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!

sunny side of the doc

option 1

buy your market pass with submission pitch, providing
you access to the event and a project submission.
regular rate: €595

sunny side of the doc

option 2

select a pitch submission (only)
and decide later to buy a market pass to the market.
fees: €90

sunny side of the doc

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

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