In a media landscape often dominated by “the three Cs” – crime, corruption, and crisis – Christopher Zahlten is on a different mission. Arte TV is now streaming the German filmmaker’s latest documentaries: Wild Paraguay (The North) and Wild Paraguay (The South). Christopher’s recent works have shone a spotlight on the hidden corners of Paraguay. He believes the heart of South America is one of the world’s most underrated treasures.
Speaking with The Asunción Times, Zahlten shared how a career that began in the philosophical halls of German academia and the film schools of London eventually led him to the red soil of Paraguay.
From fiction to reality
Christopher Zahlten’s path to documentary filmmaking was not a straight line. “I always liked films, but on a very amateur level,” he reflects. Initially aiming for fiction, his trajectory shifted during a “six-month documentary odyssey” financed by the United Nations.
Travelling with teams from 21 different countries to witness the work of NGOs in global crisis zones, his perspective was permanently altered. “That shaped my view,” Zahlten says. “After that, I thought, I will use my tool to do something useful.”
Christopher Zahlten’s personal connection
While his professional training happened in Europe, his heart became tied to Paraguay thirteen years ago. He met his wife, a Paraguayan, in a small German town, where she has been living since 2000. Since then, the connection has grown deep; with a Paraguayan family that numbers over 110 relatives. Christopher Zahlten has seen a side of the country that most European tourists – who usually head for the beaches of Brazil or Argentina – miss entirely.
“I felt that Paraguay is totally underrated. The people are great; it has great landscapes,” he notes. This passion led him to pitch the idea to European broadcasters like Arte, who admitted they had never featured a piece on the country. “I ran into open doors. People in Europe hardly know Paraguay… I thought it has a lot of positive things to offer, and that got me interested,” Christopher Zahlten says.
Arte stands for Association Relative à la Télévision Européene (Relative Association for European Television). Founded in 1991, the Franco-German broadcaster is one of the most important in Europe. The platform offers high-quality programming that focuses on culture, the arts, and international news.
Exploring the Chaco and beyond
Christopher Zahlten’s recent work, supported by the German Embassy and local producers like Fabrizio De La Rosa and Tito Cabrera, captures the diverse faces of the nation. From the lush greenery of Independencia and the “vibe” of Encarnación to the “rigid and extreme” beauty of the Chaco, his lens captures a country of contrasts. Additionally, one of his most moving experiences involved filming the indigenous community near the Jesuit missions. “The mystical, spiritual side of the chief… that was very moving,” he recalls.
He also addresses the common European “preconception” regarding German history in Paraguay. Rather than the cliché of post-WWII escapees, Zahlten highlights the grit of early 19th century settlers and Mennonites who built lives in the face of 45-degree heat and relentless droughts. “The hardship these people had to go through to create a life in the middle of the jungle was really impressive,” says Christopher Zahlten.
A welcoming future
For Zahlten, the defining characteristic of Paraguay remains its hospitality. “No matter how poor the people are, they are very welcoming. Everyone invites you inside. It is a special thing.”
As the relationship between Europe and the Mercosur bloc intensifies, Zahlten sees a growing appetite for Paraguayan stories. He is already looking for financing for at least two more films. They would cover the aspects of Paraguayan culture that have not yet reached European screens. As a matter of fact, the two documentaries will be presented in Asunción. They will premiere in late March in collaboration with the German Embassy and Senatur. Christopher Zahlten is not just filming Paraguay; he is becoming an essential bridge between the heart of South America and the rest of the world.
The documentaries are available in German and French for free with a VPN based in Europe on YouTube. You can also access the documentaries via Arte until 22 April 2026, where you can get the subtitles in English. Moreover, on an important note, without the VPN, which is “placing” your computer in one of the European countries, the streaming will be blacked out. You can also check Christopher Zahlten website for more information.
Made in collaboration with @remiperez.
