ARTE Distribution

You have always thought that fish were mute, amnesiac, or insensitive to pain? Well you’re wrong. Scientists are discovering that fish have astonishing cognitive abilities, hectic social life, and even emotions. What if, fish were not so stupid after all? An investigation in the heart of the sea… 

Chameleons' way of life, a masterpiece of adaptation to nature, unknown and rarely filmed. In Madagascar, the perfect reptile’s home-island, discover their incredible abilities: sleeping techniques, dancing, camouflage, 340° peripheral vision, catapult tongue, seduction, fluorescence... 

The first aim of this film is to shed new light on these unique reptiles, on their anatomy, which remains a masterpiece of adaptation, very different from other reptiles, on their private life, which is as violent as it is quirky, and on certain little-known behaviors and performances, rarely filmed in the wild.

Follow the footsteps of an international mission developing groundbreaking solutions to save the Great Barrier Reef and its 9,000 unique species from destruction.
 

These species interact with the coral to form a complex and delicate ecosystem dependent on each other for survival. Yet today the coral—and therefore all the organisms that depend on it—is gravely at risk. In a visually stunning series of one the most beautiful natural habitats on Earth, our international award winning crew has followed a team of scientists for 5 years. Their mission is to develop groundbreaking technological solutions to save the GBR from destruction.
 
EPISODE 1: RESCUING RAINE ISLAND
EPISODE 2: RESURRECTING THE REEF
EPISODE 3: PROTECTING MEGAMOUTHS

An immersion in the heart of the mountain wild fauna. Each episode follows an animal living in a specific landscape’s altitude: the wild cat, the bear and the eagle, from the lowest to the top! 

Discover wildlife filming behind the scenes and find out that more often than not, animals are much more cunning than men. Unfortunately, this lush world is still not very accessible – the animals fear the presence of man in this emblematic massif. To discover them, you have to investigate, find clues, follow tracks and be very patient before you finally get the chance to see them.
Luckily, the journey proves to be just as exciting as the objective: chance upon a mountain-size game of hide-and-seek where man must understand nature and tame it in order to discover its secrets.
 
Also available : 3x43' and 52'

Beneath the oceans’ surface, thousands of volcanoes have yet to be discovered or explored. Mount La Pérouse is one of these sleeping giants, off the coast of Reunion Island. It is a genuine oasis of life that could be sheltering sprawling coral reefs.

The scientific expedition “La Pérouse” has made it its goal to reveal the sunken haven's secrets. This geological anomaly is only known to a few    Réunionese longline fishers who regularly enjoy miraculous catches there. But as for oceanographers, they still consider the area to be a true “terra incognita”, a mystery to solve. To date, no diver has ever approached it.
What kind of species lives there and at what depth?  What predators feed there? Are there any rare, or even unknown, fish? To what birds and marine mammals is it home?
Underwater GPS, photogrammetry, environmental DNA, 3D cartography, with the help of the most modern scientific techniques, all will be revealed about one of the last virgin territories on Earth, located in the French economic zone. Embark on an unprecedented human and scientific adventure.

Hernin and Marcellin Abong are two Vanuatu twin brothers with very different backgrounds: one has become the “Very Great Chief” of his tribe, while the other is an ethno-archaeologist. 

Their culture is slowly but surely disappearing forever. To keep a record of it, they both delve into the most remote parts of Vanuatu in search of the customs and rites of their people. On foot and by canoe, their journey takes them to grandiose and isolated territories, to discover spectacular and unknown rituals, even for them.

In the heart of the Amazon forest, hides a strange animal we do not expect to see thousands of kilometers from the ocean: the Amazon Pink River Dolphin. Is it a simple descendant of the marine species, or a distinct species that has survived through the ages and adapted to this lush environment?

Where does it come from? How has this animal come to acclimate to this tropical rainforest environment? What links do they have to marine dolphins?
Unknown for a long time, the pink dolphin remains a mystery to the scientists struggling to reconstruct its evolutionary course. Now thanks to a recent discovery, scientists are finally able to understand more about the mystery of the pink dolphin and its origins.
Join them on this remarkable scientific adventure...

From India to the Bijagos archipelago, discover the last of the world’s matriarchies through the stories of the women who run them. Each of the five films in the collection is an immersion into one of these societies, through the eyes of a woman.

Discover the heart and diversity of our living planet. With stunning images and unique stories of mankind's relationship with these natural wonders, Season 2 will reveal never-before filmed volcanoes.
 

Together, for the scientific aspect of the episode, we explore the very diverse range of questions raised by volcanic phenomena in such varied fields as earth sciences, climatology, biodiversity, oceanography, geography, agronomics, and archaeology. The cultural part of the show delves into mythology, religion, philosophy, folk and artistic traditions, cooking, and ways of life. No two volcanoes are alike; each one has its own distinctive landscape, climate, and geological context. Just as unique are the people we meet along the way who help us comprehend how greatly our planet – and our lives – have been shaped by volcanic phenomena.
 
SEASON 2 COMING SOON (15x26')

Fire dancing in Papua New Guinea or climbing to the top of the Ethiopian cliffs to introduce one’s child to God: this series reveals how some people today still practice rituals that structure their lives and become, beyond a simple social bond, a structuring force and a source of culture.

In societies that struggle to find their bearings, rituals - whether pagan or mysterious - are of particular importance when people are confronted with the unknown, illness, death, not knowing what tomorrow is made of. Rituals help organise chaos, warding off our fears and bringing to light the meaning in our lives.
Anthropologist, Anne-Sylvie Malbrancke, helps us understand and experience these moments with those who practice them.​

A remarkable series portraying heritage in a world undergoing profound change.

We travel to the planet’s 34 most beautiful coastal and maritime destinations. On the beaches, coasts and islands of all the world’s continents we discover societies with little-known cultures, in natural environments that are often endangered.
All in 20 minutes.

Mountains, people and stories..

 
A fascinating, menacing, fragile and mysterious world. People live among rocky peaks in freedom, in a natural environment that is sometimes dangerous and isolated. Magnificent landscapes where a population proud of its culture and traditions lives in harmony with nature.
 
Also available as 49x3'.