#SSD25 > June 23-26, 2025
call for projects
sunny side of the doc 2023
Looking for partners and financing for your next documentary? Submit your project to Sunny Side of the Doc’s pitching sessions and join one of the most impactful markets for documentary and digital storytelling in La Rochelle, France on 19-22 June 2023!
Opening date for submissions & accreditations: Thursday 16 March
Closing date for submissions: Thursday 6 April, 11pm GMT
call for
Projects
why pitch at sunny side?
With 300+ top-level international decision-makers in attendance, representing leading broadcasters, streamers, foundations, sales agents and other funders looking for impactful stories, pitching at sunny side is a unique opportunity to reach your future partners.
what benefits?
Key benefits also include: accessing a qualified and diverse professional audience, mentoring from industry experts, sealing potential financial deals, finding new partners, meeting with peers for potential co-production discussions, and much more.
Our pitching sessions will be held during the marketplace (La Rochelle, 19-22 June) and we will accomodate those who may not be able to travel to France to pitch online. Wherever you are, you’ll have the same chance to pitch.
Our pitching categories
Sunny side of the doc 2023 will offer seven pitching sessions, including our five specialist factual categories and two focus of the year sessions.
Specialist factual
- Science: we welcome all types of science projects, from blue-chip and hard science to popular science;
- Nature & conservation: natural history, environment, climate-related stories;
- Global issues: current affairs, social issues, human interest;
- History;
- Arts & culture.
Focus of the year
- New Voices: first- and second-time filmmakers/content creators holding projects with international potential: we are looking for hidden gems, new authors, new producers, new directors, new issues, and inspiring stories;
- Impact campaigns: documentary is a powerful tool for change. Is the topic of your film highly social, political, environmental or does it offer a new vision that you want to share in order to raise awareness and trigger social change? This new pitching session is looking for such kind of activism.
how to submit
read the 2023 call for projects carefully,
gather all the required information
and choose your option to submit your documentary project!
option 1
buy your market pass with submission pitch, providing
you access to the event and a project submission.
regular rate: €595
option 2
select a pitch submission (only)
and decide later to buy a market pass to the market.
fees: €90
let's go
select your option on the "register" page!
you will be automatically redirected to the appropriate registration and submission forms.
*Opening date for submissions & accreditations: Thursday 16 March
Closing date for submissions: Thursday 6 April, 11pm GMT
what we are
looking for
Eligible projects
- All talent, whether established or not, can apply: filmmakers, producers, writers;
- All formats are welcome in our seven pitching sessions: broadcast length, features and series, documentary projects with XR versions, digital native projects, new narrative experiences etc. Non-linear projects are part of an innovative approach that is close to our heart and whose goal is to find new audiences on all possible media.
- Projects should be in advanced development. We do not encourage projects whose principal photography has been completed or which are in post-production.
- Projects should have the financial commitment from at least one third-party partner (broadcaster, platform, sales agent, supporting fund, foundation, crowdfunding, etc.). Proof of the confirmed participation of all partners (LOC) is required;
- Submissions from all countries are accepted. Please check our special rates for submissions from the Global South and Low production Capacity Countries;
- Applications must be submitted in English.
Project assessment
Projects will be assessed and selected by a jury of industry professionals based on the following criteria:
- Power and originality of the story and the storytelling;
- International relevance and potential for international co-production;
- Financial feasibility;
- Without being a prerequisite, other elements will be taken into consideration, such as plans for an impact strategy or a green / sustainability certification.
what's
your pitching
journey
- SELECTION
- For each of our seven sessions, six projects will be selected by a jury of industry professionals;
- COMMITMENT | Selected projects must agree to:
- Register for Sunny Side of the Doc (if you bought a Pitch Submission only, you will be required to buy your Market Pass)
- Follow the whole Pitching Journey;
- MENTORING
- Once selected, each of the 42 projects will be offered mentoring sessions with industry experts to prepare their video pitch.
- PROJECT PRESENTATION which consists of:
- A pre-recorded video pitch of 5’ (including trailer) aired on-site and online;
- A 2' live presentation, which should ideally focus on production issues (stage of production, financing secured and sought, expectations from the pitch etc.). The mentoring provided bu Sunny Side will help you fine-tune your pitch;
- Followed by a 7’ live Q&A session with decisionmakers led by experienced moderators. Decision-makers and selected producers will be able to attend either on-site or online.
- TAILOR-MADE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS
- At least three tailor-made one-to-one meetings with decision-makers organised according to your wishlist to get straight into creative and financial discussions.
- AWARDS
- Each session’s best pitched projects are decided by a jury of industry experts. The seven winners will each receive a cash prize endowed by respective session sponsors: €3,000 for the Specialist Factual pitching sessions and €2,000 for Focus of the Year pitching sessions;
- Additional special prizes and festival invitations may be granted by industry partners.
- PUBLICATION
- Information about the selected projects will be published insunny side of the doc resources made available to buyers and registered delegates, including the Official Selections Guide. While you will have the opportunity to verify and update this information, please ensure that it is accurate when applying.
PROJECTS OBSERVATORY
- Sunny side of the doc’s commitment goes far beyond the pitch. We wish to support the development of your project all the way to its international distribution. The Projects Observatory allows our organisation to monitor your progress and share your achievements with the international documentary community.
- Selected projects will comply with Sunny Side’s requests for information and for including its credit and logo where needed.