The 36th edition of Sunny Side of the Doc, the leading international marketplace for documentary content, wrapped up yesterday after four days of industry activity and global collaboration. Held in La Rochelle from 23–26 June, the event brought together 2,100 participants from 60 countries.
This year’s edition marked a strategic shift for the event, featuring new thematic summits, expanded partnerships, and a focus on innovation in both form and content. With over 1,000 companies and 260 key decision-makers—including representatives from major broadcasters, streamers, and cultural institutions—the market served as fertile ground for cross-border collaboration and co-production.
Among the highlights were two thematic summits—the Innovation Summit and the Archives Summit—showcasing emerging trends and technologies shaping the documentary landscape. Keynote addresses by director #Dawn Porter#, screenwriter #David Defendi#, and Brazilian media executive #Antonia Pellegrino# set the tone for discussions around creative disruption and digital-first storytelling, with #YouTube emerging as a platform of increasing relevance.
Sunny Side also deepened its ties with #Brazil through its Global Doc initiative, welcoming TV Brasil as a new member of the international public broadcaster alliance. The partnership reflects broader diplomatic and cultural cooperation as part of the France–Brazil Season 2025.
Pitching sessions remained a cornerstone of the event, culminating in awards across seven categories. Winners included:
- Best Science Pitch: Heart (Australia)
- Best New Voices Pitch: Restless Farewell (China)
- Best Current Affairs Pitch: In Front of Us (Armenia/Belgium)
- Best Impact Campaigns Pitch: Mama (Ecuador)
- Best Arts & Entertainment Pitch: Leonard Cohen: behind the iron curtain (Canada/Germany/Poland)
- Best Nature & Environment Pitch: Kingdom of the Crocodile (Australia)
- Best History Pitch: The Letelier File (Chile)
Special awards also recognized outstanding projects and emerging talent, with Taalim (India), The Other Gaza (Sweden), and Miss Albinos (France) among the notable honorees.
Looking ahead, Sunny Side confirmed the return of the LatAm Content Meeting in São Paulo (April 2026) and the 37th edition of the market in La Rochelle (June 22–25, 2026).
