One of France’s leading independent television producers KWANZA is the association of a director, Jean-Michel Corillion, and a producer, Benjamin Ternynck.
Created in 2006, the company produces and distributes high-end documentaries in high definition, thanks to international co-financing.
KWANZA can rely on strong relations with many international broadcasters from around the world. As a result, our documentaries have a universal appeal, fabulous pictures, strong characters and effective storytelling. The company provides with a wide range of genres, including adventure and travel titles, nature and wildlife, ethnography and history, bold science and knowledge documentaries, as well as fascinating kids programs.
KWANZA programs regularly win major international festival awards, and are highly rated by the viewers and industry peers.Rapidly expanding, KWANZA distributes its own production worldwide, along with other international catalogues of world-class producers.
CONTENTSADVENTURES - EXTREME SPORTS ..............................
GREEN - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ..............................
PEOPLE Of ThE SEA .....................................................
hUMAN INTEREST .........................................................
ANIMATION ....................................................................
CONTACT ......................................................................
SCIENCE - SCIENTIfIC EXPEDITION .............................
PEOPLE Of ThE MOUNTAINS .......................................
NATURAL hISTORY ........................................................
ARChEOLOGY ..............................................................
NATURE - wILDLIfE .......................................................
SPECIAL bRAzIL ............................................................
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movie DirectorThierry Robert
SynopSiSThe Arctic Summer is slowly coming to an end. Alban and Vincent have just set off in their kayaks on a dangerous journey off Greenland’s coastline. They are going to paddle over 1 000km between the two sole communities laying on the Eastern coast, in order to explore the underwater world, below the icebergs.During two breathtaking months the two adventurers will be kayaking in the deep canyons of the fjords, making spectacular dives underneath icebergs, watching all along the big polar sea mammals and other unknown beautiful creatures.But the expedition is not easy sailing. It is getting harder and harder, as much as the temperature
is falling down, and the weather conditions are getting worse. The Piterak is menacing. This famous katabatic wind can blow up to a speed of 200km per hour.In addition, the sea ice is growing compact and is impeding their progression. The two men may get trapped in such a gigantic ice maze, and have to rush to finish the expedition, before it gets too late…Will they make it to their final destination?
COpROduCeRsLe Cinquieme Reve, France 3, TV5 Monde, Planète+ Thalassa
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SynopSiSExtreme athletes are the adventurers of the
modern era. Beyond the adrenaline rush there
is a constant quest for the «perfect moment», a
moment of absolute freedom and euphoria.
The physical feats of these athletes, whether in the
air, on the ground or in the water, are their personal
quests for the sensation of being completely in
tune with the surrounding elements, in utmost
respect for the forces of the nature, which pushes
them to achieve exceptional performances.
These men and women are constantly pushing
their limits, driven
by simple values of
respect, humility and
fraternity.
Bali, Cape Verde, Brazil, Polynesia, Alaska, Chile,
Spain, Morocco, Micronesia, Australia, the mythic
mountains of Chamonix and the giant waves of
«Jaws» off the coast of Hawaii…
Through the Perfect Moment series live the
ultimate adventure and explore the most fabulous
places on our planet.
COpROduCeRsThierry Donard Films (theatrical release)
MOvie diReCTORThierry Donard
9X 100’Hd
Constantly thinking the unthinkable and how to
push their own limits is undoubtedly a source
of intense satisfaction to these extraordinary
athletes that we call «freeriders».
Most of them have become stars on the
Internet where their athletic achievements
are marveled at by countless fans. Their
playground is an untamed nature where many of
their attempted exploits still seemed unimaginable
only a couple of years ago.
Pushing the limits is not just about showcasing
a few daredevils rolling
the dice of life. It is
more about learning
how to stretch
one’s own limits while remaining aware of the
consequences and humble enough to let go.
These athletes constantly live on the edge, yet
they remain simple human beings.
Pushing the Limits recounts the stories of
extraordinary people and their relationship with
the elements.
COpROduCeRsThierry Donard Films (theatrical release)
MOvie diReCTORThierry Donard
90’Hd
perfect MoMent
pushing the LiMits
3
ADVENTURES - EXTREME SPORTS
SynopSiS
SynopSiS
COpROduCeRsVictorimage, GMHM
MOvie diReCTORsJ. Delasnerie & J-F Didelot
In 2011, six French mountain climbers, all
members of the MGHM - Military Group for High
Mountain based in Chamonix, France - achieved
a world premiere. They managed to cross
the Darwin cordillera, in Tierra del Fuego. This
expedition was considered impossible before
then.
