Sunny Side of the Doc is back on the 2026 calendar, securing a pact with Documentary Campus to bring the event to La Rochelle from June 22 to 24 in a new format.
Last month, the beloved factual industry event said it would not hold a 2026 edition, citing the loss of key funding sources and organizational constraints. With backing from France’s CNC and a new partnership with Documentary Campus, this year’s edition has been resurrected, delivering three days of opportunities for networking, pitching, learning, and doing business. It promises a “streamlined” market format with a new structure focused on linear productions and digital-first strategies, including a round-table pitching format.
“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. Together with Documentary Campus, we are reinforcing our role as a key marketplace while creating fresh opportunities for the professionals who firmly stood up for it.”
“Documentary Campus brings long-standing expertise in designing and managing market-driven programs 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, implementing Sunny Side of the Doc, added: “We are delighted to confirm that Sunny Side of the Doc will return in 2026. 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. Under Aurélie Reman’s leadership, Sunny Side will continue to foster business, fruitful connections, and meaningful reflections. See you in La Rochelle this June!”
