ZED

HUMANS BEFORE NEANDERTHALS

An unprecedented archaeological investigation taking us back up to 560,000 BC, following the footsteps of Neanderthal ancestors and the first people to populate Europe under extreme conditions: Tautavel Men.

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new releases

AIMING FOR GLORY 52' 100'

The cross portrait of five amazing athletes striving to leave their mark in the world of para-sport and determined to champion global inclusion, regardless of disabilities.

Human Stories Nature

Human Stories Nature

Sist'earth: Cultivating change 4x52'

In India, women are increasingly confronted with insecurity and criminal acts, due to the lack of safe spaces for them; this series gives Indian - along with Polish, Kenyan, Guadeloupean - women a voice and a space to express their solutions for a better world.

OFF TRAIL: WILD AND WISE 52'

How do you combine wildlife conservation and outdoor activities? This film looks at how to reconcile the practice of these activities with the protection of animals that have found refuge in the mountains and are trying to survive in this environment.

Animals: Drugs, Sex and Fun! 52' 4K

Playing games, doing drugs or having sex: what if animals do it just for fun?

History Science

History Science

HUMANS BEFORE NEANDERTHALS 52' 90'

An unprecedented archaeological investigation taking us back up to 560,000 BC, following the footsteps of Neanderthal ancestors and the first people to populate Europe under extreme conditions: Tautavel Men.

THE TRUE STORY OF... 9x45'

Beyonce, Britney Spears, Kanye West… They are some of the world’s most popular personalities, grabbing headlines and captivating audiences. But what is their life like outside of the spotlights?

THE MISSING HEIRESS CASE 4x52'

Convicted over forty years after the fact of the murder of Agnès Le Roux, a wealthy heiress, Maurice Agnelet left behind him 8 hours of never-before-seen rushes in which he gives his version of events.

MEMORIES OF WWII 52'

Between 1939 and 1945, a handful of amateur filmmakers filmed their daily lives in Normandy. By bringing these exceptional archives out of oblivion, this documentary tells the story of war through a new lens, as close to those who lived through it.

THE GOLDEN OWL 75'

The Golden Owl is the world’s longest treasure hunt: for thirty years, tens of thousands of people have been searching for the exact location of a statuette worth up to €500,000!

THE ANTI-SOVIET FIGHTERS 52'

The almost unknown story of a handful of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian partisans fighting for freedom, against the Soviet Union's stranglehold on their territory at the end of the Second World War.

NEW ZEALAND: LAND OF THE NEW WORLD 26' 4K

Nestled on the edge of the world, New Zealand is home to a rich but fragile biodiversity. Aware of this reality, New Zealanders are committed to safeguard this natural heritage.

Blood Money: Inside The Soviet Economy 2x45' 90'

Blending precious archive footage and interviews with leading historians, this film examines how the Soviet Empire managed to win WWII, through the economical prism.

DOLORÈS MARAT: THROUGH HER LENS 70'

An immersion into the colorful, hazy, enigmatic world of a singular photographer.

The Escape Balloon 2x52’

The true story of the two families who crossed the Iron curtain in a homemade hot-air balloon.

Investigation & Politics Nature

Investigation & Politics Nature

SOS POTATO IN DISTRESS! 52' 4K

With climate change, potato production has fallen significantly. What does the future hold for this crucial global foodstuff?

Travel & Adventure

Travel & Adventure

FAIRYTALE CASTLES AND PALACES 15x45’

A series that takes us through the stately walls and magnificent rooms of the castles and palaces in Austria, and from Joglland to western and southern Styria to Slovenia and Burgenland - along this route we all are witnesses of history.

Nature Travel & Adventure

Nature Travel & Adventure

MOUNTAIN VILLAGES OF THE ALPS 25x45’

Austria’s mountain villages - small worlds in alpine seclusion. Often seemingly untouched by the changing times in their rustic appearance. But the lives of the people here have fundamentally changed over the past few decades.

Bats: Upside-Down Friends 52' 4K

Bats have a bad reputation, and yet they are particularly useful for biodiversity! Some of them are even on the brink of extinction, to the indifference of the general public. Scientists are trying to lift the veil on the last mysteries surrounding these bats.

