Searching for the perfect waves in Corsica

Four surfers from the island of Corsica talk about their ups and downs in search of the perfect waves.

On this island, where the link to the sea has been built on conflicting relationships throughout its history, surfing has undergone a singular, almost anachronistic development.

Far from the poster images associated with this sport, this film takes us into a world where passion and thirst for freedom have sometimes come up against marginalization, frustration, failure, and rejection.

A racing champion

Born in the arid south of Morocco, D'jamal, a young white dromedary with a gift for racing, draws the attention of a camel driver who decides to make him a champion.

The extraordinary life of Suzanne Lenglen

Suzanne Lenglen remains one of the greatest tennis players of all time. In addition to her exploits on the court, she contributed to women’s emancipation.

She left an indelible mark on her sport, winning 250 tournaments, including 83 without losing a single game, three Olympic medals, and six Wimbledon titles. She lost just seven matches in her career.

In addition to this exceptional record, she was an icon of feminism, a talented writer, and the ambassador of high fashion maestro Jean Patou.

The roots of today’s technologies

A fascinating look at how ancient discoveries have inspired modern-day structures and engineering technologies.

We reveal how each engineering marvel was discovered, highlighting its significance for the world at the time and its impact on future technology.

Survival strategies

In the African savannah, life is a succession of challenges that must be overcome if one wants to see the next day. Growing up, finding food, moving around, breeding, all these vital needs require coming up with survival strategies that can be perilous.

Through the fate of various animals, the whole theatre of life is revealed with its constant struggles punctuated by brief moments of respite.

Unique marine exhibits

When it comes to aquariums, Japan holds 2 world records.

In Nagasaki, you can observe no less than 9 species of penguins while in Yamagata 50 species of Jellyfish are there to dazzle you.

The vehicles of tomorrow tested under extreme conditions

If you own a car, it has been most likely heavily tested in Swedish Lapland, more precisely in Arjeplog.

Unknown to the public, this small town of 2,000 inhabitants, located 50 km north of the Arctic Circle, is the world capital of the automobile industry in winter.

It is a secret location where the biggest manufacturers torment the vehicles of tomorrow under extreme conditions.

On and under the ice pack

In some parts of the world, climate change is more obvious than elsewhere.

French explorer Alban Michon, a specialist in ice diving, achieved a world first by crossing the Arctic "Northwest Passage" alone. Carrying over 180 kilos of equipment, Alban traveled nearly 500 kilometers, braving temperatures as low as -53°C.

This film is the story of this extraordinary adventure on and under the ice pack.

A hope for the survival of humanity

Asteroids are the most primitive bodies we know. There are probably billions of them, and no two are alike. They bear witness to the first moments of the Solar System.

Originally a source of threat, they now represent a hope for the survival of humanity.

Inspired by popular melodies

Since the end of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century, classical music has incorporated tradition and popular melodies.

Brahms was inspired by the sailors' songs he heard in the cabarets of the port of Hamburg. Liszt sometimes used traditional Hungarian music as a starting point for his compositions. The revolution came thanks to the quasi-ethnological work of Bartok and Kodaly who undertook to record and archive all the traditional songs of their regions to incorporate them into their music.

The story of the "Bay of All Saints"

In 1500, in the region of Salvador in Brazil, the first Portuguese settlers landed and built their first colonial city: Salvador de Bahia, known as "the Bay of All Saints".

The indigenous tribes were decimated and replaced by African slaves working mainly in mills.

Today, Salvador's African heritage can still be felt in the culture, the music, and the arts while its inhabitants strive to perpetuate the memory of their ancestors.

A miniature odyssey

On a lemon tree, a caterpillar is born. It is supposed to grow there until morphing into a butterfly, but a storm destroys this preset scheme and makes it fall.

The caterpillar has only about three days to return to its tree, the only place to achieve its mutation.

Through this journey of survival, we discover the incredible richness of microworlds, where one small step for man is a lifetime expedition for a tiny insect.

Master builders

Battles in line formations, ingenious sieges at the foot of impressive fortresses, bloody and psychological wars. Each episode tells the story of the greatest battles in history thereby discovering the complexity of medieval armed conflicts and war strategies.

The outcome of a battle is often decided by how to attack a stronghold. Fortified towers, walls, and defensive weapons were designed to give the besiegers of these medieval megastructures a hard time.

The great fortresses were the result of construction secrets by pioneering medieval architects and the prowess of extraordinary builders.

Understanding our solar system

This series is a fascinating journey to the farthest reaches of our solar system to unveil its history, present, and future.

Every planet in our solar system, be it Venus or Jupiter, plays a part in it, which we discover through breathtaking images and scientific explanations.

China's moon mission

The moon is far from having revealed all its secrets. A new and so-far discreet player is changing the game: China.

Its program to explore the moon's far side is a considerable endeavor that redefines the conquest of space.

This film takes us on a fascinating scientific mission to understand the challenges of this research and what is being played out for the future.

Some people rock our world what rocks theirs?

This series goes beyond fame to reveal the passions of celebrities on a mission to change the world.

In their own words, leading entertainers and artists tell us what inspires them.

A clash of egos

In 1982, newly elected French president Francois Mitterrand decided to build an ultra-modern opera house on the Bastille Place, the symbol of the Revolution. In a blind competition, 750 hopeful firms send designs.

During the formal announcement, the Minister of Culture stutters an unexpected name: Carlos Ott from Canada. No one has heard of him before. So, what happened?

François Mitterrand looks thrilled, unlike his sworn enemy and Mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac, who will do everything he can to stop the Bastille Opera in its tracks.

A clash of egos

In 1982, the newly elected French president Francois Mitterrand decided that an ultra-modern opera house would be built on the Bastille Place, a symbol of the Revolution.