During 30 days, they filmed their uncertain and
extremely dangerous progress on these glaciers
of the end of the world, in the worst weather
conditions known to man, and where they could
count on absolutely no
assistance.
How did they succeed
on their own, where
all previous attempts had failed? Thanks to this
exceptional document, which unveils grandiose
isolated and virgin landscapes, they allow us to
live this extraordinary human adventure on the
inside, at the heart of one of the last unexplored
regions of the world.
crossing the corDiLLera DarWin
There are more people who have walked on
the surface of the Moon than those who have
dived below 800 feet. Pascal Bernabe is one
of them. In 1996, still unknown to the public, he
accepted to dive 577 feet deep to bring back
two robots trapped in a cave. The mission was
successful. But Pascal got addicted to ultra-
deep diving. Dive after dive, Pascal managed
to go deeper and deeper. Ultimately, after years
of training, he broke the world record attaining
- 1 083 feet. But Pascal was not alone. Since
the 1960s, scientists,
industries and divers
have worked hand in
hand to explore man’s
ability to reach extreme depths. In this quest for
the unknown, the risks are huge: high-pressure
nervous syndrome and narcosis can often lead
to death.Find out how an ordinary man has
become the deepest diver in the world.
COpROduCeRsLa Compagnie des Taxi-Brousse, France Televisions
MOvie diReCTORLaurent Mini
52’
52’HdDeeper
44
5
SynopSiS
CoproduCerS
movie direCtor
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SynopSiSDiscover the video diary of a man who spent 365 days in the ice fields,
3 000km away from any coast. Experience his year of total isolation
with winds as strong as 300km/h, temperatures as low as -50°C, and
penguins who never left his side during this longest and coldest winter on
Earth. Step behind the scene for a first-hand view of the amazing life of
polar expeditions!
One of the greatest scientific and human adventure ever undertaken
in Antarctica! July 1st 1957 marks the beginning of the International
Geophysical Year. Three scientists would winter for one whole year in an
aluminium hut, which was only 24m2 in size - buried under the ice, 320
km away from the coast, and without any possibility of relief. Today, two of
them remember…
ADVENTURES - EXTREME SPORTS
MOvie diReCTORs
France Televisions
Kwanza, Prodom,
J.M. Corillion & J. Zaccaria
52’ice bounD in antarctica
Public Senat, CNRS
Terra Incognita,
Djamel Tahi
365 Days unDer antarctic ice
Arte France
Zadig Productions,
David Rosanis
60’
2X 52’Quest for eXtreMe
Two men, two opposite challenges defying the human body.
ROADS TO THE DEEP: Loic Leferme is the world champion of No-Limit. His
next challenge is diving down to -180 m on one breath. None has ever made it,
will he? Life suddenly takes a leap into the unknown.
DUNE SURVIVOR: 30 days, 1 200 kilometers, only 4 liters of water per day, torrid
sand. Régis Belleville is the world record holder for the longest march between
two watering holes in the desert. Find out what thirst really is.
5
SynopSiSOver the past twenty years, Lynx, a 45-year-old woman, has lived in the forests in North-West America. She gradually abandoned modern civilization and learnt how to live using prehistoric survival skills.Every year, she passes on her knowledge and skills to a group of people from all over the world. For five months, they learn how to relinquish modern goods, of plastic and metal for example, replacing them with leather, wood and flint, like in Stone Age.Then, without tents, flashlights, sleeping bags, knives or matches, and dressed and equipped only with what they’ve made themselves, they go into the wild for a month
to simply try and survive. No one ever comes back the same person from this kind of journey.This documentary isn’t merely an adventure into some of the most beautiful landscapes of America. It is also, and more specifically, an intimate portrait of each of the ten participants, all from different social, professional and geographical backgrounds.As this unique experience unfolds, they learn about themselves, and maybe find answers to questions we all ask ourselves: Where is this “consumer” world we live in heading? What should our essential values be?
COpROduCeRsKwanza, Wind Horse, Canal+, BeTV
MOvie diReCTOREric Valli
52’HdLiving WiLD
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SynopSiSSugar, rice and cocoa play a large role in our daily
lives. But the way we consume these products
has a devastating impact on small farmers and
the environment: in the Philippines, Thailand and
the Amazon forest, the rules of international trade
are destroying nature and forcing people to
accept unbearable working conditions.
Yet, there are some real alternatives.
International trade expert and social entrepreneur
Tristan Lecomte travels around the world to
meet small-scale producers. He knows that
simple solutions already exist, which enable us
to develop economic growth, protect social
welfare while respecting the environment.
Enterprising farming communities prove this on
a daily basis and it is these solutions that Tristan
wants to bring to our attention.
