DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Our informative documentary films
Investigative research is one of our strengths. Our films plumb the depths, illustrate nuanced aspects, answer key questions, highlight developments and deliver analyses.
Fertilizers of the Future: The Nitrogen Revolution
RBB/Arte (in co-production with BSX Austria)
Without synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, the high yields of industrial agriculture would be unthinkable. Their intensive use harms the climate. A global search is underway for climate-friendly alternatives.
READ MORE
The Vending Machine Empire
WDR
Set against the backdrop of bar counters and factory floors, moments of joy and a grungy image, the film tells the story of a unique North Rhine-Westphalian culture that everyone knows but has never seen quite like this before.
READ MORE
Kosovo: Ancient Herbs, New Spirit
arte
Kosovo – Europe’s youngest country. Between the vineyards of Rahovec and the mountains above Nivokaz, a new generation is reviving an ancient tradition: the distillation of raki, the traditional Balkan spirit.
READ MORE
World-famous and depressed
ZDF
Empress Sisi, Winston Churchill, Konrad Adenauer, Marilyn Monroe, and even legendary goalkeeper Robert Enke — they all suffered from depression. Psychologist Leon Windscheid explores the history of the illness using these famous examples.
READ MORE
Harald Lesch …and the Fight Against Depression
ZDF
How does depression develop? What can be done about it? Harald Lesch meets with experts from a wide range of research fields.
READ MORE
…and wild nature
arte
Nestled among apricot orchards, chestnut forests, and hop gardens, it often lies well hidden: the wild side of Europe. This four-part documentary series takes viewers to regions where traditional agriculture and untouched nature meet.
READ MORE
The rowing eight – a myth
arte
The eight – the supreme discipline of rowing. Myth, legend, goose bumps. Political influence, social relationships and the women’s fight for equal rights also play a major role.
READ MORE
Are judges saving the climate now?
arte
The effects of climate change are increasing. More and more people are suing for their right to a better climate. In several German cities, judges are hearing cases against car companies. Can such climate lawsuits change environmental policy?
READ MORE
Super storage – power for the long term
arte
How can green electricity from wind and sun be stored for times when the sun is not shining and the wind turbines are idle? The science documentary accompanies researchers in the exciting search for new storage technologies.
READ MORE
How the Germans learned to love France
arte
The rapprochement between the two nations – from a West and East German perspective. Exchange students show footage of their trips to France from the 1950s to the 1990s.
READ MORE
Apple orchards and wilderness. The old country on the Elbe
arte
The Elbe is a very special region. Unique cultural and natural landscapes alternate here: Endless orchards, rare rain moorland and pristine forest.
READ MORE
The secrets of Neuschwanstein
National Geographic
Neuschwanstein Castle – a place full of dreams, miracles and myths, but also full of secrets. Year after year, the medieval castle in the Allgäu attracts over 1.5 million visitors from all over the world.
READ MORE
Treasures under lock and key. The freeport system
Co-production: Germany/Austria
More and more works of art and valuables, such as gold or vintage cars, are being stored in duty-free high-security warehouses known as freeports.
READ MORE
A family under the shadow of the swastika
arte
Hundreds of letters, more than nine hours of private film material and countless photos document the extraordinary story of Helmut and Erna.
READ MORE
Wood – The stolen forest
Environmental thriller
Illegal logging is a billion-dollar global business. Alexander von Bismarck, descendant of the Iron Chancellor and head of the Environmental Investigation Agency in Washington, successfully tracks down the schemes and intrigues of the timber mafia.
READ MORE
Evolution in the urban jungle
arte
New genetic research provides unexpected insights into Darwin’s theory of evolution. As a result, animals and plants are often able to adapt to new living conditions in the city in just a few decades.
READ MORE
Coronavirus: Security versus freedom
arte
After three quarters of a year of living with coronavirus, a lot is still unclear, but there is broad agreement on one thing: we will have to live it for a long time. The only question is: how?
READ MORE
Armies in the grip of the corporations
arte
The armed forces are under pressure – both in Germany and in France. Both armies are being stretched as they have not been for decades by foreign missions from ranging Afghanistan to North Africa.
READ MORE
The first male midwife in Haiti
arte
Our documentary follows 24-year-old Edouard on his journey to become Haiti’s first male obstetrician. The Caribbean island nation has one of the highest mortality rates new births in the Western Hemisphere.