In a blind competition, 750 hopeful firms send designs. Word leaks out that the winner will be prominent American architect Richard Meier.

During the formal announcement, the Minister of Culture stutters an unexpected name: Carlos Ott from Canada. No one has heard of him; he certainly is not Richard Meier. What happened?

François Mitterrand looks thrilled, but not so much his sworn enemy and Mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac, who did everything to stop the construction of the Bastille Opera.

Beyond the songs and oral history

Most of what we think about the Celtic people – from their connection to Halloween to their supposed origins in the British Isles – is wrong.

This series uncovers the unknown history of the Celts, who left no written record but communicated their past through song and story, who came from central Europe and spread across the continent, and whose trade in salt made them the aristocrats of the ancient world.

Who were their Gods? What were their rituals and myths? Why did Celtic tribes fight each other? How did they form alliances? What were the greatest battles they fought?

Live entertainment next gen

The Great Moscow Circus offers its vision of what the next generation circus should be.

It involves expanding the limits of human capabilities through leading-edge technologies as well as artistic innovations using advanced light and sound installations.

CIRCUS 2.0 keeps us in touch with the modern expectations of live entertainment.

Are we predestined?

This series tears down the walls between science and history to reveal how events from the deep past often drive the story of mankind.

Ancient exploding stars, the clash of continents, and the formation of molecules all secretly shaped the history we thought we knew.

Our civilization and innovations, our voyages and battles, are driven not only by the decisions we make but by physics, geology, biology, and chemistry - by forces that can be too small to see or so far back in time that the only way to understand their influence is to think in a whole new way.

When less is more

Edouard Loubet is a celebrated 2 stars French chef, voted Chef of the Year in 2011. His cuisine is as local as you can get and his search for exceptional ingredients leads to a savory cocktail of flavors.

Both an innovator and guardian of traditions, Edouard Loubet is a proud champion of the flagship ingredients of Provence and their producers who provide the basis for his culinary achievements: truffles, asparagus, cherries, melons, herbs, cheese, wine... They all share the same attributes: simplicity and tastiness.

A dazzling show

EMOTIONS is an exciting show that includes astounding artistic innovations, original compositions and advanced light and sound installations.

Dazzling stunts are performed by African lions and Siberian tigers, while world-unique equestrian attractions combine juggling, pas-de-deux, trick riding and vaulting.

Many of these stunts made their way to The Guinness Book of Records.

Cutting-edge projects that can save the world

This series explores the spectacular green machines that could revolutionize life as we know it and possibly save the world from ecological disasters.

Energy production, transportation, water supply, and more are being studied. These large-scale, cutting-edge projects around the globe combine science, technology, and engineering and will chart a future where the environment not only survives but thrives.

Supersize everything

On the Airbus assembly site near Toulouse, pieces of planes come from the 4 corners of Europe by air, road or water.

Shipping XXL cargo and putting together the puzzle of aircraft parts require complex and ingenious technology.

This film goes behind-the-scene of this technological prowess and the incredible machines used to achieve it.

Also available as a 75'

A primal emotion

This is the story of the rehabilitation of an African national park.

After the first step of successfully acclimating herbivores, it is time to reintroduce lions. But with them comes predation, and suddenly, fear overtakes the park.

This epic wildlife film illustrates a universal feeling: terror.

Sublime escapes

Discover the magic and beauty of some of the world’s most enchanting destinations, including their natural wonders, outstanding monuments, crafts, and breathtaking landscapes.

This series is an invitation to travel to the heart of the traditions and peculiarities of the world’s most celebrated countries.

A world of extreme sports

Léo Urban, the Tarzan of the cities and star of parkour, has set himself the goal of becoming the best athlete in his discipline.

To perfect his training and overcome his last mental and physical barriers, he learns from the maestros of weightlessness and extreme sports.

The miracle combination of nature and man's know-how

Wine is more than just the simple fermentation process of grape juice. It is the result of a miracle marriage between a gift of nature and human expertise.

Nowadays, wine is part of France's cultural and gastronomic heritage, and vineyards are shaping the landscapes of well-known regions such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, or Alsace.

This film takes us to the most prestigious "grands crus" to meet the men and women behind the nectar connoisseurs the world over rave about.

The great metropoles

What do the names of West African cities such as Dakar, Yaoundé, Cotonou, Bamako, or Abidjan suggest?

This series offers an immersion in these big cities that just want to be seen in a different light by focusing on their assets. Combining tradition and modernity, it presents an urban and booming Africa.

The evolution of musical genres

The 20th and 21st centuries are characterized by the appearance of a profusion of musical genres such as jazz, then rock, electro or hip hop.

The great historical events, in particular the wars, as well as technological developments have contributed to the emergence of these genres and the so-called classical music has become even more distinct from popular music than before.

The most recognizable forms of chamber music

This series of recordings explores the most recognizable forms of chamber music interpreted by the new generation of the best French performers.

First, the string quartet, an intellectual and emotional summit under the bows of the young Mona Quartet.

The trio (piano, violin and cello) embodied by the brilliant pianist and composer Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, the young and already famous violinist Sarah Nemtanu and their accomplice Grégoire Korniluk.

The duo, piano and violin, with the young Eva Zavaro who plays Brahms and Ravel accompanied by the pianist Tatiana Chern.

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.

Her only flaw was being born a woman

Ancient Egypt was ruled by a female Pharaoh four times, but few are as intriguing as Hatshepsut.

She stood out for her artistic vision and as a master builder and restorer of Egyptian heritage. Hatshepsut led a prosperous and powerful country for 20 years, yet history nearly forgot her.

This is the story of a remarkable Pharaoh whose only flaw was being born a woman.

Peace heroes

At a time when there are over 100 armed conflicts worldwide, this film focuses on peace heroes instead of war heroes.

