ARTE.tv Documentary

📺 Watch next: Japanese Retired Gangsters 📺

In Tokyo 🇯🇵, a 74-year-old ex-yakuza (Japanese gang member) has set up a softball team – a very popular sport in Japan – to help young people keep away from organised crime.

In this film, we follow his story and look into the impact of positive community initiatives in helping reduce crime rates.

👀 See it here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o4Fy...

5 days ago | [YT] | 41

ARTE.tv Documentary

What's it like to be young in 2026? 🤔

We've recently shared a few documentaries chronicling the experiences of Gen-Z across the world. 🌎 From the wave of young entrepreneurs in Greece 🇬🇷starting their own businesses, to the Russians 🇷🇺 of the digital generation making sense of life under Putin's rule.

In Morocco 🇲🇦, Nepal 🇳🇵 and Bangladesh 🇧🇩, recent years have seen outbreaks of protests, with young people leading the way.

Meanwhile, amid an era of political and social change that can often feel disorientating, some Gen Z-ers in Eastern Europe are going against the grain – facing the future with optimism and confidence.

💬 Check out our focus on Gen Z below and let us know in the comments: what are the key issues facing young people in your country?

📺 Gen Z in Eastern Europe 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYPWw...

Young people in the West seem to suffer particularly from anxiety about the future, solitude and pessimism. But in the East, things seem different.

We visit Bulgaria, Lithuania and Uzbekistan, where young people are forging their own path with confidence and optimism.

📺 Generation Z in Russia 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA8zh...

In Russia, the letter "Z" is a symbol of support for the war in Ukraine since February 2022. How do young Russians of Generation Z, children of the digital revolution, view their country under Putin?

📺 Gen Z Wants to Be Entrepreneurs in Greece 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOt1P...

In Greece, nearly one in two young people is considering embarking on the entrepreneurial adventure. Eudora Pouli took the plunge a year and a half ago. Trained as a chemist, she is putting her skills to work on her project.

📺 Morocco: Gen Z Revolt 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVMj5...

On 14 September 2025, a demonstration broke out outside the Hassan II hospital in Agadir after eight women died during caesarean sections. These tragedies sparked a wave of anger at the state of the health service in Morocco. Protests quickly spread throughout the country with young people taking the lead.

📺 Nepal: Angry Gen Z 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB8BX...

Young people in Nepal are very angry at political instability and rampant corruption and are taking matters into their own hands.

📺 Bangladesh: The Gen Z Revolution 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfcK_...

On 5 August 2024, Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh for more than 15 years, fled the country in a helicopter as mass protests led by young people and students shook the country.

1 week ago | [YT] | 23

ARTE.tv Documentary

Half of the population menstruates, but it comes at a cost, and many people find it difficult to afford period products.

Period poverty is the term used to describe this widespread lack of access to sanitary products, hygienic facilities, and education due to financial constraints or stigma. It is currently affecting over 500 million people globally. 🌎

Now, with much of the world plunged into a cost-of-living crisis, many people are forced to use unsafe alternatives, such as rags, newspapers, or socks, increasing risks of infection and disrupting education and work.

ARTE look into this crisis in our documentary 'Period Poverty', where we headed to
Germany and Poland to meet campaigners who are trying to break the taboo on period poverty.


📺 Watch it here 👉 https://youtu.be/hdlFdsNLuyU

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 93

ARTE.tv Documentary

📆 Today is International Women's Day! 🎉

First celebrated in 1911, the idea was originally proposed by German 🇩🇪 Clara Zetkin in 1910 at an international conference of working women in Copenhagen 🇩🇰.

The global day recognises the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. 🏆

It acts as a focal point for the women's rights movement, raising awareness about gender inequality, promoting positive change, and driving action to accelerate gender parity.

This year, the theme is 'Give to Gain', which is a call to help forge gender equality through abundant giving. ❤️

When people, organisations and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. 💪

To celebrate, check out our selection of documentaries about the lives of women across the world 🌎.

💬 And tell us in the comments: what is it like to be a woman in your country?

📺 Ukrainian Women in 'Male' Jobs 👉 https://youtu.be/Q1fVuxszhjo

Before the Russian 🇷🇺 invasion began in February 2022, Ukrainian 🇺🇦 women were not allowed to occupy certain roles, deemed too dangerous.

The war has changed everything and women are now working as minors and other male-dominated sectors, in a society that is still patriarchal.

