees to the connected toys of today, the evolution of sex toys has changed the way we contemplate sexuality and female pleasure.
Whether used alone or within a couple, sex toys have given a new impetus to the discovery of the body and its desires.
In this film, we meet people who have agreed to open up to new experiences.
UNBELIEVABLE NIGERIA 60’
Oil billionaires, slums, and skyscrapers
Thanks to its vast oil resources, Nigeria is now the first economic power in Africa.
Golf courses, marinas, and gated communities are part of the new golden life for a few privileged ones. However, on the other side of the street, the slums harbor a far different reality for millions of Nigerians who try to survive between mafia gangs and wretchedness.
But a much more severe threat lingers in the North of the country with the Islamist sect of Boko Haram.
UP! ON THE GREEN ROOFS OF PARIS 52’
The secrets high above
This film is an exceptional journey to discover an unknown Paris where Mother Nature reigns; an expedition on the rooftops of the city which harbors amazing hanging gardens.
Strawberries grow on top of the Galeries Lafayette; vines on City Hall; vegetables on school roofs tended by students; hops on the BHV department store, and the Opéra Bastille will soon be offering beer to its visitors.
The rooftops of Paris have not revealed all their secrets yet.
UP! ON THE ROOFS OF... [5x52’]
An unknown and inaccessible world
Unlike boulevards and monuments, the rooftops of cities are an unknown world, inaccessible to most of its inhabitants and tourists.
However, a few privileged have made these secret gardens part of their daily lives.
USA, CRAZINESS LOTTERY 52’
An institution that unleashes passions
In the United States, 25% of the population gambles.
The country has 46 televised lottery games and the money to be earned can reach a record: more than $1 billion depending on the prize pools. It is a real institution that unleashes passions.
But what happens to the lottery winners? What are they doing with their newfound money? How have their lives been upended? And why are some Americans going on a crusade against the lottery?
USA, JUSTICE FOR SALE 52’
Blatant dysfunctions
On Super Sunday, many states not only vote to choose a candidate for the White House but also to pick 2 judges for the State’s Supreme Court, like in Arkansas.
From clear conflicts of interest to proven instances of corruption, the elected judges have been mired in scandal.
This film decrypts the failures of the American judicial system and shows the harrowing consequences of a justice that is for sale.
USA, THE MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD 90’
Extreme natural events
Hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tornados, floods…
This film highlights the vulnerability of the USA in the face of extreme natural events.
Quite aware of the risks threatening their cities, often underestimated by the population at large, some men and women are preparing for the worse.
UTOPIAS? [6x52’]
Dreamers who refuse the world as it is
Utopians can be found anywhere from Belgium, Israel, the Philippines, or the Amazon Forest.
This series is an immersion into their habits and rituals, as well as the unexpected, from early morning until late at night.
We get acquainted with these dreamers who refuse the world as it is.
WHEN WE PLAY [5x46’]
The playgrounds and the communities they serve
Many of our childhood memories are filled with playing, and playgrounds are a big part of this recollection. Wind blowing through one's hair while on a swing, the sudden rush of excitement going down a slide, bumps and bruises, friends and foes.
The rapid urbanization of Asia is spurring the growth of play spaces where children and communities can experience, learn, and reimagine urban life.
This series, shot in Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and China, examines the playgrounds' impact on the communities they are built for and reflect on the urban environments they exist in.
WHERE PEOPLE READ [6x45’]
Unusual libraries
In various countries in Asia, trucks provide books for those who do not have libraries readily accessible or reading material at their fingertips.
Imagine what it would be like if you had to wait for a bookmobile to come around once a week so that you could spend a few hours poring through.
To some, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
WHO... IS IN CONTROL? 52’
An existence in jeopardy
The Covid-19 outbreak has shed a crude light on the World Health Organization as a battleground between China and the USA. Beyond the controversy, this film digs into the history and the evolution of the WHO, from its early successes based on international cooperation to an organization torn apart by conflicting interests.
It features testimonies of world health experts, past and present employees of the WHO, and key public figures, including former UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon.
This is a riveting investigation into one of the most prestigious international organizations whose action and/or inaction, together with its highs and lows, directly impact the health and life of every human being.
YIWU, THE WORLD'S GREATEST BAZAAR 52’
Welcome to over-the-top shopping
It is a place like no other in the world, 250 kilometers south of Shanghai.
On nearly 4 million square meters dedicated to shopping, 180,000 stores open 7 days a week and almost 24 hours a day offer 2 million different products. Spending 5 minutes in each stand at the Futian exhibition center would take two years of your life.
Welcome to over-the-top shopping. Welcome to Yiwu, the city that has made a name for itself in international trade and where the whole world comes to buy widgets.
YOUNG BELIEVERS 52’
Guided by their faith
Why, in today's world, when secularity is synonymous with modernity, do young people still choose to follow dogmas enacted thousands of years ago strictly?
Yasmina, 20, a Jew from Rome; Carla, 26, a Catholic from Barcelona; and Simo, 29, a Muslim from Casablanca, are driven by an unwavering faith; they practice their religion with a rare orthodoxy that goes against the grain for their age and times.
ZIP ZAP CIRCUS 90’
Dare to dream
Based in Cape Town, South Africa, the Zip Zap Circus has welcomed under its big top young people, often from underprivileged backgrounds, encouraging them to dare to dream.
And dare they do. Through sheer will and hard work, these young artists expose their talent in front of more than 50,000 spectators gathered to witness the birth of their dreams.
RISKY PLATEFUL 52’ or 30’
Eating can be detrimental to your health
Three journalists have been the guinea pigs of an unprecedented experience. For several weeks, each followed a specific diet while being subjected to medical tests. The results are alarming: eating can be detrimental to your health.
Salmon with pesticides, pork and chicken with antibiotics, toxic fruits and vegetables. These products are easily available at your local supermarket.
Our food is now globalized and does not always respect sanitary rules. The excesses of industrialization and intensive farming generate an overdose of antibiotics and pollutants.