We try to understand the escalation of violence in global conflicts, the art of diplomacy and reconciliation, and how sustainable peace can be achieved.

Bringing to life a million-year-old skeleton

Over a million years old, the Durfort mammoth is the icon of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and one of the biggest skeletons in the world.

Fragilized by time, this giant fossil needed urgent care and had to be disassembled and reassembled for a complete restoration, a World Premiere, which we follow step by step. This tricky operation is also an opportunity to learn more about the animal.

Through incredible CGI and thanks to all the knowledge collected by the Museum, this film brings this fascinating yet little-known giant back to life.

Also available as a 90mns

The turbulent life of a swarm

On the gentle slopes of a mountain, between the green ferns, sits a hive inhabited by hundreds of little black bees.

Through the four seasons, this film follows the life of a swarm from the inside. We witness the awakening in the spring, the rearing of new queens, the nuptial flight of the virgin queens and the subsequent ban of bumblebees, the massacre of the males, the pollination, and then, little by little, with the coming of winter, the return to the great sleep.

This film is an epic story set in a tiny wooden box.

An exhausting and spectacular transhumance

In central Iran, the mountains of Zagros are the domain of the Bakhtiaris, one of the last great nomads.

They are proud shepherds who still practice a long, exhausting, and spectacular transhumance. They remain attached to centuries of traditions as well as a way of life dating back to ancient Persia.

These majestic valleys framed by mountains and glaciers present an unexpected image of Iran.

A different Japan

Yonaguni is one of the smallest inhabited islands and the most western point of Japan’s archipelago, much closer to Taiwan than Tokyo.

Its remoteness gives the place a singular dimension embodied in a dramatic past as well as in traditions which have all but vanished in the Northern islands. One can find there an endemic species of small horses or puzzling underwater stone structures deemed, by some people, to be the remains of an antic suken city.

Between legend and reality, tiny Yonaguni offers diverse facets, the most intriguing one being the discovery of a Japan caught in a time warp.

Exciting experiences and great food

Sonia Gray and Russell Harrison share a love for fishing, hunting, the great outdoors. and "kai" (food).

The food duo travels to some of New Zealand's most remote and spectacular corners. From camping outdoors with family and friends to visiting out-of-the-way holiday houses, wherever they go, they share stories and songs and highlight the history and passion of local communities.

This series is about living off the land, whether on the beach or in the bush, and sharing exciting experiences around food gathering, fond memories, and great eating.

A gigantic complex and an architectural masterpiece

Karnak is the most mysterious and most important temple of all ancient Egypt.

Built, modified, reworked, and enlarged over the ages, this gigantic complex was the epicenter of religion.

Recent excavations by archaeologists have unveiled the evolution of the techniques that allowed the builders of the times to construct this architectural masterpiece.

The unheard benefits of seaweed

Kelp is a type of seaweed that grows in shallow underwater forests. These algae are as crucial as trees in capturing carbon dioxide and can also be used as a food source.

From France to Chile, this film investigates kelp’s history and economic and scientific potential to build a new type of sustainable agriculture, maintain biodiversity, or fight global warming.

An eventful courtship

An imposing adult male is determined to mate with a young female. One might think it is a trivial episode in the animal kingdom. But when it takes place in one of the most hostile archipelagos in the world, and when the animals involved are the ferocious Komodo dragons, we know the courtship promises to be eventful.

Baby dragons perched 10 meters high in trees; an old one who wants more offspring; a young male ready to mate but who must deal with a rival bent on killing him; a recalcitrant female; macaques, deer, and buffalo living near their predators: these are the characters in this saga.

Dramatic scenes, imposing landscapes, and beautiful photography combine to make this a spectacular film.

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.

A journey to the heart of the elements that forged our Earth

Fire. Earth. Water. Air. These four elements have crafted unbelievable landscapes and generated extraordinary natural phenomena.

These geological, physical, or biological wonders have always fascinated humanity and given birth to numerous legends. But what is the scientific reality behind these legends? Scientists and storytellers combine their knowledge to tell the story of unique locations.

Visually breathtaking, both informative and entertaining, this series offers a cinematographic journey to some of the world’s most beautiful natural landmarks.

Exploring with wide open eyes

Today, exploring the world doesn’t have the same meaning as in the past. Indeed, very few corners of the planet remain unknown, although it would be wise for them to stay so.

With infinite passion and curiosity, the directors of these films brought back from their travels the discovery of small villages whose beauty had gone unnoticed, touching encounters and fascinating stories.

These modern explorations are done with wide-open eyes on foot, by train, or by boat.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are among the most popular in the United States.

At Yellowstone, hot water gushing out from the earth and colorful microbes are said to signify primeval ecosystem. But the charm of the park also lies with the various animals living there, including the bison, as well as stunning scenery.

Meanwhile, Grand Teton National Park has been described as the most beautiful in the country.

Sharing the Serengeti

Rugari, a cattle herder, his wife Agnes, and their children Nyange and Machaba live in Robanda, one of thirty-eight small villages on the edge of Serengeti National Park. On the other side of the park border, two lionesses guide their cubs through a life of discovery and hardship. No fences separate the two families.

The lion family enjoys a plentiful life when the great herd migrations pass through. But when the dry season arrives, and they face starvation, they get desperate, and cows disappear. The danger from lions becomes accurate for Rugari and his family.

Regardless, his daughter Nyange is drawn to them. Rugari is faced with a terrible decision. Livestock are his family’s only source of income, and he could protect his cattle by poisoning the lions. However, if he’s caught, he will be sent to jail. Nyange insists there must be another way.

Capital romancing

Our cities are made of stones, shaped by wars, emperors, or presidents, and designed for business, politics, or faith. But there might be another way to tell the story of our streets, buildings, and monuments.

Nowadays, lovers travel the world to share their love and thus create a new romantic topography of cities.

