Sunny Side of the Doc has announced the first keynote and session speakers for its 2026 edition, positioning this year’s La Rochelle gathering as a response to a documentary market increasingly defined by tighter financing, shifting commissioning models and platform-driven distribution change. Set for 22–24 June, the three-day event is framed around the idea of helping producers, distributors and broadcasters make the «right move» in a rapidly reconfigured industry.
Among the first confirmed speakers is Ben Zand, founder and CEO of Zandland, who will discuss a vertically integrated model in which documentaries are created, financed and distributed in-house, with a focus on audience engagement beyond pure click metrics. Also confirmed is Oscar-winning producer Helle Faber of Made in Copenhagen, whose keynote will address the growing strain on international co-production and the strategic adjustments now required to sustain ambitious cross-border work. Jen Topping is also set to speak, with a session focused on YouTube’s practical value for documentary producers.
The wider programme promises a distinctly pragmatic tone. «Straight talk» sessions will tackle financing gaps, international alliances and the power dynamics created by exclusivity and global platforms, while broadcasters including France Télévisions, NHK, China Media Group, ARTE, Canal+ Group and the Global Doc pubcasters alliance are expected to share budget and partnership priorities for the next 12 to 24 months. Sessions on AI, archives and digital-first distribution will round out a programme designed, in the words of organisers, to turn market uncertainty into concrete business decisions.
