From June 24-27, Sunny Side of the Doc welcomed over 2100 participants from 68 countries, including representatives from major broadcasters, streaming platforms, and cultural institutions. This year’s theme, «Mapping the Future,» underscored the event’s commitment to supporting international co-productions and exploring new distribution opportunities for immersive and XR content.
The event featured a robust program of conferences, including keynotes from PBS, XR artists, and First Nations Australian voices. It also marked the first showcase of Nigerian documentaries and included industry talks on AI, archives, podcasts, new narratives, and women in documentary. French channels and groups like France Télévisions, Arte, Canal+, TF1, M6, and Altice Media presented their latest lineups.
The highlight of the event was the announcement of winners from the seven pitch sessions, reflecting the diversity and boldness of contemporary documentary filmmaking. This year saw five women directors honored, with winners from Australia, Iran, France, Ireland, Canada, Malaysia, Kenya, Germany, and the United States.
Award Winners
Pitch Session Winners
Produced by: Storyland PTY LTD. (Australia)
Directed by: Randall Wood
Produced by: Seven Spring Pictures (Iran)
Directed by: Marjan Khosravi
Produced by: Factstory, AFP – Agence France Presse (France)
Directed by: Hélène Lam Trong
Produced by: EZ Films (Ireland)
Directed by: Ciaran Deeney
Produced by: Intuitive Pictures inc. (Canada)
Directed by: Sybilla Patrizia
Produced by: Gather Together (Malaysia)
Directed by: Beatrice Leong
Produced by: Ripple Productions Ltd (Kenya)
Directed by: Eric Mwangi
Produced by: Florianfilm GmbH (Germany), Dare Pictures (United States), La Lutta (United States)
Directed by: Jascha Hannover & Katharina Warda
Produced by: Hauteville Productions (France)
Directed by: Mathilde Damoisel
Special Awards
Produced by: Seven Spring Pictures (Iran)
Directed by: Marjan Khosravi
Produced by: Gédéon Programmes (France)
Directed by: Antoine Lechat & Suium Sulaimanova
Produced by: Ina Fichman (Canada)
Directed by: Ashley Duong
Produced by: Special Touch Studios (France)
Directed by: Aurélia Makdessi
Produced by: Little Big Story (France)
Directed by: Alexandre Donot-Saby
Produced by: Cinatrix Media (Gambia)
Directed by: Abdoulie B. Jarju
Produced by: Amilcar Films (Chile)
Directed by: Sebastian González Méndez & Amilcar Infante
Produced by: Gédéon Programmes (France)
Directed by: Antoine Lechat & Suium Sulaimanova
Produced by: Illuminates Films (Australia)
Directed by: Yaara Bou Melhem
Produced by: Illuminates Films (Australia)
Directed by: Yaara Bou Melhem
Produced by: Factstory, AFP – Agence France Presse (France)
Directed by: Hélène Lam Trong