Our journeys show how love shapes the environment and what lovers need to know to prepare for the perfect romantic holiday in Paris, Mexico City, Rio, and New York.

East meets west

Discover in the most scenic way a unique place in Asia.

Macau might be tiny, but it has an incredibly rich cultural history which stretches from old European colonial heritage to Chinese modernity.

Displaying quaint Portuguese architecture, glittering casinos, and a futurist skyline, this one-of-a-kind destination, where east meets west, is revealed from a bird’s eye perspective.

The first voyage around the world

Celebrating the 500th anniversary of the first voyage around the world, Magellan’s legendary expedition is retraced in an epic docu-series.

A doomed paradise

The Maldives archipelago, made of idyllic islands lost in the middle of the Indian Ocean, is a fragile paradise. Because of global warming, 80% of its land surface could eventually be submerged.

Tourism also has harmful effects, such as the accumulation of waste that pollutes the transparent lagoons.

It should also be mentioned that the Maldives is an Islamic state enforcing one of the strictest Sharia in the world in those islands closed to tourists.

A singular mother

The film tells the life of a young female giraffe from the birth of her first baby to the delivery, 20 months later, of a second one.

It is an opportunity to discover the everyday life of a giraffe in all its aspects between the two births: the moves, feeding, schedule, social organization, reproduction, vulnerability to predators, connection to the offspring, coexistence with other species, connection to the environment.

An ancestral and authentic produce

For a long time, cheese has been an ancestral and authentic produce, demanding a real savoir-faire and a deep knowledge of pasture and cattle. Today however its production is industrialized, leading to a loss of taste.

From the Roquefort cellars to the Swiss mountain pastures, this film introduces us to die-hard farmers who hold this fine produce in their hearts. These passionate people devote their time to protecting local traditions and give us an insight into how they achieve the making of exceptional cheese.

Artisans in search of rare beans

The Mayas and the Aztecs were the first to treasure the cocoa bean, which they believed possessed divine powers. Since then, chocolate has become a universal product and a source of gustative pleasure.

From the African archipelago of Sao Tome and Principe to the Peruvian edge of the Amazon Forest and Madagascar, this film follows artisans of premium chocolate on their quest for rare beans, which they will transform into divine delicacies.

A visually striking and mouth-watering journey.

A universal ingredient

One of the oldest contributions from Nature to Mankind, honey is one of the few ingredients to be truly universal. It is part of the culinary heritage everywhere and can be found on the menus of the best chefs and on the shelves of local markets.

From Corsica and Provence to the Greek island of Ikaria and the eastern mountains of Kackar in Turkey, we meet passionate beekeepers extracting exceptional honey with unique taste and texture.

In this film, we visit incredible landscapes to discover the tasty world of the masters of honey.

A grain with many faces

Rice is one of the most widely consumed staple food. It may look like a deceptively simple grain but requires grueling work to grow, harvest, and process.

This film takes us on a rice journey deeply rooted in Asia where we discover local customs around this "common" grain: in Thailand, people massage their babies with rice milk; Japan produces wine from it to create the famous sake; in India, farmers grow the Navara, a very original variety with a unique taste and medicinal virtues.

The taste of Nature

Nature has provided humanity with edible plants that offer infinite tastes and sensations. Over the centuries, with patience and passion, Man has developed the know-how to transform them into exceptional food.

From tea to chocolate, rice, olive oil, or honey, this series offers a culinary exploration of the world to meet these men and women who have learned to magnify these gifts of Nature.

The secrets of the "black diamond"

The truffle has grown from scented mushrooms to the highly coveted "black diamond" in just a few years. Indeed, it has made a remarkable and unprecedented ascension into the world of luxury and haute cuisine.

France and Italy occupy a dominant position in the truffle market, where prices keep breaking records year after year. But other countries are emerging, such as Spain or, more surprisingly, Oregon in the USA.

This film takes us around the world to understand the secrets of this precious tuber.

The favorite spice of lovers of sweet things

It is one of the favorite spices of lovers of sweet things. Its evocative name is synonymous with subtle aromas.

However, it must be authentic because the vanilla can only be natural for purists, like pastry chefs or ice-cream makers. Unfortunately, the market has gone wild, and artificial flavor retailers are everywhere.

This film takes us on a journey from Madagascar's primary forests to the islands of Polynesia, where growers have one obsession: to magnify this green vine for the pleasure of our taste buds.

Life along the banks

The Mekong river runs over 5,000 km and across 6 countries: China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam where it ends with its famous delta.

For hundreds of years, it has provided shelter, food and all kind of natural resources to over 60 million people who lived in harmony with the generous mother of all rivers. However, with the rapid growth that South East Asia is experiencing, as witnessed by the ever increasing constructions and economic development projects, the fragile balance of communities living by and from its waters is at stake.

Facing a threat as well as an opportunity, the future of the Mekong lies in the diversity of the cultures and the beauty of its landscapes shaped both by the river and its inhabitants.

Reminiscing 60 years of adventures

This elephant is almost 60-year old, he is huge but weary. Like all the ancients, he now lives on his own accompanied by his many memories.

So many things has happened in his very long life. There were the joyful youth years, the struggle to hold his rank within the group before quitting it, the never ending migration because of the dry season, the joy of bathing to shrug off the tyranny of this big body which need feeding again and again.

This film is his story and his memories.

Carving Divinity

Miyabori is a traditional wood carving technique used in Japanese temples and shrines.

It’s an obscure and underrated form of art that has been offered a new lease on life thanks to long trained and skillful masters.

Elizabeth Tinsley, a specialist in Buddhist culture and former fellow at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is exploring landmarks as well as workshops of Miyabori master carvers to unveil this Japanese hidden treasure that might have inspired Hokusai’s Great Wave.

