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T I K S PRESF THE DOC 2014

OF E D I S Y N N U S

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SUNNY SIDE OF THE DOC IS NOW 25 YEARS OLD Such a long life was hard to imagine when we started in 1989, but thank you to all who have been part of the event over the years. Although creating this international documentary market has sometimes been a challenge, it is now a global market, with more types of screens, and countries previously closed now open. Asia, Latin America and Africa need films with a perspective on the world around them. And this need and curiosity should be noticed in Europe and the West, to guard against the siren calls of commercial forms which are reducing slots and budgets for the documentary. We still need to defend its role as a publicly useful genre. To stay alive, the genre needs to be more interactive, international, and irreverent. Only through creating new storytelling forms, by combining talents and sources of finance, and broadening the means of distribution can the genre be renewed. Documentary is maverick, free-thinking, opinionated and well-researched, aiming to spread awareness and understanding in the face of received opinion - and in a democratic society it needs to stay that way, now more than ever. The role of Sunny Side has always been to accelerate, enable and enlighten, to help producers and their projects find coproducers and distributors. For twenty-five years you’ve been a part of this story. At Thursday evening’s closing party at Sunny Side, let’s celebrate this together and look to the future with creativity and commitment. Yves Jeanneau General Commissioner of Sunny Side markets

© Frederic le Lan/CdA LA Rochelle

THE MUST-ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE FOR DOCUMENTARY

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The Market will be opening its doors on Monday 23rd June and will close with the awards ceremony and a party on the evening of Thursday 26th June.

Sunny Side 2014 – What you need to remember… Sunny Side is celebrating its 25th anniversary (1989-2014), including 9 years in La Rochelle. Every continent: Europe, Asia, North and Latin America and now Africa… China: Following the success of Asian Side in Chengdu in March, an even bigger Chinese delegation will be present in La Rochelle! New partners: Beijing delegation, National Geographic International, RAPA – Korea Radio Promotion Association, South Africa Indies - supported by NFVF & DTI New broadcasters: HLJTV (China), Jilin TV (China), Yoku Tudou Inc (China), Phoenix Satellite TV (Hong Kong), UR (Sweden), VTC (Vietnam), HBO Europe, Channel Russia … Sunny Lab: New writing in pole position. The 25th anniversary Grand Ecran: films which have come about thanks to Latin, Asian or Sunny Side Sunny Side and the Francofolies celebrating their anniversaries together 25 years for Sunny Side; 30 years for the Francofolies. A special evening at La Sirène with Bellota Films and Arte for 25 years of Techno Music on 25 June (film and concert)

THE MUST-ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE FOR DOCUMENTARY

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QUESTIONS AT...

Yves Jeanneau General Commissioner of Sunny Side of the Doc

From Marseille to La Rochelle, Sunny Side has become THE International Documentary Market and this year will celebrate its 25th anniversary. What makes it stand out from other professional events and how will it develop in the coming years?

© Frederic le Lan/CdA LA Rochelle

What does this 25th edition look like and what are the high points? Yves Jeanneau A quarter of a century! Sunny Side is now what it had been designed for: The International Documentary Market place. We shall gather professionals from all continents. After Latin America and Asia, Africa is now knocking the door. We will welcome a big South African delegation as well as one from Morocco. But, as last year, we will welcome a very large Chinese delegation. This is really an achievement as we were willing the 25th SSD to succeed in that very long process. These new players, new buyers, new platforms are the future of the genre; they give everyone hope and opportunities for sales and coproduction. Second focus: we shall put our “SUNNY LAB” in pole-position, meaning in the main and central area. For five years now, we have been introducing New Medias/ Transmedia/ Interactive programmes… and the digital platforms. The pioneers came to share their experiences, expertise and research. Today, we think we are not at that stage anymore. This area will be the second leg of SSD, concentrating all the new ways of writing, producing, distributing… clever content formats. Last but not least, we will keep on with our main focus: Specialist Factual International Coproduction This is the main area in which ambitious projects can be developed and financed. Producers from several countries are now experienced and creative, and this is particularly true for Science & History programmes. We are proud to say that we have been supporting these blue chip docs for years, against the idea that they would disappear like the dinosaurs… and we can see that broadcasters still need these high-end films for prime-time or “Specials”. They are also feeding the new platforms with much more than bonuses. They use 4K, 3D, apps, go to Giant Screen sometimes… These are the ones who are adapting to the new digital world.