Iron Curtain: Life under Soviet Occupation 2x52' 3x52'

How 85 million Europeans experienced the radical sovietization of eastern and central Europe.

Megastructure Sport

Megastructure Sport

MONACO GRAND PRIX: BACKSTAGES OF A MYTHICAL RACE 52' 63'

Every year, the streets of Monaco are transformed to welcome its legendary race: the F1 Grand Prix. This film reveals the secrets behind the construction of this gigantic urban circuit.

Congo-Ocean: Railway of Blood 52' 70'

Between 1921 and 1934, nearly 20,000 Africans died during the construction of the Congo-Ocean. This is the forgotten story of a gigantic worksite, symbol of colonial violence and domination.

The ultimate ice mission 3x45' 60' 8x26' 2x90'

A thrilling delve into the glacial mechanics from the North Pole down to the South Pole.

Sport Travel & Adventure

Sport Travel & Adventure

OCEAN & LAND EXPLORER 6x52'

Antoine Auriol, former world kitesurfing champion, takes us on a journey to 6 extraordinary destinations where, despite being under threat, nature still has its rightful place. A journey of sport and ecology that follows the actions of men and women who are mobilized to protect nature.

Investigation & Politics

Investigation & Politics

Tibet VS. China 52’ 80’

One of the biggest geopolitical struggles of our time: the Sino-Tibetan conflict.

Investigation & Politics

Investigation & Politics

CLIMATE: SEE YOU IN COURT! 4x15' 52'

On April 9, 2024, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) condemned Switzerland for climate inaction - a first! Take a step-by-step look at this battle in Court, and that of several European activists.

D-Day: 100 Days for Freedom 2x45' 90'

100 days. That’s what it took for the Allies to liberate Normandy, to break through the German line, and to begin the liberation of the continent. 100 days that made history.

Social issues Travel & Adventure

Social issues Travel & Adventure

A WILDER EUROPE! 4x43' 4x52'

Four episodes, four spectacular biodiversity sites, to retrace the special links and stakes between humans and those “natural” places.

Investigation & Politics

Investigation & Politics

VEGETABLE OILS: A SLIPPERY SLOPE 52'

Olive, sunflower or rapeseed-based, extra virgin or refined, natural or flavored, for cooking, frying or seasoning... Vegetable oil takes many forms and has many uses. But not all have the same values! So how do you choose?

Science Travel & Adventure

Science Travel & Adventure

STAR SEEKERS 3x52' 4K

Astronomer Stephen Rater and filmmaker Boris Wilmart set off backpacking in South America to observe the sky. A breathtaking and though-provoking journey through the stars!

History Investigation & Politics

History Investigation & Politics

IIIrd Reich: collaboration in the vineyards 52' 80'

The true story of French vineyards during the Nazi occupation.

Art & Culture History

Art & Culture History

CHINA-FRANCE: GLORY OF CIVILIZATIONS 2x25' 52'

Propelling us through sumptuous settings (from the Versailles palace to the Forbidden City), this film sheds light on four centuries of artistic influences between China and France.

Art & Culture True crime

Art & Culture True crime

Truman Capote & the murder of Holcomb 52'

The story of a writer haunted by the ghosts of a sordid true crime story.

Dragonflies: Ladies of the Air 52' 4K

She might seem fragile, yet she survived three mass extinctions! Delve into the busy life of the oldest insect living on Earth: the dragonfly. From hunting scenes to breeding sequences, passing by splendid aerial ballets, this film grasps the dragonfly’s day-to-day in fine details.

History Megastructure

History Megastructure

ANCIENT MEGACITIES 3x52'

An incredible epic about the building of three of the most powerful ancient cities: Carthage, Troy and Persepolis.

Nature Social issues

Nature Social issues

Generation earth 4x52' 4K

Innovative actions, and limitless engagement: portrait of a young generation who tries to protect our planet.

MICHEL CHASSEUIL, THE 50K BOTTLES MAN 60' 4K

82-year-old Frenchman Michel Chasseuil is the owner of a treasure worth millions: 50,000 bottles of the world’s most prestigious wines! This wine enthusiast collector invites us into his cellar to recount his unlikely destiny.