There are several hundred moons in the solar system.

In our never-ending search for extraterrestrial life, some of these stars could harbour the elements essential for the development of life.

The Marquesas Islands Arts Festival

The Marquesas Islands Arts Festival, Matavaa, is a time of intense celebration.

Each edition is an opportunity for the locals to unite with much fervor around their culture.

A life changer

Why is music vital to our brain? How does it play a decisive role in our development?

Through an international scientific and neurological investigation, this film unveils the mystery of music’s multiple powers at every stage of our lives.

A spectacular and ancestral migration

The Mustang region spans about 80 kilometers northeast of Nepal. Every year, villagers of this kingdom surrounded by mountains bring their horses south to escape the winter’s harshness.

We follow these men through this spectacular and ancestral migration, crossing remote and beautiful valleys, discovering old villages, and always with the majestic peaks of the Himalayas in the background.

All is not lost

Some places on the planet still haven’t been spoiled by human activity.

Renowned for their natural beauty, they represent a heritage worth looking after for future generations.

The mystery of the famous Queen resting place

For over a century, the location of the Nefertiti’s tomb has been the object of an insatiable quest.

This film investigates this "cold case" with the help of scientists using avant-garde technologies such as thermography, ground penetrating radar, or genetic analysis.

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.

The last stronghold of the ancient Egyptian religion

Today, in Egypt, the temples of Philae stand out as one of the most iconic attractions of the Ptolemaic era. Philae was the last stronghold of the ancient Egyptian religion.

But the island of Philae was submerged, and it became the subject of an unusual and titanic archaeological rescue operation. The sanctuary was dismantled piece by piece and rebuilt exactly as it was before on another island.

A sophisticated world

The last two decades of research have revealed extraordinary new insights into the unexpectedly sophisticated insect world.

Combined with modern cinematic technology and new techniques like electron microscopy and confocal microscopy, this landmark series captures insect behavior in previously impossible ways.

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!

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.

Quaint neighborhoods

Yokohama and Tokyo have always been business centers and trading bases since the early Meiji period.

Some neighborhoods have kept their historical architecture, making them testimonies of the time passing by, while subjected to the influence of modern western-style buildings.

Honoring Shiva

In Nepal, ancestral customs are the highlights of numerous religious festivals that attract huge crowds. They take place in magnificent temples where sadhus, monks who have renounced all material ties, officiate.

We follow Shivadas who treks along dizzyingly steep trails in the Langtang mountains for a spectacular pilgrimage.

His destination is the lake of Gosaikunda, at an altitude of 4,380m, to honor the god Shiva.

The heavenly islets

The Saint Brandon archipelago, off the coast of Madagascar, is part of Mauritius Island. It’s a shoal of thirty tiny islets, some mostly sandbars.

This lost heaven accommodates only birds and about a dozen fishermen and is so remote that it only appears on a limited number of marine maps.

Saint Brandon is a magical and pristine place under threat, hosting unconventional inhabitants craving an authentic and timeless lifestyle.

Threatened by human activity

Sumatra's priceless biodiversity is today threatened by human activity. Elephants, tigers, rhinos, and orangutans, all endemic to the island, are facing extinction.

How to share the land between humans and animals? Can they both be protected? Is there a chance to save these last big representatives of wildlife?

We follow a passionate naturalist, accompanied by elite squads and committed activists, to meet those who dedicate their lives to the animal cause in what remains one of the last natural paradises on earth.

Remarkable behaviors and survival strategies

Spanning from the Arctic's icy waters to Patagonia's vibrant ecosystems, this series delves into the enigmatic world of marine wildlife, unveiling unprecedented behaviors and survival strategies.

Each episode reveals how these creatures adapt to their ever-changing environments and the challenges posed by predators and prey.

From military outpost to artistic haven

The Matsu Archipelago is Taiwan’s most exposed outpost, located at the southeastern tip of Fujian Province, mainland China. After years of living under martial law, the islands returned to a more normal life.

In 1997, British photographer Chris Stowers visited Matsu and witnessed these dramatic changes, turning this militarized region into an artistic center.

He is now back. With its picturesque villages and quaint customs, Matsu seems to have successfully achieved its transition.

A successful coexistence between man and animal

The Shuklaphanta Reserve is the first national park created in Nepal in 1973. This area is exceptional on many accounts, including its diverse landscapes and hundreds of animal species - 22 of which are critically endangered. It may look like a mix of Europe and Africa, yet we are indeed in the heart of Asia.

The reserve is a small paradise. Despite human pressure, it has managed to strive to offer wildlife a haven. However, the fragile cohabitation is a daily struggle for associations and park rangers who must raise awareness and educate the people about the advantages of co-existing with Nature.

If the nearby inhabitants’ quality of life improves, the need to plunder the forest will diminish, and the kingdom of Shuklaphanta can look forward to a bright future.

In the footsteps of the British settlers

Traveling through southeastern Australia between Sydney and Melbourne is to follow in the footsteps of the British settlers who built this country over the past two centuries.

It's also an opportunity to meet the Aboriginal people and discover their age-old traditions.

A true continental country, Australia is, above all, beautiful and always welcoming.

The fabulous journey of a man passionate about the skies

When he took off to reach the International Space Station, the young French astronaut Thomas Pesquet became the new hero of a generation.

His exceptional destiny was probably the result of the epic stories he heard as a child: mythical conquests of Space, men walking on the moon and experiences defying the laws of gravity. But the astronaut of today is also a man of the future contemplating life in space or the first manned missions to Mars.

SPACE TOMORROW depicts the fabulous journey of a man passionate about the skies, the big adventures of the past and the challenges of tomorrow.

The machines that take us farther, higher, and faster

We live in a time when the world has never been smaller when we can drive, sail, or fly almost anywhere.

