Sunny Side of the Doc has put out the call for projects for its next edition, running June 19-22 in La Rochelle (France).
“Documentary is currently enjoying a Golden Age, partly thanks to streamers which have boosted the exposure and popularity of the genre while pushing for new forms of storytelling. They are also very audience and community focused, forcing everyone in the industry to address basic strategic questions: Who watches which documentaries, where and why? And how to address and engage a wider, younger and more diverse audience?” comments Mathieu Béjot, Director of Strategy and Development at Sunny Side of the Doc.
“2023 has been labeled the Year of Documentary in France with a view to promoting the genre with the general public. With our focus on viewers, we wish to contribute and inspire the documentary community well beyond our borders,” he adds.
In 2023, creation and innovation remain at the heart of Sunny Side of the Doc, organisers point out. The event will showcase new stories and narrative experiences along with producers, studios, creators, broadcasters and decision-makers. “Within the market, a selection of the latest digital or immersive projects will be presented to engage the community in the creative process, the challenges of digital production and to share success stories!” they write.
The pitch sessions will be in the presence of “300+ top-level international decision makers” representing leading broadcasters, streamers, foundations, sales agents and other funders looking for impactful stories. The best project in each session is picked by a jury of industry experts and awarded with a cash prize endowed by respective session sponsors.
Sunny Side of the Doc 2023 offers 7 Pitching Sessions:
- Specialist Factual [Cash prize: 3,000 €]: Global Issues, Nature & Conservation, Science, History, Arts & Culture
- Focus of the Year [Cash prize: 2,000 €]: with a focus on viewers, we wish to provide two key elements to help the industry adapt to a rapidly changing environment by including new talents who can bring their own fresh perspective and by engaging audiences beyond the screen life of documentaries. To that effect, Sunny Side of the Doc will hold two specific pitching sessions dedicated to: New Voices, ie emerging filmmakers & Impact Campaigns which will allow producers to find financing and partners to implement an impact campaign.
The call for projects for the 7 pitching sessions welcomes proposals for documentaries in digital and XR versions, bringing innovative approaches within reach.
Online submissions and accreditations will open on Thursday, March 16. The submissions deadline is April 6 at midnight CET.
As earlier reported, the 3rd edition of Sunny Side’s Global Pitch will be held online on February 7-8. The aim of the two-day online pitching session sponsored by Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, AJB DOC Film Festival and WaterBear Network is to facilitate the international financing and coproduction of projects focusing on Climate change, its consequences on our societies and concrete solutions implemented around the world.
“The Global Pitch is a unique opportunity for the 12 selected projects to reach out to 100+ key decision makers through online pitching and tailored individual meetings,” write organisers.
