Current Affairs
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.
MALDIVES, OVERTOURISM AND SHARIA 52’
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.
SPILLOVER 90’
Fighting the future pandemics
Covid-19 has officially claimed at least six million lives so far. Yet, researchers predict that this could be just the beginning, as at least 10,000 other viruses can potentially infect humans.
However, up to now, these pathogens have only reproduced in animal hosts. Species extinction directly triggers epidemics, making the fight for more biodiversity an absolute necessity.
Fearless virus hunters are on the frontline in Malaysia, Cambodia, Congo, and Europe to protect the world from another pandemic.
THE KIM DYNASTY, A FAMILY AFFAIR [2x45’]
A winning survival strategy
It is a small country, barely the size of an American state, with 25 million inhabitants and an insignificant economy.
Yet, North Korea has become a nuclear military power to reckon with, and its ruling family has been incredibly successful at keeping a grip on the country when other dictatorships have vanished long ago.
Their favorite tools are to terrorize the population and blackmail the world. This is how one ensures the survival of the first communist dynasty in History—an ongoing winning strategy.
Also available as 90mns
THE 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.
A FIVE-STAR WORLD 52’
The dictatorship of ratings
Nowadays, whatever we do, it always ends with the same request: please provide a rating.
Whether a colorful scale from 0 to 10 or 1 to 5 playful stars, it’s quick and painless for the person providing the rating.
This film critically examines the “democratization” of rating systems and the consequences of this practice in our personal lives and for our collective freedoms.
BIG PHARMA 52’
A lobbying giant
You will never look at your medicine cabinet the same way.
Big pharma is big business and influences the economy and politics.
This film investigates the lobbying practices of this industry, which can dictate government health policies, possibly to the detriment of our health.
BUSINESS REVOLUTION [10x26’]
Change or disappear
In a fast-paced changing world, companies must exit their confort zone, break taboos and invent new business models.
This series helps us understand the disruptions that are shaking up industries and their players.
With each episode, men and women share their expertise and vision on digital, innovation, management, customer experience and responsibility.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, TOURIST MADNESS 52’
Number one destination in the Caribbean
Located between Cuba and Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic has become the number one tourist destination in the Caribbean.
Each year, the country welcomes five million holidaymakers, a record for this small country of eleven million inhabitants renowned for its gentle way of life.
But who really benefits or suffers from this economic growth?
FACE TO FACE [16x52’]
Their rivalry has often changed society
This is a series of comparative portraits featuring 2 well-known figures, seen through the prism of their rivalry. Adversaries, opponents, the best or worst of enemies... They have all been groundbreaking leaders in their fields: politics, science, technology, economy or the arts.
For each of them, their opposition became a driving-force and a constant challenge. The scale and scope of their contention went far beyond mere personal antagonism, and the results of their confrontation have often changed society and deeply impacted our lives.
GERARD DEPARDIEU, THE FALL OF AN ICON 52’
Sexual assaults on set
Equivocal grunts, an apparent obsession with sex, shocking comments... This investigation reveals disturbing images of actor Gérard Depardieu, who constantly seems possessed when in the presence of women.
These images have taken on particular significance since he was charged with rape and sexual assault following a complaint from a young actress, Charlotte Arnould who testifies in the film. Since then, around fifteen other women have come forward.
The trial is scheduled for March 2025.
What was going on on set and behind the scenes?
HAWAII, THE NATIVE RESURGENCE 52’
A fight for recognition
Since the United States annexed Hawaii in 1893, the descendants of the original Polynesian people have lost almost all their land.
Many wealthy Americans have heavily invested in the archipelago, building spectacular villas.
But today, an anti-American backlash is emerging among Polynesians who feel they are being considered second-class citizens.
KRESTY 90’
One of the oldest and largest prisons in Russia
Kresty is one of the oldest and largest prisons in Russia. Located in the center of Saint Petersburg, its history reflects the history of the country.
Throughout its 130-year, thousands of people have passed through these walls: revolutionaries, engineers, generals, writers, poets, scientists, thieves, serial killers.
The Kresty prison is society in a nutshell, where human vices as well as fortitude, freedom and dignity reveal themselves to the fullest.
LOVE AND SEX IN MEXICO 52’
Between machismo and modernity
Like many other Latin American countries, Mexico conveys an image of masculinity and religious conservatism when it comes to sex.
Yet, the capital has always been one of the most progressive in the region, and some native peoples display tolerance toward sexual minorities unknown in many European countries.
The Mexican society, with 130 million inhabitants, is complex and full of contrasts.
LOVE AND SEX IN SOUTH KOREA 52’
The land of bachelors
South Korea is the least fertile country in the world, and its population is estimated to halve by the end of the century. The cause is an ultra-competitive society obsessed with professional success. As a result, 75% of men and 68% of women aged 20 to 44 are single.
As finding a soulmate is not easy, South Koreans have become the world's most prominent cosmetic surgery consumers, and marriage agencies abound.
Faced with these pressures and constraints, many give up: no love, marriage, or children. For this generation, life can be successful in other ways. In return, sex appears to be a less complicated pastime than love.