This series is about our civilization’s ceaseless desire to move and the machines that take us farther, higher, and above all, faster.

Our host and engineering expert, Sean Riley, takes us across continents, into the skies, under the ocean, and into space to showcase humanity’s innate need for speed — for pleasure, work, exploration, and survival.

The 2020 race, a year like no other

The 24 hours of Le Mans, the mythical endurance race, usually occur in June. Due to the health crisis, the 2020 race was held in September without a public. This film follows the EDEC team in this unprecedented context.

Two cars broke down during qualifying and had to be repaired overnight, resulting in a one-lap penalty on the starting line. At the end of the first lap, they were in last place.

This was the start of an improbable comeback.

A highline to the Mont Saint Michel

Nathan Paulin is a slackliner with an impressive track record who has turned his passion into a profession.

Despite his apparent ease of walking on a 2cm wide strap, he’s always looking for new challenges.

For over a year, the camera follows his preparation for what will be, if he succeeds, his longest line: 2,200 m to the legendary Mont Saint-Michel.

The great troublemaker of the Mediterranean

The Callinectes sapidus has a blue carapace ringed with slightly orange spines and pincers powerful enough to break oysters.

This crab of American origin is now spreading all over the Mediterranean, ravaging the local crustacean and mollusk population and affecting the fish stocks.

From France to Sicily and from Tunisia to Catalunya, this invader has dramatically disturbed the local ecosystems with sometimes surprising consequences.

The dry season ordeal

The Pantanal, in Brazil, is the world's largest swampland; every year, without fail, it inflicts a frightful ordeal on its inhabitants. Indeed, the dry season shrinks it to drastic proportions, sending the local wildlife into a desperate race against the clock.

The animals must reach one of the few remaining humid areas, knowing there won't be enough room for everyone. For the numerous caimans, this comes down to a struggle for life.

This film follows one of them, a young male. Will he be able to find space in a safe zone and stay there until the rains come back, synonymous with survival and mating?

Massive constructions under pressure

Even the most basic bridges are engineering challenges exposed to the elements (wind, rain, seawater...) that damage these massive constructions. Intensive road traffic is also a factor of additional constraints. A crack, even a microscopic one, or a rust point in the wrong place can have serious consequences.

To avoid the worst, bridges are subject to permanent controls and repairs using advanced techniques such as, for example, breaking concrete with high pressure water or cutting a cable so tight that it could unleash like a giant whip.

Maintenance specialists perform daily tasks that are not well known to the public in order to prevent tragedies.

The young and the restless

This film tells the daily life of a baby baboon and its clan.

There are the boisterous teenagers, other moms with their babies and, most impressive of all, the Leader. And then they are those who covet its place accounting for why young males are constantly fighting to train.

Interactions within the clan are rich and incredibly complex. But, above all, the group is highly organized and united to address the challenges of everyday life: guarding against the leopards, finding food...

A small piece can arouse homesickness

This series introduces the intricate relationship between an icon of traditional ingredients and people from China or abroad.

From Xinhui to Paris, Hong Kong, the United States or Singapore, each episode explores a different theme: the merit of dried tangerine peel, the history of its production, its innovative use and the nostalgia it begets.

There's a buffalo in every cow

With their clipped horns and tagged ears, cows are the ultimate portrayal of animal domestication. Yet, a closer look at their behavior reveals features reminiscent of their wild counterparts.

Shot over a year like a blue-chip documentary in the savannah, this surprising film shows us, day after day and season after season, that, in the end, taming has not erased the essence of the species.

A gastronomical journey

From hunting and gathering on the African savannas to the modern American supermarket, our essential food needs have driven human evolution, invention, and progress.

This series serves up a story 2-million years in the making of what was, is, and will be on our plates.

We dig into the science, history, and societal significance of food in the daily life of mankind.

What turned houses into homes

The fundamental elements of daily life, such as the need for shelter, comfort, and sustenance, have transformed our lives.

World-renowned architects, designers, artisans, and historians share insights on every aspect of the house: from the hallways to the kitchen, then upstairs to the bedrooms and bathrooms.

Filmed in 10 countries across 4 continents, the series features 35 stunning locations and many more eye-popping homes.

A liquid force

As it flows north from Patagonia to the equator, the Humboldt Current is a liquid force that enables life in the sea and on land.

We follow a female blue whale as she exploits the current from its genesis in the chilly seas off Antarctica to her breeding ground in the tropics.

Along the way, the current provides a banquet for large and minute marine creatures, impacting weather miles from the coast.

Living beings with superpowers

Living beings have a very variable lifespan; it can be centuries, years, or just a few days, but all eventually face extinction. Yet some animals defy both death and time. They are called tardigrade, lobster, and naked rattaupe and possess real superpowers that enable them to fight disease and aging.

In trying to unravel their mystery, a question arises: do they have the secret of eternal life?

Everything you always wanted to know about the savannah

Nowadays, images of African wildlife are familiar, yet audiences seem to never tire of them as they are always a source of wonder and bewilderment. Although one might think to have seen everything, there is still more to learn and discover.

This series covers some of the most filmed animals, yet its innovative and comprehensive approach to African fauna has attracted the most prestigious broadcasters worldwide.

A winning survival strategy

It is a small country, barely the size of an American state, with 25 million inhabitants and an insignificant economy.

Yet, North Korea has become a nuclear military power to reckon with, and its ruling family has been incredibly successful at keeping a grip on the country when other dictatorships have vanished long ago.

Their favorite tools are to terrorize the population and blackmail the world. This is how one ensures the survival of the first communist dynasty in History—an ongoing winning strategy.

Also available as 90mns

A natural gem between heaven and earth

In the heart of the Himalayas, the Nepalese region of Manaslu is a natural gem between heaven and earth.

