The 2024 edition of Sunny Side of the Doc in La Rochelle has come to an end after three and a half days of conferences, pitch sessions, meetings, and the latest highlights in the factual and documentary genres. The event has become a staple in the industry executives' agenda, especially as RX MIPDOC's flagship event has been losing prominence during last MIPTV week edition.

Yesterday, at the main lounge of the market, the Syndicat des Producteurs Indépendants (SPI) gathered for a session to discuss the main challenges the industry faces in France following the latest European elections. The elections have posed a sentiment of risk for the healthy development of the industry, and ten key points were highlighted, including: defending the cultural exception generated by international influence in the industry, maintaining public broadcasting and giving it a real digital ambition, guaranteeing the independence of ARTE, preserving the CNC's autonomy through its funding for creative diversity, among other crucial points.

Also, Cécile Lacoue, Director of Statistics and Prospective Studies for the CNC, spoke about a 'market stabilization year' regarding documentary creation: ‘We are seeing very similar numbers to 2023, with 1,686 hours of content produced, 341.5 million euros spent, and an average cost per hour of 200k. The expenditure came mostly from broadcasters (45%), with 18.4% coming from private producers, another 18.5% from CNC aid support, and the rest from other French and international sources’.

Meanwhile, Philippe Riviere and Amy Jenkins from Ubisoft presented a joint project that brings the video game giant into the world of documentary and IP production. ‘This project features a boat museum that will travel across the Mediterranean, using a combination of boat, village participation, and festivals in several cities across the Mediterranean Sea. It will be a VR exhibition focusing on environmental issues, migration, and current global issues’, they said.

From pubcaster ARTE, Marianne Lévy-Leblond spoke about the company's involvement in the gaming industry to reach new audiences and the role of producing, co-producing, and publishing video games: ‘In the last 11 years, we created 18 games, of which we have already published 12, and we are working on 8 new projects’.

Yesterday afternoon, Blue Ant Media presented its recent projects. Lilla Hurst, Global Head of Acquisitions & Content Strategy, kicked off the session by explaining that the company has no limitations regarding the content it acquires, from finished products to programs requiring 100% financing. ‘Blue Ant Media is one of the main players in nature documentaries in the industry’, she said.

Additionally, Alexa Roberts, Commissioning Editor for Documentaries at Canadian TVO, shared the broadcaster's strategy: ‘After the strikes that affected the industry in Canada and the United States, the broadcaster underwent a restructuring process that brought a breath of fresh air to the company, and we reorganized the acquisition team with an executive in charge of pre-buys, pre-sales, and acquisitions’.

Finally, Prensario spoke with Aurelie Reman, Managing Director of Sunny Side of the Doc, who shared the event's overall success, which had an attendance of 2,000 participants from 60 countries, showing growth from previous editions. The events, keynotes, and conferences had high attendance and satisfaction levels. ‘Sunny Side gave room to new voices, such as the participation of a contingent of African countries for the first time, including Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, to name a few. We also announced a deal with LatAm Content Market in Brazil next year’, she concluded.

Mariano Gutierrez

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