Behind the scenes of the 2013 Phillippe Parenno "Anywhere, Anywhere Out of the World" exhibition at Palais de Tokyo.

Series : La Grande Expo- Behind the Artist

Approximately 90% of the emeralds sold globally come from Colombia. While the official market is regulated, a black market has developed that is largely unchecked. This illegal sector is more lucrative than the gold or diamond trade. A journalist in Bogota is uncovering the truth behind this illicit industry, and the “esmeralderos”, or emerald traders, who sell their wares on the streets. The emeralds come primarily from Muzo, located in the north of the country. The ten nearby mines supply 75% of the world’s emeralds and are renowned for producing the highest quality gems.

Director: Thierry Gaytan

In this episode we explore the vibrant culture and stunning landscapes of Jamaica, the largest island in the West Indies. From the 200km of pristine coastline in the north to the lush mountains, Jamaica is a paradise of natural beauty and adventure.

Director: Laurent Cadoret
Series: Around the World

Burma is not only fascinating because of its very rich history, but also its atmosphere, aromas and hospitality.

Occupied by the Mons, the Burmans and the British, Burma has known multiple cultures. T

he city of Bagan, “the land of golden roofs,” is a jewel of Burma. It is a testament to the past grandeur of the kings of Bagan who reigned over the first Burman empire.

There are monuments of Sri Lankan, Indian, Tibetan, Mon and Burman influence...

This majestic Buddhist archaeological site, comparable to Angkor in neighboring Cambodia, is home to more that 2,000 temples, stupas and pagodas, built between the 11th and 13th centuries and spread across 40 km2.

It is the largest concentration of Buddhist monuments in the world.

After having gone through the Sarabha Gate, a estige of the 9th century, you can admire a view of the entire old city from the top of the ThatbyinnyuPahto Temple: at 63 meters high it is the tallest monument in Bagan.

The construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda was begun in 1059 by King Anawrahta to shelter a jawbone and tooth of Buddha that he had obtained after his campaign against the Dali kingdom (in what is now Yunnan).

It was finished under the reign of his son Kyansittha in 1102: inside the complex there is a stone pillar that has inscriptions about the King.

The Ananda Temple is one of the most beautiful Buddhist monuments in Bagan. Built by King Kyansittha in 1091, it was originally dedicated to the “infinite wisdom” of the Buddha (anantapinya). According to Legend, Kyansittha had been inspired by the description that monks from India gave of their temple, which would explain the Ananda's Indian architectural features.

The Wetkyi Inn Gubyaukgyi Temple houses lovely frescos depicting scenes from the Jataka. The stairs inside lead to four Buddha images and the Hindu sculptures carved on the spire.

The Htilominlo Temple, famous for its fine stucco ornaments, was built between 1211 and 1218 by King Htilominlo (or Nandaungmya) to commemorate the fact that a parasol (a symbol of power) tilted towards him him during his enthronement. On the second floor, four buddhas have their backs to the central pillar, facing in the four directions.

Directed by Jacques VICHET

They are nicknamed “the Reindeer People”. They are one of the most amazing tribes on the planet. There are only two hundred of them left and they live in the far north of Mongolia, in a deserted, inaccessible and frozen region. Always isolated from the world, the Tsaatans, these nomadic reindeer herders, have preserved their ancestral traditions and practice shamanism. They live in small family clans, inhabiting simple canvas tents in temperatures that drop to minus 40 degrees in winter. But they say they are happy to live like this, free, in the middle of sublime and preserved nature. And they never complain. Their happiness and their way of life, day by day, offer a striking contrast with our Western lives. But today, the modern world and technology are catching up with them. School, recently made compulsory for children, is at the center of all their questions. What to do? Protect children from progress they consider harmful or educate them and offer them the opportunity to integrate into civilization? These nomads know that they will have to choose between their traditions and contemporary life, between their freedom and comfort. Aware of being at a turning point in their history, will the Tsaatans manage to survive the encounter between their world and ours? This documentary offers us a spectacular journey into a timeless universe, miraculously preserved.
Director: Pierre DaSilva and Hervé Bouchaud
Production date: 2023

2023, marks the 50th Anniversary of the military coup that brought General Augusto Pinochet to power in Chile. The dictator took power – and kept i t – with the support of democracies i ncluding the United Kingdom and the United States, through the use of terror & sadistic torture. The West chose to look the other way. This documentary will reveal the shocking depth of that support, using archive footage, expert analysis & personal accounts of torture, and declassified government files to tell the story of Pinochet’s uprising, the brutal regime he led, and the Western allies who enabled it all.