Here, Man and Nature have existed since the dawn of time. Humans and animals have learned to adapt and survive under the most extreme conditions.

These valleys - still secluded not long ago – are opening to the outside world, and the local communities try, often successfully, to control these unavoidable mutations and maintain their traditional lifestyle while adjusting to modernity.

Some fare better than others

In nature, there are the herbivores to whom nothing smiles right away (barely born already eaten) and others who fare better like THE LUCKY ZEBRA. How else to call this little male born in the dry season who, throughout his life, will enjoy a lucky star.

Confronted with drought, predators, competing males, he always manages to get by. Over the years, he has led without fail and damage the small harem he has patiently built.

But in the end, is it just luck or is this zebra just more cautious, skillful and smart than the others?

Military superstructures

Vauban is probably the best military architect and engineer in History.

Endlessly copied around the world, his unique system of fortifications protected France from invasions, making Louis XIV the most powerful monarch of his time.

The Vauban system consisted of an iron belt of 180 fortresses scattered around the country, each of them rivaling in technical ingenuity.

Making silent archives speak

This series gives a new life to silent archives.

It shed new light on WWII and the preceding years by revealing what the masters of the Reich and their acolytes were really saying to each other while being filmed, thinking no one could hear them.

Surprising or trivial, mundane or astonishing, their words now deciphered give a new perspective on these historical archives and get us closer to the harsh reality of these tragic days.

The sea repairmen

"If we do nothing, in 20 years, the Mediterranean will be a dead sea". This sentence by Jacques Yves Cousteau in 1979 is still relevant today, and as is often the case, there is good and bad news.

The good news is that measures have been taken to ensure the Mediterranean does not die. The bad news is that more than 40 years have passed, and the newspapers are still headlining the same sentence.

But what is the reality? Is the battle lost in advance? What measures have been put in place?

Northern France gastronomy

Close to the Belgian border, Northern France was better known for its earthy and basic country-style dishes than its culinary sophistication.

But things are changing, and Lille, the main city, is fast becoming a gastronomic destination with emerging talents.

This film unveils this transition from traditional cuisine to creative gastronomy steeped in the region’s roots and local products, showcasing dishes that deserve to be known.

Adapting to climate change

After having almost disappeared, the otter has begun to reclaim rivers thanks to the ban on trapping, river clean-up measures, and the protection of its natural habitat.

But a new tragedy threatens its survival: global warming.

Torn between tradition and modernism

The rediscovery and interpretation of the Baroque repertoire (a musical genre that spans the 17th and first half of the 18th centuries) has been one of the most passionate and exciting debates of the past decades.

The movement began in the early 1950s with the advent of the LP and the creation of the Erato label and reached its peak in the 1970s with the heated debates between the proponents of the classical and symphonic tradition on the one hand and, on the other, the advocates of a return to the sources, to period instruments and tuning forks.

A mosaic of cultures

The far north of Vietnam is home to various small ethnic groups with different languages, lifestyles, and clothing styles. They often live in isolation in this magnificent mountainous region and try to keep their traditions alive by wearing splendid costumes that distinguish the groups.

Rehahn is a photographer who has settled in the country and opened a gallery where all his work is collected. He has made the diversity of traditional costumes his favorite subject.

Once again, he heads north on a colorful journey to document and bear witness to these remote ethnic groups.

United to survive

In the garden of a country house, a colony of Rufibarbis ants wakes up after the winter.

In the six months from spring to autumn, it faces the age-old challenge of survival.

The hard workers, the dedicated soldiers, and the precious queen join forces to meet the demands of reproduction and to fight the dangers of theft, slavery, or flooding.

The best spots in the world of climbing

Moab, Utah. A desert town with massive sandstone towers where climbers test their limits.
Boulder, Colorado. The social hub of US climbing.
Innsbruck, Austria. The highest concentration of talent.
Catalunya, Spain. The sport climbing capital of the world.

This film is a fast-paced ride through the centers of the climbing universe.

The architect of the elements

Itami Jun is a Japanese-born Korean architect.

In this film, he revisits the places he cherished, specifically the thoughtful and sensitive architectural works he designed.

His original and innovative approach has been revealed in the design of ensembles and by a meticulous choice of materials. Favoring wood, stone, and metal, he has revived the tradition of harmony with nature for a more humane architecture.

Also available as a 112'

A window into nature’s evolution

Because it is susceptible to the consequences of global warming, the Mediterranean Sea has recently become the focus of scientific attention.

What do we know about the mechanisms that regulate its ecosystems and biodiversity?

This series focuses on three areas where animal and plant species have adapted in surprising and unprecedented ways, giving researchers a window into nature’s evolution.

Existential questions

This series seeks to answer some of the Universe’s biggest mysteries.

Why is so much of the Universe missing? Are there other planets like Earth? What is life? Are there parallel universes?

Each episode tells the stories of the incredible breakthroughs that revolutionized our understanding presented by those who did it. It tackles the latest scientific research and reveals astonishing new theories and discoveries.

The fluctuating fortunes of humankind

The world has witnessed the rise of many extraordinary empires, each one perfectly adapted to its environment.

This series explores how civilizations have evolved, innovated, or faced their fall in response to an ever-changing planet.

Science is now revealing a new picture of the past, with a unique record of fluctuating climate conditions through the millennia. This revolutionizes our understanding of history, uncovering how the planet drives the fortunes of humankind.

The resistance to antibiotics

The world is on the cusp of a major threat: bacteria are developing resistance to existing antibiotics faster than new ones are coming onto the market. An ever-widening gap is opening.

For the first time in recent history, we must accept that not all bacterial infections are treatable - with implications in all areas of medicine, from surgery to oncology.

The WHO has been using the term "silent pandemic" because antibiotic resistance is creeping, unnoticed in society, but with the potential to upend our health system.