Tristan will meet the main actors and decision-
makers of these huge economic sectors:
politicians, traders, powerful lobbyists and CEOs
of worldwide agro-processing companies.
But he will also take us on a discovery of this
other world, in which certain farmers and co-
operatives have refused an unfair economic
model, offering instead realistic alternative
solutions.
COpROduCeRsElzevir Films, Pur Projet, Ushuaia TV, France 5
MOvie diReCTORSylvain Braun
3X 52’Hdanother WorLD, small farmers, big ideas
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GREEN - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
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SynopSiSYakutsk, La Paz, Hammerfest and Bangkok are some of the harshest habitations in the world.Yakutsk: the coldest city on the planet. In this place known as “the cold pole”, the biggest challenge relates to the nature of the soil: the “permafrost”. With the warming of the climate, this frozen soil is melting and the buildings are threatened with collapse.La Paz: the highest capital in the world.Surrounded by 5 000 meter peaks, the city has always fought against nature to develop. Living at such an altitude is a permanent challenge to the human body.Hammerfest: a city in the dark. In the
northernmost city in the world, the sun disappears for 2 months every winter. This perpetual night causes extreme effects on people, known as “polar stress syndrome”.Bangkok: the drowning city. With deadly typhoons, increasing rainfall, the rising of the sea level and a land subsiding at 4 cm per year, water has become the biggest threat to the city’s survival.Discover how these cities struggle against the toughest environmental conditions on our planet to provide their populations with an acceptable level of existence.
COpROduCeRsArte France, Zadig, TV5 Monde, RTBF
MOvie diReCTORDavid Rosanis
4X 52’HdeXtreMe cities
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SynopSiS
52’HD
Our world is overflowing with exceptional
ecological treasures, and yet they are more
and more threatened by our own economic
development. To protect these sanctuaries of
virgin nature, numerous solutions have been
studied, but the only viable ones are rare,
complex and not always as effective as they
should be. Among those that have been tested
are sustainble development, repression, large
scale ecological projects and the fairly new
concept of eco-tourism.
These policies
however, designed to
protect endangered
sites or species
often lead to failure or a distortion of the original
intention.
From the delta of the Danube to Patagonia,
passing by Madagascar, Reunion Island and
the Everglades, JANGAL invites you to discover
the secrets that surround the difficult task of
protecting these natural earthly paradises.
Turtles live almost everywhere around the Indian
Ocean: in Madagascar, Comoros Islands, South
Africa, the Seychelles and Reunion.
But these animals, which are among the oldest
marine reptiles on earth, are facing many threats
today.
According to their historical and cultural
backgrounds, people in these areas see turtles in
different ways.
In Madagascar, these animals are hunted for their
meat, because of food shortage. In South Africa,
natural reserves have
been created to study
and protect them. In the
Seychelles, ecotourism
is booming and money is reinvested into turtle
protection programs. In any case, turtles are an
object of fight or cooperation among people.
“Men and Turtles” is a sort of investigative journey
in order to understand the local challenges and
issues around these fascinating animals, in beautiful
exotic landscapes.
COpROduCeRsTec Tec Production, Canal+ Overseas, France 5
MOvie diReCTORRémy Tezier
MOvie diReCTORsVarious
COpROduCeRsFrance 5, Strawberry Films
14X 52’JangaL
Men anD turtLes, a journey across the indian ocean
9
GREEN - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
SynopSiSEvery spring, in a remote part of Nepal, tens of thousands of villagers leave their dwellings for a dangerous trek to the Himalayas, in order to collect Yarsagumbu.This peculiar hybrid between plant and insect is being sold in China up to 60 000 USD a kilo, because of its medical wonders. That is much worthier than gold!Suga Lal too leaves his fields, which scarcely provide with enough to survive, along with his wife and his two sons to join a group of Yarsagumbu pickers. But this hidden treasure is rare and difficult to find. They will have to climb higher and higher, up to 5 500 meters, to gain enough for the whole year.
In the meantime, Dhanchandra, who works for a rich Yarsagumbu dealer based in Kathmandu, travels from camp to camp with a lot of cash, in order to buy the best specimen. It is a dangerous job - he could get robbed any time.Sometimes, the harvest has to be escorted by soldiers to Kathmandu, where it is shipped to high-class Hong Kong pharmacies.From the snow-capped summits of the Himalayas to luxurious penthouses in Hong Kong, from the hands of poor Nepalese to those of the wealthiest Chinese consumers, feel the incredible fever of this Himalayan Gold Rush.
