Sunny Side of the Doc reveals its 2024 official selection

 Sunny Side of the Doc, the international community and marketplace  dedicated to linear and non-linear documentaries, today reveals the 42 projects from 21 different countries that make up the official selection for its 35th edition (24-27 June 2024, La Rochelle, France).

The international co-production stakes are high at the eagerly anticipated pitch sessions. These sessions will take place during the marketplace in front of more than 300 high-level international decision-makers, including major broadcasters, streamers, foundations, distributors, buyers and other investors looking for stories with the biggest impact. 

Launched last December, this year's call for projects has once again mobilised the international community, resulting in the submission of 320 documentary projects (same in 2023, compared to 275 in 2022), coming from 60 countries. Notably, over 55% of these projects are directed by women.

"The 2024 selection is rich and balanced, and should satisfy the expectations of broadcasters while making room for promising projects that are more unexpected and in need of international exposure.” says Mathieu Béjot, Director of Strategy and Development at Sunny Side of the Doc. “The work started last year with the first season of our Australian focus resulted in a record number of high-level submissions, and the final selection includes no fewer than seven Australian projects. This 2024 selection reflects our ambition to Map the Future, and stands out for the diversity of views and treatments around major social issues - conflict, migration, climate change, the place of women, disability, the impact of technology, etc. - all of which have in common a desire to question the role and place of human beings in our environment and an ambition to have a social impact.”

©BukalBukal - EarthStar Films (Australia)

Over four days in June, the 42 selected projects will have the privilege of competing for the Best Pitch Prize. The selected projects will be pitched in seven thematic pitch sessions, all supported by key industry partners including: PBS International, Blue Ant Media & Love Nature, RTBF, Al Jazeera Documentary & AJB DOC:

  • Specialist Factual [cash prize: €3,000] : Global Issues, Nature & Conservation, Science, History, Arts & Culture
  • Focus of the Year [cash prize: €2,000] over two specific pitch sessions: New Voices, Impact Campaigns.

Sunny Side of the Doc is also announcing today the 5 selected projects for the Innovation WIP programme. New this year, the aim of this support programme is to encourage the creation of all forms of non-linear documentary (podcasts, video games, immersive technologies, digital arts, virtual worlds). The five selected projects will have the chance to benefit from tailor-made support for the development of their project before and during the market.

All project holders will receive support throughout the process, ranging from mentoring with industry experts to exclusive access to a qualified and diverse professional audience. In this way, all efforts are made to increase and foster fruitful financial and creative co-production opportunities for these talents of tomorrow.

As last year, the winners in each category will be announced the following day after their pitch session, at the daily Awards Café in the Meeting Area. This will be a new opportunity for press and participants to meet the project leaders in a dedicated and convivial setting.

Discover the 42 projects part of the official selection as well as the 5 Innovation WIP projects.