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Sunny Side of the Doc will take place June 22-24, in La Rochelle, France, following a strategic partnership with Documentary Campus that has revived the documentary market after its cancellation was announced last December.
The event’s return marks a dramatic turnaround for the 37-year-old market, which cited lost European funding and organizational constraints when Doc Services announced in December 2025 that it would not hold the 2026 edition. The new partnership with Documentary Campus, combined with support from France’s CNC and industry mobilization, enabled organizers to restructure the market with what they describe as a more focused approach.
“This partnership allows us to look ahead with clarity and ambition,” said Aurélie Reman, managing director of Sunny Side of the Doc. “Taking time to listen and reflect was essential to design a model that aligns with the shifting demands of the documentary community. Sunny Side of the Doc is that lighthouse guiding the way, the entry point for a world of stories with power and authenticity.”
The 2026 edition will feature a streamlined three-day format centered on essential B2B functions, with programming restructured around linear productions and digital-first strategies. Traditional on-stage pitches will be replaced by a round-table pitching format designed to facilitate direct, discussion-driven encounters between producers and decision-makers. The program will also include high-level talks addressing documentary content, storytelling and business models.
Documentary Campus brings 25 years of experience in professional training, networking and market development for documentary and factual content. The organization manages programs including the Silbersalz Science & Media Festival and World Congress of Science & Factual Producers.
“Documentary Campus brings long-standing expertise in designing and managing market-driven programmes that respond directly to the industry’s most urgent needs,” said Donata von Perfall, managing director of Documentary Campus. “With this new partnership, we are working together to build a market that addresses today’s challenges while driving the future of how documentaries are financed, produced, and shared globally.”
Roman Jeanneau, president of Doc Services, which implements Sunny Side of the Doc, added: “This partnership with Documentary Campus and Donata von Perfall’s commitment are a response to the needs of professionals at a pivotal moment for the industry.”
The market typically attracts more than 2,100 participants from 60 countries, including decision makers, producers, filmmakers, sales agents and funders.
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