Emotional, protagonist-centered, warm-hearted. Journey of discovery into European and non-European lifeworlds. People and their environment at the center. Clear dramaturgy: "The day that changed my life." Close to people, respectful, never voyeuristic. Wondering and curious.
What this format covers
●European and non-European lifeworlds
●Protagonist-centered journeys of discovery
●People and their environment — work, tradition, change
●Emotional stories with clear dramaturgy
●Encounters between cultures and generations
●Everyday stories that reveal the extraordinary in the ordinary
What this format does NOT want
●Travel formats without protagonists or personal story
●Political reportage or investigative formats
●Purely natural history documentaries
●Academic or analytical presentations
●Formats without clear narrative arc
●Crisis reporting or conflict journalism
Visual expectations
Visually strong shots of landscapes and living spaces. Proximity to protagonists — authentic moments in everyday life. Natural light, atmospheric images. Drone shots for contextualization. Warm, inviting aesthetic. No studio atmosphere, everything on location.
Expected exposé structure
Title + subtitle (evoking place and person)
Logline (2–3 sentences: who, where, what is the emotional journey)
Exposé body text as narrative close to the protagonist
Protagonist(s) with concrete biography and motivation
Dramaturgy — the turning point, the transformation
Shooting location and visual concept
Production company, author, contact
Example productions
Die Hirtennomaden der Sahara
Japan — Leben zwischen Tradition und Moderne
Inselleben — Geschichten vom Rand Europas
Die Ärzte von Kalkutta
Ein Jahr in der Provence
Editorial notes
Saturday early evening — setting the tone for the ARTE evening. Audience seeks discovery and emotion, not heavy fare. Protagonist-centered is mandatory. Clear dramaturgy with recognizable arc. No ARTE France and no ARTE GEIE as suppliers — purely German supplier base. 43-minute format allows no slack.
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