“Edgar Hilsenrath the Masturbator: Inside Gaza” Pitch Projects at Sunny Side of the Doc for 2024
Sunny Side of the Doc, an international marketplace for documentaries, has unveiled the 42 projects from 21 different nations that have been officially selected for its 2024 edition.
The projects are topical and diverse as usual; they include “Inside Gaza” by Helene Lam Trong, which provides an insider’s account of the ongoing conflict in the region, and “Edgar Hilsenrath The Masturbator” by Francois-Xavier Destors, an animated documentary that explores the rebellious life of the first German-Jewish writer and Holocaust survivor who dared to laugh at death.
In front of over 300 global decision-makers, including prominent broadcasters, streamers, foundations, distributors, purchasers, and other investors searching for the most impactful tales, the projects will take part in pitch sessions.
The request for projects this year had 320 entries from 60 countries (same as in 2023), with 52% of the submissions coming from female directors.
Focus of the Year, with a cash reward of €2,000, is over two distinct pitching sessions: New Voices, Impact Campaigns. The Specialist Factual strand, with a cash prize of €3,000 ($3,217), focuses on the themes Global Issues, Wildlife & Conservation, Science, History, and Arts & Culture.
Five ideas have been selected for Sunny Side of the Doc’s Innovation WIP program, which is being introduced this year. The initiative seeks to promote the production of non-linear documentaries in all media (video games, immersive technologies, digital arts, podcasts, virtual worlds). The ideas that are chosen will get development assistance both before to and during the market.
Director of strategy and development at Sunny Side of the Doc Mathieu Bejot said, “The 2024 selection is rich and balanced, and should satisfy the expectations of broadcasters while making room for promising projects that are more unexpected and in need of international exposure.” A record number of top-notch proposals were received as a consequence of the work we began last year with the first season of our Australian emphasis, and no less than seven Australian projects were chosen for the final selection. This 2024 selection embodies our goal to Map the Future and is notable for the range of perspectives and approaches to significant social issues – war, migration, climate change, women’s status, disability, the effects of technology, etc. – that share a common goal of challenging the role and position of humans in the environment and hoping to have a social impact.
The 42 chosen projects will compete for the Best Pitch Award in each of the seven thematic pitching sessions taking place in La Rochelle, France from June 24 to June 27, supported by various industry partners such as PBS International, Blue Ant Media, Love Nature, RTBF, Al Jazeera Documentary, and AJB DOC.