📺 Women Mayors in Turkey 👉 https://youtu.be/qEpIn8pIAQc

In the March 2024 municipal elections in Turkey 🇹🇷, citizens elected an unprecedented number of women mayors. In this documentary, we meet these mayors and finds out what their political aims and struggles are.

📺 Health: Treating Women Differently 👉 https://youtu.be/ki02oh4d9r0

Whether it's heart disease, ADHD or mental health - women often present different symptoms to men and need to be treated differently.

The risk of dying after a heart attack is twice as high for women as for men, and ADHD often goes undetected in girls. As for men, mental health problems are still often a taboo subject: the suicide rate for men is almost three times higher than for women.

📺 America's War Against Women 👉 https://youtu.be/q9PyqZYxppQ

In America 🇺🇸, women can go to jail for their husbands’ crimes, men are allowed to marry ten-year-olds, and abortions in some states are illegal, even in cases of rape.

Documentary filmmaker Brice Lambert journeys through the American South and meets women who are at the receiving end of the attack on women’s rights since Donald Trump’s return to power.

📺 Is It True That...Men and Women Have Never Been Equal? 👉 https://youtu.be/k6QbGkti-Fg

From Iceland’s 🇮🇸 women’s strike in 1975 right back to strong Viking women and the very first human settlements, was the past more equalitarian than we think? Can we find matriarchy rather than patriarchy in our 2.8 million years of human history?

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 60

ARTE.tv Documentary

Since Donald Trump’s return to power, his administration has deported more than 100,000 Mexicans 🇲🇽 and continues to intimidate migrant workers in the USA 🇺🇸, whether legal or illegal.

Trump's administration has increased the budget of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to $85billion. For context, 10 years ago, the annual budget for ICE was less than $6billion. This expansion of the agency has seen extra agents deployed in major cities across the country.

With less money flowing back to Mexico through family remittances, this is hurting the economy south of the border.

📺 For more information, see our documentary 'Mexico-USA: When the Money Stops', here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HVRu...

Inside the US, everyday life has been drastically altered by the increased presence of ICE.

Denver, the capital of Colorado state, is a city held by the Democrats, a so-called "sanctuary city" that protects undocumented migrants.

There are estimated to be more than 12 million of them across the USA, contributing to the economic development of the United States, yet the rhetoric from Donald Trump’s White House is to increase deportations.

📺 For a look into life on the ground in Denver, see our documentary
'Colorado: Migrants Under Pressure', here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV8oK...

📺 To learn more about the current immigration situation in the US, you can also see our video 'ICE: Donald Trump's Shock Troops', here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6CUW...

📺 And, for more US news, see our playlist 'Donald Trump's USA 🇺🇸', here 👉 www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 22

ARTE.tv Documentary

The United States 🇺🇸 and Israel 🇮🇱 are continuing to carry out air strikes in Iran 🇮🇷 after the war broke out on Saturday.

Iran has responded by firing missiles at Israel and other countries in the region with links to the US, including Qatar 🇶🇦, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 🇦🇪 and Saudi Arabia. 🇸🇦

On Sunday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader who ruled Iran for nearly 40 years, was killed in an air strike.

The attacks come just eight months after the last war, with US President Donald Trump describing the operation as "massive" and urging the Iranian people to rise up and seize power once it is over.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that this war will be “much stronger” than the one last June and that its objective is to “eliminate the existential threat posed by” the government of the ayatollahs.

To learn more about the ongoing situation, stay tuned to our channel, where we'll be sharing stories and explainers from the region. Check out some key examples below. 👇

📺 The Long War: Iran, Israel, USA 👉 https://youtu.be/jQmHClIBMN0

How did Iran become the sworn enemy of Israel and the United States, despite being allies of Iran’s Shah in the 1970s? This documentary takes a look at shifting geopolitics and war in a troubled region.

📺 Iranians in Europe: A Cry for Freedom 👉 https://youtu.be/Z8PSNMKg16g

Earlier this year, Iran saw a crackdown on the latest wave of protests, which has probably been the most brutal since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. This report focuses on the Iranian diaspora in Europe who are following events in the country from afar.

📺 Iran: 10 Days of Resistance 👉 https://youtu.be/v3pocJYlKak

This is the diary of journalist Kajin Azadi, who was able to enter Iran in early January and emerge with these exclusive images only a few weeks ago. A rare glimpse of the revolt in Tehran.

