Sunny Side of the Doc Wraps 35th Edition, Eyes Global Expansion Amid ‘Rise of Extremism’
variety.comNaman Ramachandran The international documentary market Sunny Side of the Doc concluded its 35th edition in La Rochelle, France on June 27, drawing 2,100 participants from 68 countries.
The four-day event, themed “Mapping the Future,” showcased 90 exhibitors and hosted 250 international decision-makers. The program featured keynotes from PBS, an XR artist, and First Nations Australian voices, as well as the first showcase of Nigerian documentaries and the lineups from French channels and groups like France Télévisions, Arte, Canal+, TF1, M6 and Altice Media.
Seven pitch sessions highlighted international co-production opportunities, with winners hailing from Australia, Iran, France, Ireland, Canada, Malaysia, Kenya, Germany and the U.S.
Notably, five women were among the award recipients, and three winners presented debut projects. Mathieu Béjot, director of strategy and development, said: “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.” Looking ahead, managing director Aurélie Reman outlined plans to expand the event’s global reach. “Our goal is to bring together documentary talents from five continents within an ever more resilient and determined community,” Reman stated.
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