Sunny Side of the Doc to Emphasize “Culture in Motion”

Sunny Side of the Doc will take place from June 25 to 28 under the theme “Culture in Motion,” exploring new interactions, environments and ways of presenting reality and communicating culture.

The event is set to welcome more than 2,000 industry professionals from around the world representing 60 different nationalities, including around 350 decision-makers and 500-plus exhibiting companies.

This year’s emphasis on Culture in Motion “reflects and reveals the public’s thirst for having access to meaningful artistic, cultural and heritage experiences via high-added value content,” the organizers said.

“This enthusiasm can already be seen in the uptake of stands and registrations,” explained Yves Jeanneau, CEO of Sunny Side of the Doc. “In fact, with just two months to go before the event, initial indications are more positive the previous years around a similar time; all stands have been renewed; the number of projects registered has increased by 30 percent; and new heads of international channels have confirmed their presence—in particular, German and Philippine channels.”

Among the highlights of the event, the Documentary Group and Science & Knowledge Group from Eurovision (EBU) will gather together nearly 60 programming managers from European public channels to promote top projects with international potential and discuss new strategies to support European documentaries. A panel on the future shape of a modernized and fully European public audiovisual services will take place June 26.

Initiated by Canada’s Bell Fund, the New Platforms, New Broadcasters roundtable will provide an opportunity to exchange with a group of digital native operators and outline the possible collaborations and co-productions between these new broadcasters and documentary producers.

Sunny Side of the Doc is once again broadening its horizons with PiXii (Paths of Interaction, eXperiences in Immersion & Innovation) for an event that’s open to both professionals (in the morning) and the general public (in the afternoon).

Jeanneau added: “This year, we’ve noticed a clear interest in companies providing technical solutions and stakeholders from museums and cultural centers who wish to come invest in Sunny Side of the Doc, especially those from cultural, heritage, tourism and education sectors. Culture in Motion will enable traditional linear projects which power prime-time slots and televised events from major broadcasters to bridge the gap with interactive installations developed in parallel with cultural centers or educational projects.”