Sunny Side of the Doc, the international marketplace and community dedicated to linear and non-linear documentaries, is currently underway, running from June 23 to 26, 2025. The 36th edition of the event showcases an official selection of 42 projects, gathering industry professionals from across the globe to foster co-production and explore new avenues in storytelling.
A central feature of Sunny Side of the Doc is its eagerly anticipated pitch sessions. Over 250 high-level international decision-makers, including major broadcasters, streamers, foundations, distributors, buyers, and other investors, are present to evaluate projects with significant impact potential.
This year’s call for projects, launched in December, drew 328 documentary submissions from 56 countries. This figure remains stable for the third consecutive year, following a rebound in 2022. Notably, 15 new countries, such as Algeria, DRC, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Colombia, are participating in the submissions. The event also highlights the emergence of new talent, with the “New Voices” category, created in 2023, now accounting for 24% of all submissions, and half of all submissions being first or second films. A significant trend is that over 50% of the selected projects are produced by women.
Aurélie Reman, managing director of Sunny Side of the Doc, emphasizes that the 2025 selection not only reflects the state of global documentary filmmaking but also aims to drive its transformations and meet broadcasters’ expectations. She notes that the 42 selected projects from 22 different countries offer a diverse panorama that resonates with contemporary themes while exploring bold narrative formats, aligning with the event’s “New Routes to Storytelling” theme.
Over the four days, the selected projects compete for the Best Pitch Prize across seven thematic sessions. These sessions are supported by industry partners including PBS Distribution, Blue Ant Media & Love Nature, RTBF, Al Jazeera Documentary & AJB DOC, and ZDF Studios. Each selected project receives a cash reward based on available sponsorship. All project holders benefit from mentoring with industry experts and exclusive access to a diverse professional audience, aiming to foster financial and creative co-production opportunities.
In parallel, Sunny Side of the Doc is also running the Sunny Innovation Lab, a training program dedicated to non-linear documentary formats such as podcasts, VR, AR, immersive installations, AI, and video games. This program offers tailored mentoring and guidance to help creators refine their projects for international exposure. Winners in each category are announced daily at the Awards Café in the Meeting Area, providing a direct connection point for press and participants with project leaders.