COpROduCeRsKwanza, Wind Horse, France 5, CCTV9, NDR, SWR, ORF, RSI, SRF, TG4, VRT
MOvie diReCTOREric Valli
52’HdhiMaLayan goLD rush
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SynopSiSThe legendary Mont Blanc summit, the world’s
most famous ski resorts, picturesque villages,
crystal clear lakes, century-old glaciers and a
unique wildlife heritage... The sceneries of the
Alps are as diverse as they are breathtaking.
Through high quality aerial footage, we will take
you on an unforgettable discovery of the largest
mountain range of Europe. And all along, you
will learn about the activities and traditions of the
people dwelling in that region.
The Zanskar is a small forgotten valley surrounded
by the high peaks of the Himalayas. When the
snow-covered mountain passes are inaccessible,
people are cut off from the outside world…
Yet, a partially frozen stream opens a dangerous
120km path through a steep mountain range.
Traveling through Chadar’s gorges is a dangerous
ordeal for both children and grown-ups, who
have to endure cold, fatigue and thirst, along with
fear, dizzying heights and demons. The Zanskaris
never set foot on this shifting river without extreme
caution and prayers,
as the ice can easily
be fine one day and
fatal the next.
This time, 150 men are carrying timber to
Zanskari. They are also escorting some pupils
back to their school in Leh - Ladakh - after the
winter holidays. Meet these men, women and
children, who, every year, risk their lives on such a
fearsome ice trail.
COpROduCeRsMC4, Point Prod, Arte G.E.I.E, RTS, Montagne TV, TV5 Monde, Voyage
MOvie diReCTORJean Afanassieff
5X 52’Hdthe MaJestic aLps
COpROduCeRsKwanza, Lapied Films, RAI
MOvie diReCTORsAnne & Erik Lapied
chaDar, the ice trail
52’
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PEOPLE Of ThE MOUNTAINS
SynopSiSLamalera: a remote village of 2 500 people on the southern coast of Indonesia. In this hostile land where nothing grows, people have managed to survive only thanks to a spectacular age-old hunt: the traditional and sacred harpooning of sperm whales.Despite danger and hard lives, the villagers have always been self-sufficient, living according to their traditions, far from globalization. But today, this balance is about to be broken. As people from a neighboring island start fishing with dynamite, the whales are disappearing. With no more whales to hunt, Lamalera is dying.In order to survive and feed their families, some villagers decide to embrace modernity and
start using motors to fish further away from the island. But others want to preserve their traditional way of life at all costs, leading to a serious conflict of generations. Ancient social codes are falling apart. «Everybody for himself» is becoming the new model.Meanwhile, environmental protectionists are getting worried about overfishing and plan to turn the area into a natural reserve. What can we imagine for the last whale hunters?When globalization strikes and people are torn between the preservation of traditions and the need for modernity, discover how an entire village has to confront a new kind of battle, an ultimate battle—for their survival.
COpROduCeRsKwanza, France 3, France 5
MOvie diReCTORJean-Michel Corillion
52’HdLaMaLera, the ultimate battle
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SynopSiSFrom the peaks of the Himalayas to the film studios in Madras, from the
Sea of Oman to the South of Myanmar, the magnificence of India reveals
itself in multiple ways. Through strong human adventures, experience the
unique traditions and daily lives of moving characters, and discover the
heart of this extraordinary land.
Twenty-something year-old Maeva and Eteroa were born into the same
family in the heart of the Pacific on Rurutu Island, and adopted and raised
in Europe. Follow their moving and adventurous destiny, as they go back
to their native land for the very first time.
In Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, South Africa, Seychelles and
Réunion, turtles are everywhere. People treat them in various ways: in some
places they are hunted for their meat, while in others they are protected.
By exploring the various fates of these fascinating reptiles, this journey
will give you an insight into the social, economic and cultural differences
between these countries.
Bernard Crouzet
Diwali Films, Canal+,
France 3
6X 26’inDia’s stories
Jean-Michel Corillion
France 5, Canal Overseas Productions,
Bleu Lagon Productions
Kwanza,
52’Hdnative LanD, back to rurutu
Canal+ Overseas, France 5
Tec Tec Production,
Rémy Tezier
Men anD turtLes, a journey across the indian ocean
PEOPLE Of ThE SEA
SynopSiS
52’Hd
India 1946 – When Siam was born into a herd of wild elephants, nobody could foretell his great career – from the wilderness onto the cinema screen.Still as a cub, Siam was caught in the wooded jaws of the “khedda”, a giant trap, and trained to uproot trees and transport trunks.Soon remarked for his beauty and strength, Siam was sold to a rich merchant for traditional ceremonies. Wearing makeup and magnificent robes, he was the most beautiful of all, worshipped and beloved…One day, Siam was bought by the Knie circus in Switzerland. The elephant embarked on
an amazing journey, from Calcutta to Zurich, via the Suez Canal, and Genoa.Siam became the star of the circus. But his fierce nature revealed itself and on a fit of jealousy, Siam attacked an employee.But just like a cat, Siam had several lives and started a new career - as a comedian in Academy Award Winner Pierre Etaix’ film “YoYo”.In the last part of his life, Siam continued to entertain people in the renowned Paris zoo. He became so popular that at his death in 1997, he was stuffed and is now exposed to the public at the city’s National Museum of Natural History. Siam has grown “immortal”!
