Sunny Side of the Doc Unveils Science Theme for 2019

The 30th edition of Sunny Side of the Doc, an international market for documentary and narrative experiences, will have science as its theme with the corresponding slogan “Stand Up for Science.”

In keeping with the theme, Sunny Side of the Doc has organized a program of conferences and networking events around the challenges of blue-chip science documentary production. Among the programs is a session titled “Alliance Doc: international co-productions on the spot” to help launch international co-productions for science projects. A program called “Meet the Executives” will feature buyers and heads of science programming such as Greg Boustead (Sandbox Films/Simons Foundation, U.S.), Ricarda Schlosshan (ZDF Terra X, Germany), Bernadette McDaid (National Geographic, U.S.), Chris Hoelzl (Smithsonian Channel, U.K.) and Susan Dando (CBC, Canada) sharing their programming strategies and projects for the upcoming season.

Additional programs at the market include the “More Than a Movie: Media with Impact” conference, with Ru Mahoney (Sea of Shadows); the “Science Is Not Enough—how to communicate science?” panel; and a talk with Tom Jennings (1895 Films) about the importance of archives ahead of the Moon landing’s 50th anniversary.

Further, twelve science and nature projects were selected to be pitched at Sunny Side of the Doc this year, and eight new projects will get the chance to move from the media laboratory into production, through international collaborations during a closed-door session.

The 30th edition will be held in La Rochelle from June 24-27.