MFA Board Co-President Louise Rosen attends Sunny Side of the Doc
It was an honor and a pleasure to participate in this year's Sunny Side of the Doc, a unique international content market and conference held in a beautiful and historic coastal city in southwestern France. This year's edition was dedicated to the future of our ecosystem and the future of the documentary genre itself.
The facility is quay-side in one of La Rochelle's two ports. There are conference rooms, a big auditorium, a pop-up stage, and a bright and airy convention hall lined with exhibitors such as archive libraries, national pavilions such as Canada, China, and Australia, in addition to distribution companies, and filmmaker organizations from territories such as Chile, Africa, and Italy. While the fabulous location is a big draw, a particular key to Sunny Side's popularity with filmmakers and industry decision-makers is the schedule of pitching sessions. There were seven this year - Global Issues, Nature & Conservation, Science, History, Arts & Culture, Impact Campaigns, and New Voices, consisting of six pitches each with a submission deadline that closed June 7. There are usually 30+ submissions in each category. I was asked to work with the History Pitches, first as part of the selection committee and then as the moderator for the live event. The standard international pitch format is 15 minutes - 7 minutes for the pitch, including the teaser, and 8 minutes for the response from decision-makers who represent television networks, streaming platforms, and funders; typically 7-9 are present on stage to respond to the pitches live with others in the front rows of the audience. During the pandemic, when all pitches were done online, it became the practice to pre-record the actual pitch and the filmmaker teams would then add updates live. The timing of the teaser, pitch, and additional remarks is tight and although there's a timer visible to pitch teams as well as the on-stage decision-makers, the moderator has to work to keep to time, while calling on the decision-makers that can help build momentum for the project.
Winners and Special Mentions receive cash prizes provided by sponsors and free registration to next year's Sunny Side. But it's important to emphasize that the greatest value in participating in pitches is in terms of marketing. Your project details are seen before the event in the online catalog and promoted on the event's website and through their social media networks. Being selected conveys credibility and gives you bragging rights. Pitching in a public forum such as Sunny Side also provides a starting point for discussions with industry experts and possible co-production partners, as well as decision-makers. I'm familiar with countless projects that received funding, developed partnerships, and started their marketing buzz as a result of participation in pitch forums and I cannot recommend them highly enough. For more information on this year's Sunny Side of the Doc click here.
Sadly, US independents are not well-represented at international industry events such as Sunny Side, DOK Leipzig, IDFA, and others and consequently, they are missing out on some great funding and creative opportunities. As an MFA member would you like to see pitch training as part of our education offerings? Feedback sessions for trailers? Discussion of the international market and what it can offer filmmakers in the US? Please let us know how we can serve you!
Watch a recap video from Sunnyside of the Doc >
Louise Rosen
Co-president, Maine Film Association
Managing Director, Louise Rosen Ltd