Land of history, Jordan is full of archaeological treasures. The most beautiful is the site of Petra.

Director: Jacques Vichet

The series of rapid tests have these Legionnaires in training too stressed to sleep

We embark on a journey to the distant and remote region of Patagonia, known for its scarce population and stunning beauty. At the southernmost tip of South America, we discover the fragile yet awe-inspiring landscapes of Southern Chile.

Our first encounter is with Carlos Barria, a seaman and cattleman who resides in one of the most southerly locations on Earth. His ranch is situated near the legendary Cape Horn, offering a glimpse into a world far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Next, we meet Philippe Reuter, an enthusiastic mountaineer who calls the base of the Andes' immense glaciers home. With a passion for exploration, he invites us to witness the breathtaking vistas and natural wonders that only the Patagonian wilderness can provide.

Lastly, we encounter Jorge Arratia, a guide with a deep understanding of the balseros, the skilled raftsmen of Patagonia. In a remote valley, we witness the hard work of lumberjacks as they harvest cypress wood and transport it down the Rio Baker to the sea, where it is used to build homes and structures throughout the region.

Director: Anne Viry-Babel
Series: Around the World

00:00 The Russians entered Berlin first, and as Hitler took his own life in his bunker, the war in Europe finally came to an end. Churchill led the people of Britain in the VE Day celebrations, but the fighting continued in the Pacific. Sadly, President Roosevelt died in April, just weeks before VE Day, and the task of finishing the war was passed to the new American President, Harry S. Truman.

25:25 Roosevelt dies suddenly
40:38 April 28, 1945: Benito Mussolini is executed
41:19 April 30, 1945, The death of Hitler

With eleven years of existence, South Sudan is the youngest state on the planet. Who says young nation, says everything to build, everything to create.
For this, the population does not lack courage. It's a setting worthy of the greatest disaster films and yet the floods that have hit South Sudan for four years are very real.
The level of the White Nile has never been so high, entire towns are submerged, local populations are trying to preserve the few islands of land that serve as shelter. Boats have replaced trucks on flooded roads but the journey is not any easier. Sailing on submerged land means facing multiple dangers.
Directors: Antoine BODDAERT; Guillaume LHOTELLIER

The DRC is one of the poorest countries on the planet with one of the highest proportions of millionaires. While 70% of the population lives on less than a dollar a day, 6% are millionaires. Businessmen, artists, former rebel leaders or evangelists, many have made fortunes in chaos. In the capital, Kinshasa, these new rich live in the heart of secure and luxurious enclaves, while elsewhere, children work several hours a day tens of meters underground extracting coltan.
Director: Guillaume Dumant

The forests of Gabon are some of the densest and most mysterious in the world. But there are a few adventurous souls who risk it all in this green hell every day. They are the drivers of enormous logging trucks that can carry up to 40 tons of wood at a time.

00:00 Heart-stopping, adrenaline filled stories and dangerous journeys.
02:25 Why do large trucks use these dirt tracks?
12:39 The Forest of Bees
35:14 Water Demon
37:40 Tightrope Walking Tour

It is on these giant logs that the entire country’s fortunes depend. The drivers race across the country in these huge machines to take the exotic wood from the Forest of Bees logging sites to Gentil port; it is a 350km feat of endurance and skill that is not for the faint hearted.

Afghanistan is one of the most closed countries on the planet, a secret country with rare images. The “Roads of the Impossible” teams followed Afghan drivers, who are fighting for their survival and that of their families. Indispensable heroes without whom goods and foodstuffs would not circulate. The train is non-existent and air freight is way too expensive.
In this country where everything needs to be rebuilt, drivers face barely maintained roads, some of which rise to more than 4,000 meters above sea level.
Azathoula and his Bedford are not unworthy: the truck may date from 1966, but the driver rushes in with 17 tonnes of bananas.
In the mountains, on the roofs of collective taxis, men, animals and goods swing. Ali Assan is one of the few to dare to ride in the snow on this narrow track.
Director : Paul COMITI