The genesis

This film is a journey through space and time to understand our origins.

It starts with the creation of our solar system 4.8 billion years ago, takes us through its changes and evolutions until today, and looks at its future.

A monument like no other

The Million-Year-Old Temple was built by the formidable Pharaoh Hatshepsut, a woman of remarkable strength and vision, in just seven years.

This unique masterpiece in Egyptian architectural history differs significantly from the monuments of her predecessors thanks to innovative technologies used in its construction.

Vehicles of myths

In the north of Togo, marking the border with the Sahel, a mountainous relief shelters the Kabyé Country.

Ancient volcanoes have left behind a landscape of stones and rocks that the Kabyé people have learned to tame over the centuries.

In this sparse vegetation, the trees have passed along all the myths and serve as intermediaries between men and the gods.

Millions of tons of methane incubate under the permafrost

At the end of the world, past the Arctic Circle in the deep of Siberia, two Russian scientists are conducting a unique scientific and human experiment. Their aim is nothing less than saving the world from imminent destruction by trying to turn back time, going back to the Ice Age.

All scientists agree on one thing: the melting permafrost is one of the most dangerous and serious environmental catastrophes to come. This frozen layer under the earth’s surface incubates millions of tons of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. A few degrees warmer, the fragile permafrost will set off a climate bomb.

Sergey Zimov claims he has found a way to counter this threat.

A Buddhist paradise

Built in 1236, the Tofukuji temple is the largest Zen temple of Japan with 19 statues of Buddha, the Sanmon Gate designated as National Treasure, 3 wooden bridges and nearly 2,000 maples trees.

The combination of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage makes it a Buddhist paradise through the magical changing of the seasons.

A rare face-to-face encounter with the past

It is a precious archaeological relic, an exceptional find, preserved in a Danish marsh for over 2,500 years. The Tollund Man is a natural mummy offering a rare face-to-face encounter with the past.

When we contemplate this sleeping face that has miraculously survived the centuries, a host of questions come to mind: Where did it come from? Who was he? How did he live? What was he doing here, in the peat, with a rope around his neck?

An age-old medicine based on the relationship between man and nature

Traditional medicine continues to thrive at an altitude of 4,000 meters in the Huaraz region of Peru.

Thousand-year-old practices are perpetuated by women who gather plants in the mountains and shamans who perform treatments.

In sumptuous landscapes, from Huascaran, its highest peak, to the dizzying slopes of Machu Picchu, Andean cosmovision is explained through a gallery of fascinating and colorful characters.

The unknown 95% of our planet

In this remarkable new expedition series, we journey deep into the unknown 95% of our planet.

We enter an unexplored world where extraordinary discoveries await our multi-disciplinary team from the US, UK, Asia, and Europe.

The challenge of daring growers

Seeing vineyards in the North of France and above in Europe seems incongruous.

And yet, this film travels along this northern wine route from the Flanders to Sweden. This road has been in the making for several years now.

Climate change, consumer behavior, and the evolution of territories may have changed the map of wine growing forever.

An environment built by winds, birds and waves

The Caribbean archipelago is a string of islands sheltering a bountiful nature.

With unwavering resilience, life took hold in these isolated environments transported by blowing winds, migrating birds, or washed ashore. Today, these islands offer one of the richest biodiversity in the world.

This film explores this mesmerizing yet fragile wild Caribbean and its exceptional ecosystems.

Nature and fauna both unique and fragile

In Southern Africa, Namibia stretches its wild coastline for over 1000 kilometers and contains vast and beautiful arid desert areas.

Stubbornly, life always finds its way, and against all odds, these austere conditions have not discouraged wildlife from thriving.

With its stunningly beautiful images, this film reveals the glorious spectacle of nature and fauna, both unique and fragile.

Surviving plant and animal species from ancient times

Along Australia’s east coast, facing the Great Barrier Reef, lie vast wetlands occupied by rainforests, swamps, and mangroves.

More than any other region in the country, Queensland has exceptional biological diversity, with unique plant and animal species survivors of ancient times.

To enter these primary forests is to travel back in time to the earliest days of the island continent and tropical Australia’s origins.

One of the last untouched territories on the planet

In the tradition of great wildlife documentaries, we discover one of the last untouched territories on the planet, an archipelago of coral islands lost in the heart of the South Pacific: the Tuamotus.

This series offers a spectacular immersion into a unique ecosystem to highlight the beauty and complexity of this oasis.

It nestles one of the wealthiest underwater lives in the world, from small exotic fishes to giant ray mantas, sharks, and whales.

An architectural wonder and a technical prowess

In the 17th century, Louis XIV financed the digging of a canal connecting the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the second largest construction of his reign after the Palace of Versailles.

Using the latest technology of its time, the beautifully conceived Canal du Midi is among the oldest functioning canal in Europe and is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.

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.

An alarming future

This series raises the issues of global warming's effects and consequences on populations. How can they be anticipated and prevented? Are we all impacted equally?

From the Netherlands to the Mediterranean basin and North America, we cover six cases with an alarming future, six regions strongly impacted by global warming, and six different kinds of threats to urban or rural populations.

An endearing sea bird

With its exotic appearance and demeanor, sometimes affectionate, other times rowdy but often considered "comical", the puffin is a particularly endearing seabird.

A national emblem and a tourist attraction, its fate is nevertheless a matter of concern to Icelanders as couples have stopped breeding for a decade now.

Faced with this situation, a handful of enthusiasts mobilized to save the puffin.

Patagonia's coastline and ocean protection

Former Patagonia CEO Kristin Tompkins shared with her late husband the dream of rewilding Chile and Argentina.

Thanks to their foundation and coordinated work with scientists and the native population, their mission to create a national park is taking a new dimension by extending its reach to Patagonia’s fjords and seashores.