Sunny Side '23

“The 2023 edition of the Global Pitch for Global Change is devoted to Climate Change: its consequences on our societies and the concrete solutions implemented around the world,” write organisers of the project pitch event running online 7-8 February and for which 12 projects have been selected (out of 100 submissions from 37 countries) to compete for a cash prize of €3,000.

The French project Science's Forgotten People (Laurence Thiriat) and the Irish project This is a Quiet Love (Garry Keane) win in the Science and Global Issues categories respectively. Magali Serre’s Right-wing Extremism: The New Terrorist Threat was handed the Impact Social Club Award.

The next edition of Sunny Side takes place June 19-22 in La Rochelle (France). “Viewers will hold center stage as Sunny Side of the Doc will address some of the industry's most burning issues through the lens of audiences,” write organisers. This year, pitches will be divided into two main categories: Specialist Factual and Focus of the Year. The deadline for submissions is midnight CET on April 6.

The Australian producer/director team of Rob Innes and Josef Gatti presented their visually absorbing feature project Phenomena during Sunny Side. It is a work that finds beauty in the fusion of art and science “This project began at a time in my life where I was feeling disconnected and unsure of where I fit in the world,” director Gatti told the Industry audience. “And so I turned to the natural world in search of meaning, and I was completely moved.”

Sunny Side of the Doc’s seven pitching sessions will run 19 to 22 June 2023 in La Rochelle, France. Forty-two pre-selected projects will be presented to a panel of industry insiders from around the globe, including leading commissioning editors, buyers, funds, sales agents, distributors and co-production partners.

The German project Fatma Said – Reviving a Forgotten Treasure (Ralf Pleger) picked up the Best Pitch Award Arts & Culture category June 21 at Sunny Side of the Doc. “This is a project we want to see on screens because it tells a story that bridges the gap between the past and present, classical and contemporary cultures, and the Arabic and Western worlds,” said the jury.

This year, 42 projects from 23 countries will compete for the best pitch across seven thematic pitching sessions all supported by key industry partners. Project holders will present their works before a panel of key industry decision-makers consisting of leading broadcasters, funders, platforms and foundations. #SSD23 will be held 19-22 June, once again in La Rochelle, France.

During Sunny Side of the Doc 2023, Business Doc Europe caught up with Kathryn Bonnici, Head of Acquisitions and Development of Paris-based sales agent Java Films. Founded in 2005 by Roch Bozino, Java Films rapidly established itself as one of Europe’s leading independent distributors, handling both pre-sales and distribution for documentaries.

Eight Chilean doc companies have sailed in for Sunny Side 2023. These include Bioesférica Filmes whose Diary of an Infiltrator is presented in the June 22 History Pitch session. “For years, there has been considerable interest from Sunny Side of the Doc in fostering a more robust presence for Chile; abroad, there is a high value placed on our productions,” says Paula Ossandón, director of Chiledoc.

Over four days, the market attracted 2,000+ participants from 64 different countries, 1,000 companies, 90 exhibitors and 300 international decision-makers including major global broadcasters, streamers, foundations, sales agents, funders and museums. "Sunny Side of the Doc is asserting its unique status as the international market place for all forms of storytelling and documentary,” said Director of Strategy Mathieu Béjot.