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.

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.

La entrada Sunny Side of the Doc Will Not Hold a 2026 Edition se publicó primero en TTV News.

The event will take place on June 23 to the 26 at La Rochelle, France.

Sunny Side of the Doc, the international community and marketplace dedicated to linear and non-linear documentaries, revealed the 42 projects that make up the official selection for its 36th edition (23-26 June 2025, La Rochelle, France).

The international co-production stakes are high at the eagerly anticipated pitch sessions. These sessions will take place during the marketplace in front of 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 once again mobilised the international community, with 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.

Hispanic America has a standout place in this year’s selection, with several projects coming from Spain and Latin America. From Spain, the list features the documentaries Homeland Security, produced by Enero Films; Ghetto Classic, produced by WKND; and Unveiling the Cosmos, produced by Spain’s Cabala Films, in alliance with Bilderfest from Germany and Cabala Producciones from Chile.

And from Chile, another two titles made the cut: South Pole Explorers, produced by Oxitocine; and The Letelier File, produced by La Ventana Cine. Other entries from Latin America are the Brailians Invisible Birds, produced by Cadenza Films, O par, Capuri; and Queens of the Water, produced by Frame 22 Hub de Conteudos; and Ecuador’s Mama, produced by Eterea S.A.S.

“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 coproduction 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.”

Over four days in June, the 42 selected projects will have the privilege of competing for the Best Pitch Prize. The 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. Each selected project receives a cash reward based on the available sponsorship.

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.

La entrada Docs from Spain, Chile, Brazil and Ecuador Among 2025 Selection for Sunny Side of the Doc se publicó primero en TTV News.