Sunny Side of the Doc, the international community and marketplace dedicated to linear and non-linear documentaries, revealed May 6 the 42 projects that make up the official selection for its 36th edition (23-26 June 2025, La Rochelle, France).
The pitches will be made to more than 250 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 attracted 328 documentary submissions — “a stable figure” for the third consecutive year, following the strong rebound in 2022 — from 56 countries, including 15 new countries (vs. 2024) such as Algeria, DRC, Ethiopia, Morocco, or Colombia.
Another notable trend is the growing emergence of new talent, organisers note. Since the creation of the “New Voices” category in 2023, half of all submissions have been first or second films, and the category now accounts for 24% of submissions. Over 50% of the projects selected are produced by women.
“This 2025 selection does more than simply reflect the state of global documentary filmmaking – it drives its transformations, responds to broadcasters’ expectations, and stands out through its eclecticism” explains Aurélie Reman, managing director of Sunny Side of the Doc. “Facing new co-production dynamics, the 42 selected projects from 22 different countries offer a remarkable panorama of pitches that deeply resonate with our times — while exploring bold narrative formats. In line with our theme ‘New Routes to Storytelling,’ I am thrilled to showcase these authentic stories that combine truth, creativity, and financial feasibility, while highlighting on the international stage the talents who have the capacity to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for our industry.”
The 42 projects will be pitched across seven thematic sessions, supported by key industry partners including PBS Distribution, Blue Ant Media & Love Nature, RTBF, Al Jazeera Documentary & AJB DOC, and ZDF Studios.
The thematic sections are Current Affairs & Investigation; Nature & Environment; Science; History; Arts & Entertainment; Impact Campaigns and New Voices.
All projects will compete for the Best Pitch Prize and 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,” write organisers.
In parallel, Sunny Side of the Doc also announces the six selected projects selected for the Sunny Innovation Lab, a unique training programme dedicated to non-linear documentary formats such as podcasts, VR, AR, immersive installations, AI, and video games. The programme offers tailored mentoring, expert insights, and personalised guidance to help creators refine their projects and prepare for international exposure.
Winners in each category will be announced the day after their pitch session, during the daily Awards Café in the Meeting Area — a new opportunity for press and participants to connect with the project leaders in a dedicated and convivial setting.