COpROduCeRsKwanza, France 5, RTBF, Discovery Asia, SRF
MOvie diReCTORJean-Michel Corillion
siaM, the elephant
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SynopSiSPhilippines - Agusan Marsh could well be one of
the last paradises on earth. Its wetlands stretch
over 50 000 hectares and are home to the
Manobos, a small fishing tribal community that
lives in floating houses.
But in those waters lurks a man-eating monster
- a giant crocodile over 20 feet long and 1,15
tons! The only way to survive is to track it down.
Catching the largest croc ever turns to be a
godsend for the nearby municipality. Hundreds
of visitors come to see it in the huge ecotourism
park, which was built
for it.
Out in the field,
Marc Gansuana, a
worldwide crocodile expert, tries to see to what
extent it’s possible to keep a crocodile like this in
captivity, while protecting it’s well-being.
Will the Filipino government manage to protect
the croc? In the meantime, there appears to be
another giant croc lurking in the marshes…
If you want to know more about the infinitesimally
large, you need to study the infinitesimally small.
That is what Laurent Soulier, a parasitologist
specialized in marine mammals, believes.
He probably can save entire populations of
humpback whales by analyzing their lice.
But firstly he needs to collect them from living
cetaceans.
This is a very dangerous mission. A whale weighs
40 tons. Even though they are not aggressive,
these animals are unpredictable. The pressure
exercised by their fluke
can knock out a diver,
without even touching
him!
Laurent will also have to figure out a way to take
such tiny parasites from their skin. With the help
of a local fisherman and an underwater field
expert, will Laurent succeed in his quest?
From his lab in France to the waters of New
Caledonia, Laurent takes us on an exceptional
adventure that could save the last humpbacks…
MOvie diReCTORJean-Michel Corillion
COpROduCeRsKwanza, France 2, RTBF, Planète+, Planète+ Thalassa
52’Hd
52’Hd
chasing the giant croc
COpROduCeRsKwanza, France 3, Discovery HD, France O, Planète Thalassa, RTBF, Bleu Lagon Productions,Mad Executive
MOvie diReCTORJean-Michel Corillion
the originaL WhaLe riDers
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NATURAL hISTORY
SynopSiSIn India, travelling cinemas, aka «Touring Talkies», have been a cultural and popular tradition, for almost a century now. If there were still a thousand of them around the country in the 1970’s, today, at times of digital technology, there are no more than ten tirelessly carrying their old scratched reels to remote villages. Their arrival is still a major event, a sort of enchanted interlude for the inhabitants, who often live isolated.Anup Jagdale has inherited the touring cinema from his father. Onboard his old rattling and colorful truck, he takes his «talkies» across the state of Maharashtra, one of the largest and most populated
in India, with valleys and high plateaus stretching to the Arabian Sea.Ancient equipment and unchanging gestures create every night the same small miracle, thanks to worn-out reels, an old white canvas, a projector from the early 1930’s and a big tent.Anup has brought Promot along on this trip, a boy from his village who wants to learn the business. Driving at around 40km per hour, days on the road are long. But they must keep up tradition. Day after day, road after road, they reach out to new audiences so that their dream of cinema can continue…
52’Hd
COpROduCeRsKwanza, RBB, Arte, Ushuaïa TV, CINE+
MOvie diReCTORThibault Férié
touring taLkies, the last indian travelling cinemas
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MOvie diReCTORs
Despite rapid scientific growth, much of how the brain works remains
a mystery. Through the moving story of Hugo - an autistic young man
suffering from Asperger’s syndrom - we will explore the extraordinary
sophistication of our own brain.
Heart transplants are a poignant pact of life between a donor and a receiver.
This prime-time docudrama explores the intimate experience of patients,
families, doctors and the intensity of these life and death stories.
Twenty-something year-old Maeva and Eteroa were born into the same
family in the heart of the Pacific on Rurutu Island, and adopted and raised
in Europe. Follow their moving and adventurous experience, as they go
back to their native land for the very first time.
