Sunny Side of the Doc Unveils Official Pitch Selection

Sunny Side of the Doc has revealed the 42 projects that make up the official pitch selection for its 36th edition, taking place June 23 to 26 in La Rochelle.

The call for projects received 328 documentary submissions from 56 countries, including 15 new countries such as Algeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Morocco and Colombia.

“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,” said 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.”

Programs to be pitched in the current affairs and investigation category are Greenland, the Icy Eldorado, from Temps Noir; In Front of Us, from Bars Media and Associate Directors; Mathare Fathers, from Nordic Eye Productions and Morgane Production; Point of No Return: Israel at the Crossroads of Democracy, from Corners, Yami 2 and Tal Inbar; Women and War, from Telemark; and Homeland Security, from Enero Films.

In the nature and environment category, projects to be pitched are Elerai Our Land, from WildlifeDirect; Kingdom of the Crocodile, from Wild Pacific Media; On the Way, from Kijora Film, Bellota Films and Cinedokke; Rise from the Ashes, from Rotating Planet Productions; South Pole Explorers, from Oxitocine; and Whitethroat, from True Films.

Programs selected for the science pitch category are Can We Stop the Ice? (w/t), from Windfall Films and PBS/WHBH/NOVA; Compost, the Hidden Treasure of Our Waste, from Capa Presse; Heart, from Millstream Productions and Green Marble Productions; The Alexandria Lighthouse: Humanity’s First Skyscraper, from Gedeon Programmes; Tutankhamen, Royal Garden: Replanted, from Masr Media Production and Soura; and Unveiling the Cosmos, produced by Cabala Producciones, Cabala Films and Bilderfest.

The history category will feature Atomic Paradise, from Sam Content; This Is How I Remember It, from Heymann Brothers Films; November 13: These Voices That Unite Us, from Ina; The Last Days of Kabul, from LOOKSfilm; The Letelier File, from La Ventana Cine; and Gerald Bull: Truth Is a Weapon, from Picbois Productions.

For the arts and entertainment pitch category, selected programs are Better Than Gold, from Krater Films, DOK MOBILE, Tomtit Film and Need Productions; Ghetto Classic, from Dynamo Film and WKND; King Annie, from Indie Film Bergen and Polygraf; Leonard Cohen: Behind the Iron Curtain, from Nomad Films, Fireglory Pictures and Silver Frame; Life Through a Lens, from The Motor Moving Pictures; and The Quiet One, from Rise and Shine Films and FLOR.

Titles taking part in the impact campaigns pitch are Chess Behind Bars, from La Belle Film, Folk Film, Dirk Manthey Film and Basalt Film; Children of Honey, from Storyboard Studios and African School of Storytelling (AFRISOS); Invisible Birds, from Cadenza Films, O Par and Capuri; Mama, from Eterea; Miss Albinos, from Petites Poupees Production; and Queens of the Water, from Frame 22 Hub de Conteúdos.

Michael’s Got Talent, from JustMaria and La Bandita; Restless Farewell, from Shanghai Media Group; Taalim, from Paper Planes Pictures; The Grandchildren (w.t.), from Rizomafilm, Baruu Collective, Windmill Film and Popcult; The Sacred Feminine: Story of a Betrayal, from Urbania Productions; and The Other Gaza, from Sard Films, are taking part in the new voices pitch session.

Winners in each category will be revealed the day after their pitch session, during the daily Awards Café in the Meeting Area.