La Rochelle-based market Sunny Side of the Doc announced December 5 that is has cancelled its upcoming edition, originally slated to run in June 2026. The festival made the announcement online and reads as follows:
No edition in 2026, a time for reflection and future perspectives
For over 35 years, Sunny Side of the Doc has brought together the international documentary community in La Rochelle to co-finance projects, elevate new voices and foster meaningful connections between filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, distributors, institutions, audiovisual and cultural partners.
After careful consideration, Doc Services has decided not to hold Sunny Side of the Doc in 2026. This difficult but necessary decision results from a combination of factors: the loss of its main European grant, a decline in key financial support, as well as organisational constraints that make it impossible to deliver an event that meets the expectations and challenges of today’s global audiovisual ecosystem.
Collaboration with Brazil and Latin America will nevertheless continue in 2026 alongside the LatAm Content Meeting to actively contribute to the development of this promising market. The call for projects remains open until 10 December 2025, ahead of the three pitch sessions led by Sunny Side of the Doc from 13 to 15 April 2026 in São Paulo.
This turning point marks the end of one cycle and may be the beginning of a new one, which can only be conceived as a complete reconstruction. If the prospect of a return as early as 2027 were to emerge, it would rely on a project built with and for the documentary industry. A new chapter can be written, and it feels more essential than ever.
Roman Jeanneau, President of Doc Services, states: “After six years at the helm of Doc Services, we are reaching the end of a cycle. It is with a heavy heart that I have decided not to host the 2026 edition of Sunny Side of the Doc. Our 36-year family journey with Sunny Side is coming to a close. In this moment, my thoughts go to Yves Jeanneau, who succeeded in creating an event and a strong brand that will outlive him. Sunny Side remains essential to the documentary industry, and we hope the voices of this industry will shape its future. I sincerely thank our partners and our professional community around the world for their trust, and all those who have contributed to strengthening this event throughout its history.”
Aurélie Reman, Managing Director of Doc Services, adds: “Documentaries are and must remain a cultural, civic and democratic anchor. This conviction has guided my mission, supported by dedicated teams, a united industry and an engaged advisory board. Although current constraints force this difficult transition, I remain deeply convinced of the vital importance of Sunny Side of the Doc. Any reconstruction will require a renewed vision and the mobilisation of the entire international community. I share this ambition with the certainty that the documentary genre deserves this space of excellence, independence, authenticity and exchange in France and Europe.”
Throughout this transition period, the Doc Services team remains available to answer questions from professionals and keep them informed of the next steps.
In 2025, the Sunny Side market gathered 2100 participants from 60 countries, over 1000 companies, 85 exhibitors, and 260 international decision-makers including major broadcasters, streamers, foundations, distributors, financiers, and museums from around the world, organisers underlines.
The edition saw a strong international presence, with 32 delegations from Africa, China, Brazil, Canada, and Spain. Archives companies were also in the spotlight, with a significant number of archival content exhibitors actively engaging in market discussions and activities.
2025 also saw a significant increase in broadcaster engagement, with a strengthened presence from key players such as the BBC, Channel 4, Mediaset, National Geographic, TG4 (Ireland), and RTP (Portugal), as well as long-standing North American partner PBS.
Buyers from India (IN10 Media) and Brazil (Globoplay) joined the event for the first time, further expanding the market’s international reach, organisers pointed out in June 2025.