22 years ago, Lynx abandoned modern society to live in the forest and
become an expert in prehistoric survival skills. Every year, she passes on them
to a group of people from all over the world. For five months, they learn how to
relinquish modern goods, and replace them with leather, wood and flint.
hUMAN INTEREST
Escazal Films / Elzevir
Films, France 2, Planète+
Sophie Révil
100’Hdhugo’s brain
France 2, Planète, RTBF
Escazal Films,
S. Révil & C. Barraud
100’Hdheartbeat
52’Hd52’Hd
Jean-Michel Corillion
Kwanza,
France 5, Canal Overseas Productions, Bleu
Lagon Productions
native LanD, back to rurutu
Canal+, BeTV
Kwanza, Wind Horse,
Eric Valli
Living WiLD
SynopSiS«Eat or be eaten» is not the only law in nature. All species, be they predators or prey, are eventually looking for the same thing: a partner to pair and give life... In other words: love. But as among humans, the path to it can be long and tricky. One must go through a succession of well-organized rituals, which are very rich, subtle and diverse among species.Whether funny, unusual, astonishing, violent or tender, animal rituals are always a mirror of human behavior!
Embark with us on a spectacular journey all around the globe, from the Australian bush to the forests of Europe, to discover the most extraordinary love stories of the world.
MOvie diReCTORLaurent Charbonnier
COpROduCeRsMC4, Arte G.E.I.E.
4X 52’HdLove is in the WiLD
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France Televisions
Kwanza, Afava,
Arthur Boisnard
With thrills and amusement, plunge into the ocean life and discover
incredible aquatic inhabitants. The princess manta ray, the magician frogfish
and the pickpocket octopus invite you to their fabulous show.
Discover how a man-eating beast was captured in the Philippines and
turned out to be over 20 feet long, i.e. the world’s biggest crocodile ever
caught. Yet this swampy and scarcely inhabited area may reveal even
bigger specimens in the near future!
A scientist is invested with a major mission: to protect whales by studying
their parasites! To do so, he must overcome his fears and establish physical
contact with these sea giants. Experience exclusive HD underwater footage
as you witness a worldwide scientific premiere...
In Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, South Africa, Seychelles and Réunion,
turtles are everywhere. In some places they are hunted, while in others they
are protected. The various fates of these fascinating reptiles reveal some of
the social, economic and cultural differences between these countries.
52X 3’fabuLous taLes of the enchanted deep
Kwanza, France 2,
RTBF, Planète+, Planète+ Thalassa
Jean-Michel Corillion
chasing the giant croc
52’Hd52’Hd
Jean-Michel Corillion
Discovery HD, France O, Planète Thalassa,
RTBF, Bleu Lagon Productions, Mad Executive
Kwanza, France 3, Tec Tec Production,
Canal+ Overseas, France 5
Rémy Tezier
the originaL WhaLe riDersMen anD turtLes, a journey across the indian ocean
NATURE - wILDLIfE
SynopSiSMOvie diReCTORJean Michel Corillion Humans depend on water to stay alive. From
desalination of seawater to rationing, every effort is being made to offset a worldwide shortage. Yet, one huge resource has been left behind: icebergs, 12 000-year-old pure freshwater.Icebergs break free from the poles’ glaciers, then drift and disappear. Every year the equivalent of mankind’s freshwater consumption melts away in the warm salt water of the ocean! So why not use a tiny part of what nature offers us: an iceberg, millions of tons of freshwater—but a mere drop on a world scale.For 40 years, engineer Georges Mougin has advocated ferociously for a revolutionary plan: to tow an iceberg to arid regions that need water.
Today, supported by internationally renowned specialists and with the help of cutting-edge 3D scientific simulation software, Georges wants to make real progress. Together they will work on a mind-blowing project: take an iceberg from the coast of Canada and tow it across the Atlantic before it melts.Let these men take you on a thrilling investigation around the world as they try to prove the feasibility of their project -and experience the incredible virtual odyssey of an iceberg across the globe.Towing and utilizing icebergs for freshwater: could the dream become reality?
COpROduCeRsKwanza, France 3, ZDF, NRK, Dassault Systemes, RTBF, VRT, ERT, Slovak TV
52’Hdthe iceberg proJect
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SCIENCE - SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION
MOvie diReCTORs
Discover the video diary of a man who spent 1 year in Antarctica 3 000km
away from any coast, with winds as strong as 300km/h, temperatures
as low as –50°C and penguins which never left his side. Step behind the
scene for a first-hand view of the amazing life of polar expeditions!
Explore our body and mind through adventures that defy the rules of biology...
ROADS TO THE DEEP: Loic Leferme is the world champion of No-Limit. His
next challenge is diving down to -180 m on one breath. None has ever made
it, will he? Life suddenly takes a leap into the unknown.
