Sunny Side of the Doc Reveals 2023 Global Pitch Selection

Sunny Side of the Doc has unveiled the official selection for the third edition of Global Pitch, which is devoted to climate change.

Following the call for entries in October, 100 projects were received from 37 countries, including significant participation from African territories. Twelve projects were selected for the opportunity to pitch in front of more than 100 high-level international decision-makers during the two-day session taking place February 7 and 8.

“For the third edition of the Global Pitch, we are impressed by the strong commitment of the documentary community and the quality of the submissions and selected projects,” said Mathieu Béjot, director of strategy and development at Sunny Side of the Doc. “It only goes to show how relevant and universal the issue of climate change is. Projects coming from all around the globe were extremely diverse in terms of themes, angles, treatment and format. Although we may feel we no longer need to address climate skeptics, dealing with climate change, finding justice and solutions is still an uphill struggle. Sunny Side wishes to contribute by giving greater exposure to 12 compelling stories.”

Ahmed Mahfouz Nouh, managing director of Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, one of the Global Pitch sponsors, said, “Al Jazeera Documentary Channel and AJB DOC Film Festival are proud to be part of the Global Pitch [for the] second year in a row. This event brings important topics from around the world to key decision-makers. This year’s topic is about climate change, an opportunity to discover communities’ impact on climate change and the measures taken to prevent it. It’s never too late to start somewhere, so let’s start now.”

Among the selected projects are The C Word, produced by Australia’s Northern Pictures and directed by Tosca Looby; Climate Justice, from France’s Seppia and directed by Zouhair Chebbale and co-written with Léa Ducré; Capturing Water, produced by South Africa’s Uhuru Productions and directed by Rehad Desai; Everything is Fine, from the U.K.’s Banyak Films and directed by Rich Felgate; Their Present is Our Future: Saleem and Climate Adaptation, produced by France’s PULP Films and directed by Emmanuel Cappelin; and Ojos de Agua, Free the Waters of Chile, from France’s Dryades Films and directed by Marcelo Lara and Marion Esnault.

Other selected projects are Flying Green, from Germany’s Vidicom Media and directed by Peter Bardehle; Future Home, from Austria’s Terra Mater Studios and the U.K.’s Amberjack Films and directed by Andy Byatt; Standing Up, produced by Gambia’s State of Mic and directed by Babucarr Manka; Porto Central, from Belgium’s Storyhouse and directed by Daniel Lambo; Fight for Food, produced by Kenya’s Rada Studios and directed by Maia von Lekow, Christopher King and Zippy Kimundu; and Intoxicated—How to Avoid the End of the World, from Italy’s Small Boss Production.

Confirmed companies attending the two-day pitching session include National Geographic, Netflix, ABC Australia, PBS, ZDF Studios, Paramount Pictures, BBC, ARTE, France Télévisions, SVT Sweden, Off the Fence, Sundance, RTBF and more.

A jury consisting of Khadidja Banouataf (Impact Social Club), Keisha Knight (IDA), Cleo Veger (Dogwoof) and Julian Etienne (Doc Society), will select the winning project, which will receive a cash prize of €3,000 ($3,236).