MAKE AMERICA SWIFT AGAIN 52’
Sing it to the ballot
Taylor Swift is more than an absolute pop star; she is an empire worth over a billion dollars. According to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, the launch of her latest tour was decisive for the rebound of the U.S. economy.
Yet, despite her image as a consensual star and her apolitical lyrics, the singer tears through an America stirred by a particularly violent presidential campaign.
The Democrats dream of counting on her media support, while the Republicans, mired in candidate Trump's legal troubles, are terrified by the influence Taylor Swift could have on the election.
MISSING, THE STORY OF ELOI ROLLAND [6x26’]
The tragic fate of a young expatriate
Eloi Rolland, 18, arrives in New Zealand to learn English and live new experiences away from his parents.
On the evening of March 6, 2020, he leaves his host family, but no one knows where he’s spent the night. The next day, he is spotted at the Britomart station to catch the train to Swanson. He gets off in New Lynn and heads for the intersection of Scenic Drive and Piha Road, his last known location.
At this point, his phone stops ringing for good.
MYTHICAL BEACHES OF THE SIXTIES: THE NEVER ENDING SUMMER [5x45’]
A symbol of sensuality and freedom
In the 60s, beaches were the places where glamour met the dolce vita and symbolized sensuality and freedom. Seaside living became a lifestyle when the rest of the world was dealing with the cold war, a man was setting foot on the moon, the flower power was the craze and everybody proclaimed the motto “Born to be Wild”.
From Copacabana to Saint-Tropez, passing by Capri, Malibu and Daytona Beach, the “places-to-be” had all the same denominator: bursts of energy, youth and tanned bodies.
NARCO BUSINESS [3x19’]
An investigation into the Sinaloa cartel
How do you investigate a Mexican cartel without risking your life? Call on a specialist in the economics of crime to answer Internet users' questions about the narco business's behind-the-scenes workings.
With him, we study the Sinaloa cartel, which specializes in the production of fentanyl, a drug forty times more lethal than heroin, responsible for tens of thousands of victims every year.
From the manufacture of fentanyl in clandestine workshops in Mexico to the laundering of millions of dollars from its sale through trust companies in Dubai, our expert unravels the business model of this gang that is flooding the United States with this addictive drug.
ORLANDO, THE WORLD CAPITAL OF FUN 52’
A not so rosy reality
Fifty years ago, Orlando was just a farming town growing oranges.
Today, the world capital of amusement parks is sprawling and developing frenetically, with no other American city growing as fast.
But behind the success story, there is a less rosy reality, from security issues of the rides to the precarious living conditions of the industry’s employees, some even sleeping in their cars.
PARIS FIRE BRIGADE: SAVING NOTRE DAME! 52’
The fire that shocked the world
The fire at Notre Dame de Paris on April 15, 2019, shocked the world. The flames ravaged the cathedral's roof and threatened to destroy its historic heritage, including its precious stained-glass windows and millennia-old sculptures.
The firefighters worked tirelessly to bring the blaze under control, managing to save the main structure and some of the most precious relics.
The incident sparked a massive wave of international solidarity, with pledges of funding for the reconstruction of this iconic building, which is a symbol of French culture and history.
SILENT INVASION, CHINA'S BALKANS STRATEGY 52’
The search for new areas of influence
While Serbia and Montenegro are knocking on Europe’s door, China is investing heavily in infrastructure in the Balkans.
But the investments come with strings attached.
THE MAN WHO DEFIED BEIJING 58’
The forgotten Nobel Peace Prize winner
Human rights hero and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo was a key figure in the Tiananmen uprising. He was arrested under the same security law China imposed upon Hong Kong, spent nine years in jail, and died a few weeks upon his release.
His name remains little known outside of Asia as the Chinese regime has done everything possible to erase it from our collective memory. Alas, for the Beijing masters, Liu Xiaobo left a political legacy in the form of a lengthy interview before his arrest.
This exceptional film is his legacy supplemented with the testimonials of those closest to him. The portrayal of the great Man is also the compelling story of China's radical mutations.
THE RED PRINCESS 52’
A very powerful woman
A feminine figure has recently emerged in the Kim dynasty: Kim Yo-jong, the little sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Initially, her softer approach and modernity have charmed the foreign media. But quickly, the grim reality emerged. Kim Yo-jong is indeed a clan member who is pursuing the survival of her dynasty.
This compelling portrait of Kim Yo-jong offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the ruthless brutality of the North Korean dictatorship.
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.
TODAY, TOMORROW... AND THEN? 52’
Expanding human activity while preserving resources
This film focuses on sustainable development and, more specifically, on innovative solutions to address social, environmental, and economic issues in a way that does not jeopardize the future of our planet.
From Thailand to Senegal and France we follow the action of people and organizations which demonstrate that it is possible to expand human activity while preserving resources and biodiversity.
WHEN I WAS SIX, I KILLED A DRAGON 52’
A young girl battles leukemia
On April 5, 2012, director Bruno Romy and illustrator Annabelle Cocollos learned that their daughter, Mika, who was 6 years old at the time, had leukemia.
The family decided to document her battle towards being cured.
This film is a combination of drawings, photos, animation and live footage, a moving account of a heartwrenching situation.