This Friday, July 10, 2026, France Télévisions will air“Léon, Beyond the Gold,” a brand-new documentary series co-directed bySacha Vučinić (ESRA 2010)and Xavier Marchand, father of four-time Olympic champion Léon Marchand. Comprisingthree 40-minute episodes, this in-depth series follows the French swimmer throughout the year following his Olympic victory in Paris.
Watch the documentary series on France Télévisions: link
An up-close look at Léon Marchand
For a year, the two directors followed Léon Marchand as he traveled between the United States, Australia, France, and Asia. Going beyond just his athletic achievements, the series focuses on the man behind the champion: his daily life, his doubts, how he copes with sudden fame, and his search for new goals after making swimming history.
Through an immersive experience and a relationship of trust built over the course of several months,*Léon, Beyond Gold*offers a rare glimpse into a pivotal period in the athlete’s career, marked by personal renewal and new challenges.
A career focused on documentary filmmaking
A2010 graduate of ESRA, Sacha Vučinić has been building a distinguished career in documentary filmmaking and immersive storytelling for several years.
After working as a production manager, camera assistant, and then assistant director, he decided to devote himself to directing. His unique perspective has led him to collaborate on productions that place people at the center, taking a sensitive and cinematic approach.
Productions broadcast in France and internationally
Since2022, Sacha Vučinić has served asdirector and director of photographyfor the Netflix documentary series*Tour de France: Au cœur du peloton*, a behind-the-scenes look at the Tour de France that has been praised for its immersive style and aired in many countries.
Watch the documentary series on Netflix: link
In2025, he also directed*L’Enfer du Nord*, a documentary exploring the behind-the-scenes action of the legendary Paris-Roubaix race, which aired on France Télévisions. More recently, he served as director of photography on the documentary series *Roland-Garros: Entre les lignes*, offering unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the tournament and the people who bring it to life.
Watch the documentary series on France Télévisions: link
WithLéon, beyond the gold, he continues a journey marked by documentaries that shed light on the great figures of sports from a deeply human perspective.
Another Success Story for an ESRA Alumnus
With this new project, Sacha Vučinić reaffirms a career built on a commitment to documentary standards and long-form storytelling. His work illustrates the diversity of career paths taken by ESRA graduates and their involvement in major productions, both in France and internationally.
The entire ESRA team extends its most sincere congratulations to Sacha Vučinić on this latest achievement and wishes him every success with the release of *Léon: Beyond Gold*.
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