Tag Archive: KM

  1. Banijay France’s KM and France 2 Inspire Future Generations with Powerful Documentary on Anne Frank

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    Content powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, today announces Anne Frank, The Story of a Young Girl, a poignant 90-minute primetime documentary for France 2. Produced by KM, a premium factual label within Banijay France, and Bleu Kobalt, this unique historical account offers a thought-provoking look into the life of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl with dreams of becoming a writer.

    Anne Frank tragically died at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in March 1945, with her sister Margot, but her words continue to inspire generations. Drawing on powerful extracts from her diary, with previously unpublished photographs from the Anne Frank Fonds in Basel, and colorised historical archival footage, the documentary brings to life the dreams and fears of a young teenage girl, living under the brutal reality of Nazi occupation. It is a deeply moving testimony of resilience and hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.

    To engage younger audiences, Anne’s imaginary friend, Kitty — to whom she wrote in her diary — serves as the narrator, while five adolescent girls from diverse backgrounds act as modern-day keepers of her memory. Through their own experience, they offer a deeply personal connection to her thoughts and emotions, ensuring the story resonated across generations. The documentary is produced by Catherine Alvaresse and Patrice Gellé, and directed by Alexandre Moix in association with Kobalt Documentary and Zoom Production.

    Catherine Alvaresse, CEO, KM says: “Eighty years on, Anne Frank’s story remains a profoundly universal symbol of resistance and hope. Despite the ravages of war and terror, her unwavering spirit allowed her to continue dreaming and finding strength, transforming her diary into a beacon for humanity. This documentary is our tribute to her legacy, inspiring future generations to stand up against hatred, antisemitism and injustice.”

    Factual producer KM specialises in high-quality content including current affairs programming and documentaries. Recent credits include long-running title, 28 minutes, a daily success on Arte averaging a peak audience of 1 million viewers; Karl Lagerfeld documentary Révélation on Canal+; and Raël: The Alien Prophet docuseries on Netflix which was amongst the top 10 non-English series globally for two weeks after its launch.

  2. Raël Docuseries to Launch on Netflix

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    Banijay France today announces its factual label, KM, is to produce new docuseries Raël: The Alien Prophet for Netflix. The four-parter, which launches on Wednesday 7 February, traces how a UFO-inspired religion spiralled into a controversial cult. Through investigative work and recovered documents, the show delves into the intriguing world of Raëlism, a religious movement founded in France by Claude Vorilhon, known as Raël, and its impact over the last 50 years.

    Catherine Alvaresse, CEO at KM comments: “Drawing on archives and unpublished testimonies, this gripping series takes us to the heart of this fascinating religion. Featuring interviews with his followers, critics, and Raël himself, it will explore the sources of belief and contradictions behind this movement and ways it has evolved over the last five decades. This real-life story gives a sneak peek into an untapped world and promises to be a thrilling watch.”

    Factual producer KM specialises in high-quality content including current affairs programming and documentaries, with credits including long-running title, 28 minutes, a daily success on Arte averaging a peak audience of 1 million viewers, and the recently-announced documentary Révélation on Karl Lagerfeld which premiered this month on Canal+.

  3. KM Appoints Catherine Alvaresse as CEO

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    KM, part of Banijay France, today announces it is bolstering its senior management team with Catherine Alvaresse joining as CEO, effective immediately.

    In this role, Alvaresse will define and oversee the factual label’s strategy, working closely with Alexia Laroche-Joubert, CEO at Banijay France. Aiming to strengthen the portfolio of projects in development, she will focus particularly on ramping up the label’s documentaries and current affairs programming. Bringing a wealth of experience and talent-base, Alvaresse will work hand-in-hand with the existing team of producers on shows like the new, recently announced Karl Lagerfeld documentary, Révélation, which will air on Canal+ this month, as well as other major docuseries in the pipeline, and long-running daily current affairs series 28 minutes, for Arte.

    Alvaresse brings over two decades of industry expertise, most recently at France Télévisions where she was Director of Documentaries from 2019 to 2023. With key roles at Image & Compagnie, Off the Fence, Télé Images Group, Arte France and France 2, Alvaresse is known for her leadership. An active member of industry associations, she holds positions with the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) and is an honorary member of the mediaClub’Elles and the PDFM association, the two largest women media associations in France. Documentaries greenlit by Alvaresse received the Albert Londres Prize and two International Emmys in 2020 and 2022. Last year, l’Affaire d’Outreau received the Special Commendation from the jury at the Prix Europa Awards.

    Alexia Laroche-Joubert, CEO at Banijay France says: “For this role we actively sought a personality with extensive international and broadcaster experience. Catherine’s past work with Arte and France Télévisons uniquely positions her to maintain and strengthen KM’s long-standing relationships with them. Her industry know-how, impressive credits, vast talent network and expertise in building compelling topics for broad audiences, makes her the ideal person to bolster KM’s position in the high-end factual space. She will also further develop the current affairs programming by collaborating with the teams behind 28 minutes.”

    Catherine Alvaresse, CEO at KM comments: “KM stands out in the industry for creating and producing compelling and powerful factual programming; from real-life stories and documentaries to magazine formats. The company is well-positioned in the market, and with a strong appetite from viewers, I look forward to joining the next phase of growth, bringing my ideas and ambition to create content for audiences in France and internationally.”