THE MUST-ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE FOR DOCUMENTARY

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Je suis fier de pouvoir dire que nous n’avons cessé de soutenir ces films documentaires d’excellente facture, refusant l’idée que ce n’étaient que des dinosaures voués à disparaître, conscients que les diffuseurs avaient toujours besoin de films de grande qualité pour leurs programmes spéciaux en prime-time. Ces documentaires nourrissent également les nouvelles plateformes - via la 4K, la 3D, les applications mobiles, et parfois des écrans géants. Ce sont eux qui sont capables de s’adapter au nouveau monde numérique.

Asian Side took place this year in China and was a real success Does this mean that there will be an increased Asian presence in La Rochelle?

The 5th Asian Side was held in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan, in March. The Asian documentary market was really born there. To date, around 15 coproductions between China are under negotiation or are well advanced. But we are also looking forward to contributions from Vietnam, Korea and Malaysia among others. Asia is objectively the continent where documentaries are developing at the moment – both quickly and well.

THE MUST-ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE FOR DOCUMENTARY

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As part of Sunny Side, audiences in La Rochelle and professionals will be able to attend free screenings of 17 films at either the CGR Dragon or the Médiathèque Michel Crépeau. Can you give us a preview of what is on the programme? This year, to celebrate our 25th anniversary we will be showing films of various origins, but all of which have benefitted from an Asian Side, Latin Side or Sunny side. The projects will have been presented there, found partners there or found funding there. It is a way of showing audiences in La Rochelle what goes on at Sunny Side, and these films are the fruit that we have helped to mature over two years. What counts most for me is the stories that have been told thanks to international coproductions. Without them, the directors would not have had the means they needed to make them and the relevant distribution model.

Michel Reilhac Writer Michel Reilhac is one of the pioneers of Transmedia in France and a leading international specialist.

What exactly is Transmedia? ©Julie Vanpoucke

It is a word which already has a negative connotation in the audiovisual world as it corresponds to a very marketing-focused view of new digital technology designed to attract audiences and consumers to traditional content from TV or cinema using mobile devices (tablets and smartphones). There is an increasing trend towards using the simple term of interactive content. The real challenge in conception, narrative, writing, production and distribution is the inclusion, natively, in the story itself, of new interactive behaviours related to the arrival of new mass digital practices: games, social media, information, online services and shopping, intelligent objects, etc… Genres are tending to merge: documentaries can become games (Fort Mac Money), games can become more narrative, data becomes stories (Shadow)...

THE MUST-ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE FOR DOCUMENTARY

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Nevertheless, these possibilities of interacting, in the narrative, will only be offered to participating viewers. The pleasures of experiencing a story (be it a book, a documentary or a film) in a traditional, linear, passive way will never disappear. We can use interactivity a little, more or a lot depending on our availability, needs and desires, in exactly the same way as we do already with all the options in online services currently available.

How has the documentary world taken this interactive dimension? The documentary is the most active area and a pioneer in the field of interactivity along with the games industry. Essentially because the mass of data and rushes accumulated during the research, location and shooting phases is very often incredibly rich. This is always underexploited because of the short format imposed by the limitations of editing and broadcasting or distribution. The interactive possibilities now on offer provide an opportunity to exploit this material more deeply and much better. This is origin of the idea of the web doc, which is becoming increasingly diversified and sophisticated. It is interesting to see how the press is looking at this to provide enriched content on its digital platforms.

Are broadcasters on the lookout for this type of programming? Yes, because just like the press, they are having to cope with the migration and transitory, unstable nature of their audiences who now navigate simultaneously from one screen to another. A TV broadcaster can no longer simply be defined by their screen (the TV set in the corner of the room) but rather as a publisher and curator of content. Interactive content will become inevitable to support this change and enable them to maintain their positions. Broadcasters’ futures depend on their ability to maintain their roles as producers of ambitious and original content, creators of events, curators of content and recommendations. They are beginning to understand, but seem to be focusing on the second screen looking to find ways of understanding financial uses linked to advertising. You must not forget that television is above all an advertising media.

THE MUST-ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE FOR DOCUMENTARY

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Sunny Side has always supported documentaries which go beyond borders and increase the number of platforms. What has been set aside this year for transmedia and the transmedia experience (demos, workshops, etc…)? Each year Yves Jeanneau gives Sunny Lab more space and visibility. Each year Sunny Lab moves down from the first floor of l’Encan to enter the Sunny Side arena. It will have a much bigger space this year (last year’s restaurant), increased visibility and opening. There will be three areas: Sunny Lab as such for the debates and presentations, a demo and installation area accessible at all times, and a more limited workshop, accessible only to those who have signed up beforehand, for very concrete and practical sessions on production visualisation using lego run by Paul Tyler and a toolbox run by Arnaud Colinart to learn how to move immediately and concretely towards new participative digital working methods that everyone can benefit from without having to launch an interactive project as such.

