Factual Line-up
BUILDING PARIS joins the lineup of France tv distribution!
France tv distribution is delighted to announce the launching of the international distribution of BUILDING PARIS directed by Guy Padovani (Chauvet Humanity's First Great Masterpiece, Denisova Unveiled) and produced by KM (Banijay France).
Distributed worldwide by France tv distribution, this program will be launched at the Sunny Side Of The Doc, taking place in La Rochelle, from June 22 to 24, 2026.
Synopsis
In the second half of the 19th century, Paris is an unsanitary and dangerous city, lagging far behind New York, Berlin, Rome, and London. Emperor Napoleon III and Baron Haussmann take on an impossible challenge: transforming the medieval city into a modern town. For over 40 years, massive construction projects reshaped the capital — Haussmannian buildings, drinking water supplies, and an immense sewer network — creating the Parisian way of life. At the heart of this architectural revolution stands the absolute masterpiece of Haussmann's Paris: the Paris Opera.
Today, architects, engineers, and artisans bring this incredible story back to life. With exclusive access to iconic monuments and hidden locations beneath the city, combined with spectacular VFX, Building Paris immerses the viewer into the heart of the 19th century's greatest urban adventure — the epic creation of the City of Light.
Catherine Alvaresse, President of KM:
"We are thrilled to collaborate with the teams at France tv distribution on this film, which fully aligns with KM's strategy: premium documentaries with an international scope!"
Patrice Gellé, Producer at KM:
"Our film 'Building Paris' will reveal how Paris became Paris – the City of Light that has inspired so many capitals around the world. A grand, universal, and immersive story for a wide international audience."
Julia Schulte, SVP International Sales at France tv distribution:
"We have great ambitions for 'Building Paris' internationally. Following the worldwide success of the film about Eiffel produced by Patrice Gellé, we are convinced that this proposal will appeal to our foreign partners, who will discover both the medieval and the rebuilt Paris in a completely unprecedented way, along with the history of this iconic city that has influenced major capitals around the world."
Original title: CONSTRUIRE PARIS
Format: 2x45’ & 52’
Genre: History, Science & Technology
Written by Flore Kosinetz
Directed by Guy Padovani
Produced by Patrice Gellé and Catherine Alvaresse (KM - Banijay France)
French Broadcaster: France Télévisions
Photos Credits: © KM
About France tv distribution
France tv distribution works with producers and licensors to maximise revenues from their programmes accross all media platforms encompassing video, VOD and music publishing, merchandising, magazine and book publishing, plus French and international distribution and fund-raising.
Since January 2017, France tv distribution has gone hand in hand with distribution films abroad. As a major player on the distribution of rights in France and in foreign markets, this new activity of trading feature films is added to its savoir-faire.