ELITE SCHOOLS 2x60'

Step into four of the world’s most prestigious schools, from France to Canada, passing by India. Over the course of a year, we follow the day-to-day lives of their students, driven by a steely determination.

Sport Travel & Adventure

Sport Travel & Adventure

A CLIMBING ODYSSEY 52' 4K

Legendary French alpinist-turned-publisher Catherine Destivelle is passionate about mountains. She heads to the summits of Great Britain where the practice emerged in the mid-19th century. With each step of her journey and every encounter along the way, she strives to grasp how our relationship to mountains has developed.

Hopper X Vermeer 52'

An unprecedented cross portrait between two giant painters: Edward Hopper and Johannes Vermeer.

Art & Culture History

Art & Culture History

Story of a photo 25x5'

This miniseries, with its minimalist style, examines one iconic photo per episode, its meaning and its historical and/or cultural significance.

Stand Still, Be Pretty 52' 4K

What’s behind the flawless looks and frozen smiles of hostesses? Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at a precarious, sexist and discriminatory workplace.

THE TREE WHISPERER 52' 4K

A philosophical and scientific stroll through the luxurious rainforests of Costa Rica, alongside an exceptional botanist committed to preserving biodiversity.

FRANCE: THE POSTWAR RECOVERY 2x52'

Featuring unique, colorized archives, this two-part documentary draws France’s popular history from the aftermath of D-Day to the end of the Algerian war.

LES CABINES DE PLAGE FONT DE LA RÉSISTANCE 60'

Since the 19th century, beach huts give their picturesque charm to French coastal landscapes. But today, these mythical wooden sheds are under threat: Their owners are prepared to do anything to keep them standing.

Chasing Dragons: The Forgotten Knight of the Round Table 52’ 90’ 4K

The incredible discovery of a medieval novel about the Arthurian Legend

in production

ERIK SATIE RELOADED 60'

Portrait of an enigmatic, tormented and eccentric composer, founder of minimalist music.

THE NAZIS' CUT AND RUN 52'

After WWII, countless Nazi criminals managed to flee Europe, thanks to an escape system organized by the Vatican. We penetrate a dark, intricate network to understand how and why did the Church participated in this massive escape.

QUINCY JONES, MUSIC MAN 52'

He’s the genius behind some of the greatest hits of the 20th century. He worked alongside legendary artists such as Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer or Steven Spielberg. Here is the story of a music industry icon.

THE SOUND AND THE FURY 4x52'

A captivating dive into the global conflict that shaped the world: WWII.

Investigation & Politics

Investigation & Politics

Red Shadow Over the White House 52' 90'

With the 2024 US presidential elections fast approaching, the Russian grip on the American political right - through spies, semi-spies and agents of influence - is a pervasive, yet never really studied reality until now.

FRANCO: THE LAST INQUISITOR 2x52'

In 2025, Spain will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of Franco's dictatorship. El Caudillo died on November 20, 1975, after 39 years as head of state. An incredible longevity, a nightmare from which the now democratic Spain still bears the scars.

AUTOPSY OF A MASCULINIST CRIME 2x45' 90'

Mickaël Philétas, a fitness trainer and YouTuber, was a jealous, possessive and violent man. In 2020, he stabbed his ex-girlfriend, Mélanie Ghione, 80 times to death. A bloody, premeditated femicide.

History Science

History Science

Viking Women: The Untold Saga 52' 90' 4K

What was the life of Viking women? Based on the most recent scientific discoveries, illustrated by spectacular images from Ubisoft’s latest creation, the film reveals a complex society, and offers a nuanced and precise portrait of the women of the frozen lands.

ALFRED NOBEL & BERTHA VON SUTTNER: THE PRICE OF PEACE 2x45' 90'

The unknown relationship of an emblematic duo, made of hope and faith

THE TINY FOX 52'

The amazing story of a lovable but fragile species, the "tiny fox", and its preservation on the island of Santa Cruz.

AUSCHWITZ, VOICES OF SURVIVORS 5x45'

They come from all over Europe. There are 46 of them. All are Jewish. All have a number tattooed on their forearm. All were deported to Auschwitz. For the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the camp, they tell us their story.

