France TV seeks ethnic specials

France Télévisions is looking for programming to fill its recently introduced Sunday afternoon factual strand that explores the effect of modern life on ethnic tribes.

Caroline Behar

The Humanités slot on France 5 launched in February, featuring documentaries and factual shows that tell stories from the points of view of various ethnic groups.

The hour-long segment runs on Sundays at 14.40, with programming exploring the lives of people facing the effects of increased globalisation.

Caroline Behar, director of documentaries at France 5 and acquisitions and coproductions across France Télévisions, said she was now looking for shows that would reflect the changing worlds of unknown ethnic groups.

She added that she wanted programming that delved into the opinions of the various groups, rather than simply an outsider’s take on their lives.

One of the first shows to have aired in the slot is Taiga, a 1×52′ special from writer-director Hamid Sardar about the life of a Mongolian shepherd. It was coproduced by France Télévisions and Ushuaia TV.

The strand is part of France 5’s attempts to tackle a slump in viewers during its weekend afternoons.