Sunny Side of the Doc (SSD), the international documentary and factual marketplace held annually in La Rochelle, France, prepares an event this year that marks a significant rebound for the market, which had previously announced the cancellation before being reactivated through a strategic restructuring and industry mobilization.
The 37th edition of the marketplace, scheduled to run from June 22 to 24, 2026, will be presented in partnership with Documentary Campus. The condensed three-day event is designed to directly address the economic and structural pressures currently facing independent producers, offering high-level pitch sessions, panels on industry trends, and a dedicated exhibition hall.
Leading the 2026 keynote lineup is newly minted Oscar winner Helle Faber, producer of Mr. Nobody Against Putin. Faber’s session will address the shifting dynamics of international co-productions at a time when traditional financing windows are narrowing. ‘Today the model is under pressure, but collaboration is more important than ever’, Faber commented regarding her upcoming address, which aims to provide practical insight on building cross-border partnerships.
Also headlining the conference program is Ben Zand, founder and CEO of Zandland, who will discuss his company’s in-house model for creating, funding, and distributing documentaries. Zand’s keynote will focus on audience engagement strategies within a highly fragmented digital ecosystem. Additionally, speaker Jen Topping is confirmed to deliver a strategic assessment of YouTube’s operational value for documentary producers.
A core component of the 2026 market will feature direct insight from major international broadcasters and platform executives. Representatives from France Télévisions, NHK, China Media Group, ARTE, Canal+ Group, and the Global Doc public broadcasters alliance are scheduled to share transparent data regarding their budgets, co-production priorities, and programming expectations for the next 12 to 24 months. Additional sessions and debates will explore the narrative role of artificial intelligence, the utilization of archives as content engines, and emerging distribution strategies for digital-first markets.
‘The documentary and factual landscape is shifting faster than the professionals can absorb. The right collective move is to be part of a marketplace built to make international co-productions and global sales happen’, noted Aurélie Reman, Managing Director of Sunny Side of the Doc. Reman emphasized that the La Rochelle event will provide a space where industry voices can speak plainly about what it takes to get projects across the finish line on television, streaming, and digital platforms.
Donata von Perfall, Managing Director of Documentary Campus, added that the 2026 program is specifically designed for solution-driven, in-person exchange. According to von Perfall, the unique partnership between Documentary Campus and Sunny Side of the Doc has shaped every element of this edition to create an essential environment where the global industry can align and move active projects forward.