AFTER THE HEAT: TRIASSIC DRAGONS 52' 4K

The discovery of a fossil tooth allows us to recreate a species of ichthyosaur that would be the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth: it serves as a starting point for a palaeontological investigation that reconstructs the anatomy and biology of these extinct Leviathans.

Life in Fluo 2x52' 4K

A dive into the mesmerizing world of creatures endowed with a secret power: fluorescence.

REBUILDING MOSUL 52' 90'

July 2017, the siege of Mosul ends. Faced with the destruction, local residents and international experts mobilize to rebuild the 4,000-year-old city, crossroads of the Fertile Crescent's great civilizations.

PHNOM PENH 1975, AN EMBASSY UNDER SIEGE 52'

The forgotten story of the 3-week siege of the French embassy in Cambodia, under threat from the Khmer Rouge.

WETLANDS: EPHEMERAL SANCTUARIES 4x43’ 4x52’ 4K

Australia, Spain, Brazil and the USA, they all host treasures of biodiversity in perpetual movement: The seasonal wetlands.

KRISTALLNACHT: THE NAZI FURY 2x52' 90'

On the night of 9-10 November 1938, a terrible wave of anti-Semitic violence broke out across the Reich. Euphemistically, it was known as "Kristallnacht". Yet it was the first pogrom in German history, and a prelude to the Shoah...

XENOGRAFTS: THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE? 52' 4K

Faced with a lack of donors, science is now considering transplanting an animal organ into a human, a prowess already achieved in 2023 in the US, where a man received a heart from a genetically modified pig.

THE OTHER 300 2x45' 52' 90'

The saga of one of Antiquity's most fearsome army corps, made up of 150 pairs of male lovers.

Leopard School 52' 4K

In the savannah of Botswana, we witness a wonderful story of initiation: that of two leopard cubs by their mother.

FLUORESCENCE: NATURE’S SUPERPOWER 52' 4K

A 100% wildlife film, to discover our world’s fascinating, fluorescent flora and fauna.

History Investigation & Politics

History Investigation & Politics

RAQQA: SHATTERED LIVES 52' 70'

In 2014, the city of Raqqa fell into the hands of the Islamic State and found itself caught in the middle of a terrible crackdown. Today liberated, the city is still in ruins, and its inhabitants abandoned to their fate. At the crossroads of the intimate and the geopolitical, this documentary plunges us into the heart of the inextricable Syrian conflict.

MARINE HEATWAVES 52' 4K

Underwater heatwaves ravage oceans in silence, decimating entire species and battering coastal cities with storms. Let's climb aboard Jules Verne's Nautilus and revisit the underwater landscape 150 years on, to better grasp the climate change impact on marine life.

Destination Moon: The New Space Age 90' 2x50' 4K

It has been 50 years since man has stepped on the moon. Today, we are preparing to go back... But this time, to stay!

History Science

History Science

NOTRE-DAME: WHAT LIES BENEATH 55' 60' 4K

An exceptional scientific adventure revealing unexpected secrets and hidden treasures in the heart of Notre-Dame.

UNMASKING THE KILLERS OF THE THIRD REICH 52'

A previously undiscovered photo album reveals unknown details about the radicalization of young men and their terrible contribution to the Nazi concentration camps.

In conversation with sharks 52' 4K

Specialist Steven Surina tries to decipher shark's language

SAVING PLANTS: A BOTANICAL QUEST 52'

A botanical expedition to the heart of one of the Earth’s biodiversity hotspots - New Caledonia - to find and save exceptional plants presumed extinct.

Terra Futura 2x45' 90' VR-Experience 4K

An anticipation of our planet’s ecosystem’s fate in 25 million, 250 million and 1 billion years

SULAWESI, A NEW ORIGIN STORY 52'

On the island of Sulawesi (Indonesia), archaeologists discovered a cave painting of at least 45,000 old – the earliest figurative rock art ever found! Dive into an international archaeological investigation that is revolutionizing our knowledge of human evolution.

ONCE ON A BLUE MOON - VR EXPERIENCE 20'

ONCE ON A BLUE MOON is a collective VR experience for a group of six simultaneous participants. With Moon, embark on a great lunar odyssey, to better look down on Earth.