📺 Iran & Saudi Arabia: Neighbours and Rivals 👉 https://youtu.be/_3rE9-rGuJM

On the one hand, Iran, an Islamic republic led by an ayatollah, sworn enemy of Israel and the USA, with a mostly Shiite population. On the other is Saudi Arabia, a hereditary monarchy whose inhabitants are 90% Sunni. This video focuses on two neighbours whose rivalry shapes the balance of power in the Middle East...

📺 Stay updated with our full playlist on Iran and escalation in the Middle East, here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yblU...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 35

ARTE.tv Documentary

🖼️ This week on ARTE.tv Culture 🖼️

Check out some of our current favourites 💗 from ARTE.tv Culture below 👇 and browse the full channel here 👉 youtube.com/@artetvculture

📺 The Oscar-nominated 🏆 short film 'Butterfly'

Directed by Florence Mialihe, this hand-painted, animated short is up for the Best Animated Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards, set to take place on March 16. 📆

In this moving film, Miailhe tells the extraordinary story of Alfred Nakache, a Jewish French 🇫🇷 swimmer who competed in the 1936 Olympics, survived Auschwitz, and returned to the 1948 Olympics.

As he moves through the water, memories come back to him from the bright beaches of the Indian Ocean to the grey of the concentration camps.

Watch it here 👉 https://youtu.be/sCsDnszbQRk

📺 In conversation with Oscar-nominee Joachim Trier

Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value' 🎬 is up for nine Oscar 🏆 nominations at the 98th Academy Awards, marking a historic moment for Norwegian cinema. 🇳🇴

ARTE caught up with Trier at the Cannes Film Festival to discuss his heartwrenching, poignant film.

See our interview here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNkOt...

📺 Ninja Warrior: A European Passion

The US 🇺🇸 TV show Ninja Warrior, based on the Japanese 🇯🇵 television reality series Sasuke, sees competitors tackle demanding obstacle courses.

It's become so popular in Europe that it's given rise to a new sport: Ninja, where speed, endurance and coordination are tested. 🥷

In this film, ARTE heads to Germany 🇩🇪 to see how the young sport is progressing.

👀 Check it out here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdXq1...

📺 Turnstile: Record Box

Baltimore hardcore band 🎸 Turnstile won their first-ever Grammy 🏆 earlier this month, taking home Best Rock Album for 'NEVER ENOUGH' and Best Metal Performance for 'BIRDS'.

One of the most iconic rising bands of the 2020s, ARTE caught up with them while they were on tour in Europe, to discover their favourite records, 💿 which include Thin Lizzy and My Chemical Romance.

See it here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg1Ca...

Our sister channel is home to web series'💻, exclusive interviews 🎙️, music programs 🎶, the best of European cinema 🎞️ and long-form culture documentaries 🎥 that explore art 🎨 from every angle.

1 month ago | [YT] | 21

ARTE.tv Documentary

📺 Watch next: The Great Smog of London 📺

For five days in December 1952 📆, a thick smog suffocated the British capital, causing the death of thousands of Londoners.

The health catastrophe led to a realisation, in Britain 🇬🇧 and around the world, that air pollution was a serious threat to human health.

This documentary reveals what happened, hour by hour, in one of the worst peacetime disasters of the 20th century.

👀 See it here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2OP9...

Since then, our understanding of pollution has drastically increased.

📺 For further watching on how the climate crisis impacts our life today, check out our playlist 'Climate Emergency Worldwide ♻️', here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXj9C...

1 month ago | [YT] | 16

ARTE.tv Documentary

Have you heard of Teodosi Teodosiev?

Deemed the best physics teacher in the world, the Bulgarian 🇧🇬 professor has a reputation as a maker of Nobel Prize 🏆 winners.

For him, there is no science without conscience and being a good teacher means touching students’ souls. 👨‍🏫

ARTE met the towering figure of teaching in our documentary 'Bulgaria's Super Teacher'.

📺 Watch it here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn0ZV...

1 month ago | [YT] | 71

ARTE.tv Documentary

Today marks four years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It is Europe's biggest conflict since the Second World War, and has caused profound civilian suffering, immense military losses and a fundamental shift in post-Cold War security dynamics.

As the conflict enters its fifth year, there is still no resolution in sight, despite the international community's efforts to bring an end to the devastation.

From a geopolitical standpoint, the war has also raised tensions across Europe and the U.S., at what is a crucial moment for international defence.

To learn more, see our playlist 'Ukraine: Four Years of War', where we explain the conflict and provide insight into life in Ukraine and Russia, here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

1 month ago | [YT] | 26