Can you give us a foretaste of the Sunny Lab programme? It will be a very international programme with inspiring projects reflecting the diversity of what is currently going on in the field. Canada and China will be particularly well represented. The key words are: pragmatism, viability, creativity and diversity.

THE MUST-ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE FOR DOCUMENTARY

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Tore Tomter Tore Tomter, Program Acquisitions, Documentaries at NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), as Special Guest of Sunny Side of the Doc 2014. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the leading international doc markeplace, we could not miss the fact that Tore Tomter attended every Sunny Side, giving him a very special position to share his testimony on the evolution of the event itself and also of the doc industry. “Sunny Side of the Doc is improving year by year in selecting films for international audiences and for international TV channels. The increased focus on pitching films for television during the last years has been more and more importance in a time when documentaries struggle with their identity, either to go for the festivals and theatres or for the big audiences on TV. From being rather French, the Sunny Side organization has developed into a genuine international brand with strong partners and important branches both to Asia and Latin America. And it has never lost its dedicated focus on documentaries. In a time when one off documentaries seems to be drowned in factual entertainment, formatted reality and drama-series I do feel it is really a strong need for events with such a clear focus. Most TV channels seem to place the international documentaries on their small channels. (…) If the international documentaries shall survive on TV, they must be planned for TV from the beginning. And directors and producers must understand what is going on within the TV industry. The feature docs are struggling even on the small channels. Most of the audience is simply bored by docs without a very strong focus and telling stories which are meaningful for them. But the TV broadcasters seem to concentrate more and more on the digital challenges and new distribution platforms and distribution strategies. Together with the newspapers TV is fighting for life! In this situation it is too easy to lose sight of the content value. The profound changes we have been facing the last 10 years has created a new need for active, brave and reliable TV broadcasters and news coverage. Broadcasters and newspapers should try to join forces instead of fighting each other, but the digital changes have created a new battlefield between the two media. The whole world is online. (…) We can enjoy life here, but we also have a very important job to do. Yves Jeanneau and his team have managed to develop an event for a big part of the world. They are bringing people together who share a strong common wish and dedication to do the right thing for the world, to tell meaningful and interesting stories that can move our World in the right direction. May be we cannot save our planet, but at least we did our best together!”

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SCHEDULE The Forums and Pitch sessions will take place in the Agora, which will be located in the Auditorium at the Espace Encan.



The main Forums

June 23rd – 6:30pm COSIP: THE NEW REFORMS17:00 > 18:30Agora - Auditorium Ludovic Berthelot of France’s Centre National du Cinema will discuss and explain the reforms announced earlier this year to COSIP - the subsidy programme for television production, and an essential part of French production financing. The President of CNC, Frédérique Bredin, will also attend the session.

June 24th – 9:30 am MARKING THE DATE - DOCS ON HISTORICAL COMMEMORATIONS Two major wartime anniversaries fall this year, the centenary of the start of WW1 and 70 years since the D-Day landings. Next year sees the 70th anniversary of the end of WW2. Through case studies this panel will discuss ways to make wartime history come alive for new audiences. Sponsorised by Gaumont Pathé Archives. Participants : • John Farren - Moderator (360 Production Ltd) • Gunnar Dedio - Speaker (Looks Film & Tv Produktionen Gmbh) • Nicolas Deschamps - Speaker (MC4) • Toru Takagi - Speaker (NHK - Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

June 25th – 9:30 am SCIENCE PANEL: THE FUTURE OF CITIES By 2050, it’s predicted that half of the world’s population will live in cities. Their rapid growth brings enormous challenges - social, of course, but also technological and environmental. This panel brings together four leading broadcasters, to discuss this subject of universal interest, and how their programming strategies are making these vital yet complex issues understandable to broad audiences. In association with WCSFP and EBU. Participants : • Alison Leigh - Moderator (WCSFP - World Congress of Science and Factual Producers) • Paula Apsell - Speaker (PBS | WGBH | NOVA) • Hélène Coldefy - Speaker (Arte France) • Asta Dalman - Speaker (UR / Swedish Educational Broadcasting Company) • Aidan Laverty - Speaker (BBC - British Broadcasting Corporation) • Yuan Tian - Speaker (CCTV9 - Documentary Channel)

