The non-fiction market Sunny Side of the Doc concluded its 35th edition in La Rochelle, France and announced the winners of the seven-pitch sessions.
Over four days, the market gathered 2100 participants from 68 countries, over 1000 companies, 90 exhibitors, and 250 international decision-makers including major broadcasters, streamers, foundations, distributors, financiers, and museums from around the world. The event welcomed 40 delegations from countries like Australia, Spain, Brazil, Canada, and a large number of participants from China once again this year.
With the main theme «Mapping the Future» and in a global context that is challenging for the sector, the market reaffirms its crucial role in supporting international co-productions and serves as a launch platform for all types of linear and non-linear projects. It also provides a space for discussions on new opportunities for distributing immersive and XR content.
‘In the current context marked by societal polarization, the rise of extremism, and international geopolitical tensions, Sunny Side supports the powerful and impactful documentary genre more than ever’, said Mathieu Béjot, Director of Strategy and Development at Sunny Side of the Doc. ‘While preserving the DNA that has characterized it for 35 years, Sunny Side continues to diversify to include the entire documentary value chain. The market brings together impact actors, archives, and distributors who play an increasing role not only in the circulation of finished films but also in the pre-financing of projects’.
The rich program of conferences gave a voice to the entire industry and creators from around the world. Highlights of this week included keynotes from PBS, an XR artist, and First Nations Australian voices; the first showcase of Nigerian documentaries; Meet The Executives sessions with international channels; Industry talks on AI, archives, podcasts, new narratives, and women in documentary; and the lineups from French channels and groups like France Télévisions, Arte, Canal+, TF1, M6, and Altice Media.
The seven pitch sessions, always highly anticipated and a true opportunity for international co-production, gathered a large number of professionals impressed by the quality and boldness of this year’s projects. Among the winners, five women were awarded; three winners presented their first project, forming an international list: Australia, Iran, France, Ireland, Canada, Malaysia, Kenya, Germany, United States.
Sunny Side looking ahead to 2025
In the coming months, Sunny Side of the Doc will continue to open the event to different perspectives from new territories and emerging forms of storytelling while ensuring diversity and inclusion.
‘Today, our goal is to bring together at the end of June in La Rochelle documentary talents from five continents within an ever more resilient and determined community’, said Aurélie Reman, Managing Director of Sunny Side of the Doc. ‘Our event should be a real moment of reunions, exchanges, and debates on the crucial role that documentary plays in our societies. We have a strong commitment to supporting these new voices in the market to fully succeed in their entry onto the international stage. We will support them more structurally so they can find their place alongside more established producers, distributors, and broadcasters’.