MOONRISE - DOME EXPERIENCE 40'

An uncommon immersive experience with unique 360° views of the different phases of an astronaut's training.

SURVIVING PARIS ATTACKS 90'

10 years after the November 13 terrorist attacks in France, we revisit the shocking events that marked the country forever.

CLOUDS: A FLUFFY MYSTERY 52' 90'

Fluffy, dark, misty, clouds can have all the shapes and shades of grey. We think we have a pretty clear perception of them, still, scientists are trying to solve the remaining uncertainties surrounding them.

THE EGYPTIAN MUMMIES: IMMORTALITY UNWRAPPED 3x45' 90'

The discovery of a 2,500-year-old embalming laboratory - the oldest ever unearthed - promises to shed new light on mummification practices. The study of these rituals highlights the daily life and beliefs of Egyptian civilization, but above all, a total expertise and understanding of the virtues of plants and herbs.

Art & Culture History

Art & Culture History

HIS MAJESTY’S HORSES 52'

A film about the devouring passion of the Sun King and his successors for the horse, revealing its role in the staging of royal and imperial power through architecture and the arts.

Automobile: Ride and Fall 3x52'

The frantic journey of the automobile industry, Is this race coming to an end?

CHIRIBIQUETE: AMAZONIAN MEMORY AT STAKE 52' 90' VR-Experience

A great archaeological adventure that leads to an unexpected discovery: Enigmatic cave paintings spread over hundreds of square meters of rock face, hidden from view for decades.

Investigation & Politics

Investigation & Politics

Cargo: The weight of freight 52' 70'

The odyssey of a little-known giant, the cargo ship, stoker of the world economy.

MADS MIKKELSEN, DEVIL IN THE FLESH 52'

He navigates between independent films and blockbusters, portrait of Hollywood’s favorite Villain.

WWII: Operation Barbarossa 2x55'

A fresh look at one of the most devastating encounters of military history: WWII's battle for the eastern front.

The Boar Next Door 52' 4K

This documentary will examine this insatiable survivalism of the wild boar, which despite environmental changes - human activity, global warming, reduction of living space - adapts and thrives.

Human Stories Social issues

Human Stories Social issues

THE ROAD 85' 52'

In the remote Himalayas, the villagers of Zanskar have turned from traditional herding to working on the massive road that will soon connect them to the rest of the world - but while the financial freedom is magnetic, many long for their simpler past.

History Investigation & Politics

History Investigation & Politics

CARS: BREAKING DOWN THE MYTH 52'

From the 1973 oil crisis to "Dieselgate", this documentary traces 50 years of automotive history: how did this mythical invention come to encapsulate all the paradoxes of our civilization?

Selections

4 FILMS DISTRIBUTED BY ZED REWARDED BY LA SCAM AS BEST DOCUMENTARIES

In 2024, four films distributed by ZED have been awarded by La Scam (the civil society of multimedia authors). Among the winners, we find Ukraine, The Other Frontline by Laurent Jaoui (Veilleur de Nuit), Ukraine 1933: Seeds of Hunger by Guillaume Ribot (Les Films du Poisson & Lobster Films), Women Under Hitler’s Flag by Christiane Ratiney (Hauteville Productions) and Last Days in Shibati by Hendrick Dusollier (Studio Hdk Productions, Maria Roche Productions & Les Films d’Ici).

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MANUEL CATTEAU’S INTERVIEW ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE DOCUMENTARY SECTOR

In an interview with Le Film Français magazine, Manuel Catteau spoke at length about the current state of the documentary sector and ZED's evolution in the audiovisual landscape, discussing both its challenges and its future plans.

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ZED IS A 2024 REALSCREEN’S GLOBAL 100 PRODCO

For the 6th consecutive year, ZED is on the list of the world’s best non-fiction production companies! The Global 100 is now subdivided into 10 categories, and ZED is among the Copro Partners TOP 10.

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CHARLOTTE TACHET INTERVIEWED FOR MIPTV 2024

For MIPTV 2024, Charlotte Tachet (Head of Distribution and Acquisitions) and three other French distributors spoke with Señal News about their new slate projects, while also addressing hot topics such as the use and impact of AI in content creation.

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