DUNE SURVIVOR: 30 days, 1 200 kilometers, only 4 liters of water per day,
torrid sand. Régis Belleville is the world record holder for the longest march
between two watering holes in the desert. Find out what thirst really is.
July 1st 1957 marks the beginning of the International Geophysical Year.
Three scientists would winter for one whole year in an aluminum hut only
24 m2 in size, buried under the ice, 320 km from the coast, without any
possibility of relief. Today, two of them remember…
Quest for eXtreMe
Arte France
Zadig Productions,
David Rosanis
2X 52’
Public Senat, CNRS
Terra Incognita,
Djamel Tahi
365 Days unDer antarctic ice60’
France Televisions
Kwanza, Prodom,
J.M. Corillion & J. Zaccaria
52’ice bounD in antarctica
SynopSiSHugo is 22. He suffers from Asperger’s syndrome, or “highfunctioning autism”. Exceptionally intelligent and endowed with an impressive memory, he’s an outstanding pianist, on a par with some of the best. Yet he lives shut away in his bedroom, a prisoner of his severe emotional and social handicaps. An invisible wall separates him from so-called “normal” or neurotypical people.Through a sensitive and touching docudrama, Hugo’s chaotic journey is told from birth to adult life, as well as his difficult battle to integrate into society.The fiction is intertwined with moving interviews with patients and their families,
which shed a light on their daily life, the violence of social interaction, and the difficulty of relationships. The film also points at wrong diagnoses or lack of response from doctors who opt all too quickly for committal to a psychiatric hospital.CGI takes you inside an autistic brain to better understand its characteristics. Unique archive footage traces the history of treatment and care provided for autistic people all over the word.Share the heartrending stories of these men, women and children who, like 1 in 150 people, live with this strange and mysterious syndrome...
COpROduCeRsEscazal Films / Elzevir Films, France 2, Planète+
MOvie diReCTORSophie Révil
100’Hdhugo’s brain
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SynopSiS
SynopSiSAssociated with the most terrible diseases
and with the epidemics threatening the whole
humanity, viruses have bad publicity. But are
they only evil? The answer is no. These micro-
organisms, which have remained unknown for
a very long time, have gradually revealed their
surprising capacities to help the prosperity of our
species.
About half of our genetic inheritance is composed
of sequences of viral origins. More surprisingly, a
virus that we all hold in our genetic inheritance
plays an essential
role in the formation
of the placenta. Also,
some viruses can
be invaluable tools to treat genetic diseases or
cancers.
The world of viruses is eventually revealing its
mysteries.
Heart transplants are a poignant pact of life
between a donor and a receiver. Who could
predict that people who just died can save lives?
Through a prime-time docudrama, experience
some extremely moving stories.
A strong character-driven fiction shows the
process of heart transplants. Maud, 26, is born
with a genetic heart disease, and urgently needs
a new heart to survive. Julian is a 17-year-old
healthy and lively young man. They don’t know
each other but their destinies are bound to cross:
one life for another…
Real-life protagonists
enhance the story
by sharing their
experiences. Finally, unique archive footage
and CGI animation explain one of the greatest
medical revolutions of our time.
52’
COpROduCeRsTGA Production, France 5, TVO, RTBF
MOvie diReCTORsJ. Crepu & A. Saïb
Doctor virus anD Mister hyDe
COpROduCeRsEscazal Films, France 2, Planète, RTBF
MOvie diReCTORsS. Révil & C. Barraud
100’Hdheartbeat
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SCIENCE - SCIENTIfIC EXPEDITIONSCIENCE - SCIENTIfIC EXPEDITION
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SynopSiSMotivated by a climate emergency, researchers have begun in recent years to explore Earth’s great ocean currents in depth. Through satellite imagery, soundings from thousands of profiling floats and computer models, these currents are gradually revealing their astonishing complexity.As we learn more about microscopic marine life, responsible for more than 50% of the oxygen we breathe, we are realizing that these organisms are closely linked with the movement of ocean currents.Featuring scientists from around the world, this well-documented film explains the
influence of the great ocean currents from a new angle while providing an update on recent discoveries.The quest involves a major challenge: to decipher the workings of this enormous machine and enable us to predict rapid and possibly radical changes in the conditions for life on Earth.Discover the great ocean currents, a fascinating and complex world on which the future of humanity depends.
COpROduCeRsMC4, Productions Nova Media, Arte France, Radio-Canada
MOvie diReCTORMarc Jampolski
52’HdreaLM of the oceans
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SCIENCE - SCIENTIfIC EXPEDITION
syNOpsis
syNOpsis
COpROduCeRsArte France, Constance Films, AMIP
The deep waters around an exotic atoll off the
coasts of Madagascar have drawn the attention of
the French Marine and Sub-marine Archeological
Department.
