SCIENCE IN THE SERVICE OF THE PLANET ZED LAUNCHES TWO FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES AND ANNOUNCES SALES

Paris-based producer and distributor ZED has completed two in-house primetime productions that tackle key environmental and scientific issues.

At this point in time, we believe it is essential to offer this type of content to the audience, says Chloé Persyn-Preljocaj, Head of Sales and Distribution at ZED. We want to increase awareness about these topics, and give the public keys to understanding. That involves observing the past to predict the future and adapt. And this is precisely the angle chosen in these two programmes.

PREHISTORIC WORLDS

On the brink of a sixth mass extinction that the scientific community considers imminent – this time caused by mankind – this film gives us an interesting and powerful look at Man’s existence on the scale of the history of our planet. What did these prehistoric worlds look like? How did our distant ancestors manage to survive the five mass extinctions that the Earth has suffered, finally giving rise to the world we know today?

Combining CGI of ancient animal and plant life, VFX, and filming, this 90’ 4K prime time coproduced by ZED and CuriosityStream for France 5 and NHK has just been completed. Directed by Alexis de Favitski (Voyage of the continents), this stand-alone is accompanied by a 52-minute for the international market. This version has already been pre-sold to ZDFinfo, ServusTV, Planète+, Axess TV, AMC Network, ITI Neovision and FTV Prima.

TSUNAMIS: FACING A GLOBAL THREAT

Natural disasters are occurring more and more frequently, and intensifying with climate change. In this confrontation between man and nature, there is a devastating phenomenon that nothing seems to be able to stop: Tsunamis. And in order to better predict and control tomorrow’s cataclysms, we must look to the past.

Using cutting edge science, CGIs, impressive amateur videos and reconstructions of past disasters, this captivating 52’ directed by Pascal Guérin and co-produced by ZED, ARTE and CuriosityStream, unveils tsunamis’ complex mechanics in an attempt to predict the future ones.

This one-off has already been sold in many territories, including Australia, Sweden, Spain, Poland, Ireland, the Czech Republic and Italian-speaking Switzerland.

Far from a catastrophic scenario, this film looks at the solutions that exist to better anticipate the future, says Chloé Persyn-Preljocaj. She continues: By exporing the approach of the «tsunamists», and by staging knowledge and popularization with a strong visual ambition, it’s this message of hope we want to carry

ZED

An independent producer and distributor specialized in factual documentaries, the company ZED, led by Manuel Catteau, has been on the international scene for more than 20 years now, leading co-productions with major international broadcasters such as France Televisions, Canal+, ARTE, BBC, National Geographic, Discovery, PBS, ZDF, NHK or ABC Australia.

Thanks to a strong team of 6 producers and the unique know-how of renowned directors and writers, ZED produces around 40 films a year, covering all genre in non-fiction: History, sciences, wildlife, investigation, current affairs and art & culture. With a catalogue of 1200 hours, ZED is also one of the major international sales companies and represents more than 130 prestigious French and foreign production companies, handling distribution of their output to broadcasters across the globe.

On the strength of its audacity and the diversity of its documentaries, ZED has been nominated 5 times among the 10 Best French Producers of the Year, and has won three times the French Export Award that rewards the most well distributed programs abroad. In 2019, ZED has been nominated by Realscreen as part of the « Global 100 », the annual snapshot of the best production companies working in the non-fiction industry.

Over the years, ZED has built its reputation by crafting high-end and acclaimed films, recognized in the most famous international festivals and very often garnering record audience ratings. Hitler Youth tapped into the 5 top rated programs on National Geographic US while Living Universe, a 4×52’ series about the search for the exoplanets, is currently a top performer for CuriosityStream. Its last production Hobbies was selected at the Cannes Film Festival (Short Film Palme d’Or Category).

Source:ZED