Sunny Side of the Doc, the international marketplace dedicated to linear and non-linear documentaries, is currently in full swing, running until June 26. The 36th edition of the event showcases an official selection of 42 projects, bringing together industry professionals from around the globe to foster co-production and explore new avenues in storytelling. This year, the event expects over 2000 total attendees, with more than 300 decision-makers present for its 70+ industry sessions.

The market's call for projects, launched last December, drew 328 documentary submissions from 56 countries. This figure marks a stable submission rate for the third consecutive year, following a strong rebound in 2022. Notably, 15 new countries, such as Algeria, DRC, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Colombia, are participating in the submissions for the first time. A key trend highlighted is the growing emergence of new talent: since the creation of the "New Voices" category in 2023, half of all submissions are first or second films, with the category now accounting for 24% of total submissions7. Additionally, over 50% of the selected projects are produced by women.

Aurélie Reman, managing director of Sunny Side of the Doc, emphasizes: ‘The 2025 selection not only reflects the state of global documentary filmmaking but also aims to drive its transformations and meet broadcasters' expectations’. She also states 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 42 selected projects compete for the Best Pitch Prize across seven thematic sessions. These sessions receive support from 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.

This year's project submissions have remained stable at 328 documentaries for the past three years (2023, 2024, 2025), following a significant rebound in 2022. This consistency in submissions underscores ongoing engagement from the international documentary community.

Today, the opening day features a keynote address by Antonia Pellegrino, Content and Programming Director at Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (TV Brasil). Her session, following opening remarks by Aurélie Reman, focuses on new routes to storytelling and how international co-productions can reshape industry dynamics, unlock economic opportunities, and address global challenges through Brazilian creative excellence, particularly as part of the France-Brazil Season 2025.

In addition, a panel titled "Global Doc: Will A.I. transform international coproductions?" explores how Artificial Intelligence might impact the production process, from scriptwriting to visual creation and budget efficiency. The discussion also delves into ethical questions surrounding AI use and the definition of a common framework for its application. Broadcasters and producers share their experiences and future perspectives through case studies.

And, the conference "Meet the Buyers", will provide opportunities for attendees to learn about current editorial priorities and acquisition strategies directly from international buyers. Each session features three executives, followed by a Q&A. Buyers participating include Anna Klara Weingarten, Editor In Chief Specialist Factual at SVT - Sveriges Television; Laura NI CHEALLAIGH, Commissioning And Acquisitions Editor at TG4; and Adita Jain, VP - content acquisition and syndication at IN10 MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED.

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