400 000 silver coins and several canons have been
smuggled to different museums. And this precious
bounty appears to come from a Portuguese
shipwreck of the late 16th century, which sank into
those waters – the Santiago.
Michel L’Hour, the chief of the Marine and Sub-
marine Archaelogical Department, is familiar with the
captain’s logbook of that
ship. Besides, Michel
hates looters. Thus
he has set himself three
tasks. He intends to get the looters imprisoned,
claim the treasure and find the remainder…
But reaching the wreck is not easy sailing: sharks
and strong waves make it unsafe.
Getting back the stolen pieces seems easier said
than done... And, are the police going to get hold
of the looters?
MOvie diReCTORKarel Prokop
52’Hd
52’Hd
the Lost goLD of corsica
COpROduCeRsArte France, Constance Films, AMIP
MOvie diReCTORKarel Prokop
Who stoLe the treasure of bassas da india?
This one-off is both a police investigation and
an archaeological documentary. Unique user-
generated archive footage allows retracing a
story spanning over twenty years.
It is the story of one of the most important
treasures ever found in the Mediterranean sea:
hundreds of rare objects, including a statue,
entirely made of gold.
This big bounty lay inside the wreck of a Roman
ship of the third century, which sank off the
coasts of Corsica. Its objects managed to pass
through obscure networks into the international
market, where they were sold for astronomical
prices.
While archaeologists are searching the wreck in
order try and solve many of the enigmas around
the ship, the INTERPOL is redoubling the efforts
of its people to nail down the looters and return
this priceless treasure to the French Marine and
Submarine Archaeological Department.
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ARChEOLOGYARChEOLOGY
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SynopSiSEveryone knows the Earth is round… but is it really? In man’s mind it has been flat, square, layered or sitting atop animals. Young Jo discovers an unusual box in his grandfather’s attic. To his surprise the box becomes bigger and starts to speak, awaking the curiosity of the child. Suddenly Jo is plunged into a fantasy world, guided by a friendly voice that shows him how people have imagined our planet through the ages.Since the beginning of time humans have constantly struggled to understand the shape and nature of the Earth. As they were unable to fully explore it, their imaginations gave birth to a rich and diverse spectrum of creation myths.
The Indians came up with the idea that the world was sitting on a giant turtle and earthquakes were caused by the movements of the animal!The Teleuts in Russia thought our planet was shaped like a plate placed atop four blue bulls. The Bebayaka in Africa were rather inclined to think that it was simply a thin layer of land, floating in an infinite ocean…The Greeks were the first to question the idea of the Earth’s flatness.With laughter and thrills, this captivation animated film special takes the entire family on an extraordinary adventure through time and space to explore mankind’s imagination.
COpROduCeRsCinquième Etage Production, Canal+, Planète, RTBF
MOvie diReCTORsP. Guidal & W. Dos Santos
60’HdhoW the earth becaMe rounD
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ANIMATION
SynopSiSA fashion designer, the king of the favelas,
a young French adventurer and a sea lover
have two things in common: they live in
Rio de Janeiro and they want to make things
for the better in their city, while awaiting a lot of
visitors with the coming World Cup and Olympic
Games.
Taking a close look at Rio is like taking
the entire country’s pulse. It is undergoing
massive changes, pacification and renovation.
But building a new face isn’t all plain sailing.
Social tensions, the risks of environmental
catastrophes and historic inequalities are all
challenges that Brazil must overcome to affirm
its emergence.
In order to understand what the challenges
are, let us follow Lenny, Axel, Feijao and Katia,
during their daily routines and activities. Lenny
is preparing her next collection, and Axel is
renovating a house in a favela to transform it
into a hotel. Feijao is playing an important role
in galvanizing spirits in a formerly depressed
area. Last but not least, environmental activist
Katia is working hard to make Cariocas and the
administration of Rio aware of the necessity of
preserving the sanctuary of dolphins...
In each episode, then, by following the main
character, the viewer will also discover five
different areas (and lifestyles) in Rio de Janeiro
from the ground and above...
COpROduCeRsYemaya, France 3
MOvie diReCTORAlexandre Bouchet
5X 26’Hdcariocas toDay
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@ : 40 rue de Paris 92100 boulogne-billancourt fRANCE
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BENJAMIN TERNYNCK
Producer, CEO
@ : +33 (0)1 41 22 90 51 +33 (0)6 62 41 88 45
ROBERT SALVESTRIN
VP Sales & Co-productions
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