Financing is tightening. Commissioning is shifting. Distribution is being reshaped by global platforms. For producers, distributors and broadcasters, the question is no longer whether the market is changing, but how to respond. Sunny Side of the Doc 2026 is built for the right move: a focused, three-day market designed to bring clarity, enable informed decisions, and create the conditions for meaningful business.

Among the first confirmed speakers is Ben Zand, Founder and CEO of Zandland, who is building a new model by creating, funding, and distributing documentaries entirely in-house. His keynote will confront what actually resonates with audiences today beyond clicks, and what it takes to build lasting engagement in an ecosystem where audiences are increasingly elusive.

Helle Faber, Oscar-winning producer (Mr Nobody Against Putin) at Made in Copenhagen, will deliver a keynote on international co-production in a time of unprecedented change. As traditional financing narrows and the balance of power shifts, her session will give a clear-eyed view of what is changing, what remains essential, and how producers can navigate this moment to decisively make the right move.

Other confirmed speakers include Jen Topping, who will assess YouTube’s real value for documentary producers, and how to use it strategically. High-profile keynotes and “straight talk” sessions tackle the toughest challenges: closing financing gaps, forging viable international alliances, and navigating an ecosystem reshaped by exclusivity and platform power. Broadcasters including France Télévisions, NHK, China Media Group, ARTE, Canal+ Group, and Global Doc pubcasters alliance will share transparent insights on budgets, co-production priorities, and partnership expectations for the next 12 to 24 months. Further sessions and debates will examine the narrative role of AI, the potential of archives as a content engine, and the distribution strategies emerging from a digital-first market.

Further speakers and programme details will be announced in the coming weeks. As the industry navigates a period of profound transformation, Sunny Side of the Doc, taking place 22–24 June 2026 in La Rochelle, positions itself as the place to make the right move; where the industry comes together to not only understand change, but act on it. Registration is open – click here to make sure your in La Rochelle for the conversations that are driving the industry forward.