Sunny Side of the Doc has sent out a reminder of its call for projects for the 4th edition of Global Pitch. The objective of the ‘Global Pitch for Global Change’ online event is to bring together the international documentary film community around engaged themes.
“The world is facing major challenges: migrations, famine, health, education, gender equality, climate change, rising nationalism, etc. Today, only 15 percent of the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals are on track,” write organisers.
“Documentary professionals have the ambition to open minds, to decipher, to educate, to raise awareness about the major issues facing the world and to be an actor of change. However, it has to be said that the world is changing more slowly than we would like, and too slowly to ensure its own survival!” they continue.
“After focusing on Women’s Voices in 2022 and on Climate Change last year, Sunny Side’s Global Pitch aims to continue mobilizing the documentary community around the major issues of our time, so that it can help to be a vector for change.
“Global Pitch 2024 is therefore intended to be about commitment and mobilization as well as analysis. It is the first part of our 2024 focus, which will look at ‘Mapping the Future of our ecosystem and the documentary genre itself’ during our 35th edition in La Rochelle.”
The Global Pitch is looking for stories that are “important, powerful, original, committed and engaging, inspiring, moving, analytical, investigative, solution-oriented and dealing with issues and challenges linked to the 17 sustainable development goals in order to map what the world of tomorrow could and should be.”
Projects at development phase with the financial commitment of at least one partner can be submitted in any format by November 24, 2023. The submitted projects will be studied by a selection committee that will evaluate their strength, originality, relevance, financial feasibility and international potential. Twelve projects will be selected and presented on February 6-7, 2024 at the online event.
The two pitch days “aim to facilitate international co-productions and financing of documentary projects dealing with global issues,” organisers underline. Selected projects will pitch in front of 100 high-level international decision-makers, representing major broadcasters, streamers, foundations, buyers and other funders who are looking for impactful stories related to this theme.
“The pitching sessions will give all participants a global vision of the market, privileged access to qualified and diversified professionals, keynotes creating unique opportunities for exchanges and meetings,” organisers add.
In February 2023 The Kenyan project Fight For Food, produced by Jim Chuchu and Benjamin Muasya for Rada Studios Ltd (Kenya) and directed by Maia von Lekow, Christopher King and Zippy Kimundu, won the Sunny Side of the Doc #GlobalPitch23! Award which came with a cash prize of €3,000 plus two full passes for Sunny Side of the Doc 2023.
To submit click here
