Founded in 2001, the AST is comprised of 120 independent French producers and 55 production companies. They produce film features, TV documentaries, series, reports and webdocs. The common denominator? Their productions tackle scientific subjects.
With the support of the CNC and the Procirep, the AST has developed numerous actions which aim at promoting scientific programming on TV, facilitating the production and distribution of science films, encouraging international coproductions and strengthening the bonds between the world of research and the audiovisual sector.
The AST was created by five founding partners: Emmanuel Laurent from Films à Trois, Stéphane Millière from Gedeon Programmes, Arnaud Hantute, Maurice Ribière from La Compagne des Taxi-Brousse and Fabrice Estève from Ampersand (the production companies mentioned were those that joined the AST at the time – they may have changed since). It is the only association in the world dedicated to science programs.
It was successfully presided by Emmanuel Laurent (Film à Trois, 2001-2005), Jean-Pierre Gibrat (Transeuropefilm, 2005-2010), Valérie Abita (Zed, 2010-2016), Fabrice Estève (YUZU Productions, 2016-2022) and Aline Houdy (Découpages, since 2022).
Members participate in meetings organized all year long by the AST. Besides their active presence, they vote during general assemblies and are eligible for election to the board of directors.
The AST offers its members…
• Professional sessions: breakfasts with French and international broadcasters, production case studies, masterclasses with researchers, meetings with scientific institutions and public figures from political and scientific medias.
• Participation to international fairs like the Sunny Side of the Doc and the World Congress of Science & Factual Producers, under the AST’s umbrella.
• Free registration to the Pariscience Festival’s call for entries
• Workshops, information meetings, informal diners
• A page on our website to present one’s company and films.
Download the presentation kit (in French)
The Association Science & Télévision organizes:
The Pariscience International Science Film Festival
Since 2005, the AST organizes the Pariscience Film Festival at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle and the Institut de physique du globe in Paris. Pariscience presents every year a selection of the very best international scientific documentaries. Short films, features or series, no matter what you prefer, it’s at Pariscience. The festival’s programming includes screenings designed for school audiences, for families, for professionals, for science aficionados and for curious newcomers alike – and all of it is for free.
