After completing his education in journalism and law in the City of Light, Paris, de Lestrade embarked on a pioneering venture by establishing his own television news agency, Tribulations, in 1987. For the next five years, he honed his skills as a director and producer within the agency, while also reporting for European television networks.
As his experience and expertise grew, de Lestrade transitioned into a freelance director role in 1992, allowing him to focus on creating documentaries that delve into the intricacies of society, often shedding light on its most taboo and controversial aspects. His documentaries, such as "Viols et Châtiments" (1993),"La cavale des innocents" (1995),and "L'inceste face à la justice" (1996),scrutinized the mechanisms of society, particularly in relation to sexual crime, justice, and the approach of death.
De Lestrade's work also explored genocide in Rwanda and Australia, as seen in documentaries like "La justice des hommes" (2001) and "Une Australie blanche et pure" (1998). Throughout his career, he has collaborated with renowned producer Denis Poncet, initially as part of Bertrand Tavernier's company and later within their own production company, Maha Productions.
One of de Lestrade's most notable achievements is his documentary feature film "Murder on a Sunday Morning" (2001),which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2002, marking his ninth documentary feature film.