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June 26th – 9:30 WORLD AFFAIRS PANEL: TALKING ABOUT EUROPE International current affairs subjects are in strong demand. But are there stories about Europe that can find audiences across national boundaries? Commissioners and producers will give their perspectives on how European themes can make it on screen. Participants : • Nick Ware - Moderator (Aster Media) • Nicholas Fraser - Speaker (BBC - British Broadcasting Corporation) • Flora Gregory - Speaker (Aljazeera Network English) • Hanka Kastelicova - Speaker (HBO Europe) • Muntsa Tarres - Speaker (TVC - Televisiò de Catalunya SA - TV 3 & Canal 33)

June 26th – 4pm DEBATE: THE FUTURE FOR DOCS Producers are in the front line of the changes affecting the documentary genre. Paul Pauwels of the European Documentary Network, together with producers from France, the UK, Germany and China, will debate the state of the international coproduction scene. Participants : • Paul Pauwels - Moderator (Edn - European Documentary Network) • Dominique Barneaud - Speaker (Bellota Films) • Ruby Chen - Speaker (CNEX Foundation Limited) • Tristan Chytroschek - Speaker (A&O Buero Filmproduktion) • Laura Marshall - Speaker (Icon Films)



PROJECTS SELECTION FOR PITCHING SESSIONS

Six pitching sessions across the week will see 35 creative teams from all around the world pitch their projects in development, guided by expert moderators John Farren, Nick Ware and Björn Jensen.

HISTORY - Tuesday 24th of June / 11am The Albert Goering File – Upside Distribution, France The Tokyo War Trial – Point Du Jour, France The Memory of Nanking,1937 – CCTV10, China Children of Dictators – Spot Productions, Hungary Life and Death of Max Linder – Amp Polska, Poland When Africa Arose – Zimmedia/Espresso TV, South Africa /UK

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ARTS & CULTURE - Tuesday 24th of June / 2:30pm The Current – Marina Abramovic and Brazil – Casa Redonda, Brazil League of Exotique Dancer – Storyline Entertainment Inc., Canada Mali Blues – Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion / Beetz Brothers Filmproduction, Germany Treasure of Lima: A Buried Exhibition – Autentic, Germany Chillida: the depth of air – Explora Films, Spain Renzo Piano, an Architect for Santander – Morena Films S.l., Spain

MIX DOCS – INVESTIGATION - Wednesday 25th of June / 9:30am El Paso (Stepping Out) – Artegios, Mexico Endless War in Iraq – 10 Years in the life of a Baghdad family– So-Net Entertainment Co., Japan (Best Asian Project, Asian Side of the Doc 2014) When the guns are silenced – El pulso Producciones, Colombia/Mexico Scarred forever, Wartime Sexual Violence– Indipendent Production K, Ltd, South Korea Paul and Ester – Heilongjiang TV, China

INTERACTIVE FACTUAL DOC - Wednesday 25th of June / 9:30am / Sunny Lab Adrift – Decima Rosa/Freeside Films, Italy/UK Connected Walls – Grizzly Films/Progress in work!, Belgium/France Project Quipu – Chaka Studio, UK Share your grandma – Narrative/Chaï Chaï Films, France Umudugudu! – Hirya Lab, France

SCIENCE & NATURE - Wednesday 25th of June / 11am Clockwork Climate – Artline Films, France Sixteen Legs – Bookend Trust, Australia Night on Earth – Winds, France (Best International Project, Asian Side of the Doc 2014) King in a cage – Blue Rhino Pictures, South Korea Life in flames – La Claqueta Pc S.l., Spain Bigfoot Files: Expedition Special Bear – Icon Films, UK Space Advisor: A Space Traveller’s Guide to the Galaxy – Intuitive Pictures, Canada

POLITICS & SOCIETY - Thursday 26th of June / 11am Doctor Mukwege – Les Films De La Passerelle, Belgium Dust – INA, France Mother’s Wish – Oktober, Finland Becoming who I was – Prosum Inc., South Korea Plastic China – CNEX Foundation/Artline Films, China/France Hukou (Unwed Mother) – Star Era Media/Georama TV Productions, China/France

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Awards 2014 Six Sunny Side pitching sessions will create an opportunity for 35 producers from all over the world to pitch their idea including a trailer in front of a number of key international commissioners and buyers. The international jury and partners will decide on the best pitches for ten awards in cash and in kind. The Award Ceremony is at 18:00 on Thursday 26th of June. Grand Prix 25th Anniversary, sponsored by NRK This award will highlight the Best Sunny Side 2014 Pitched Project across all categories: 5,000 € in cash. Best History Project, sponsored by PBS International: 2,000 € in cash Best Science & Nature Project, sponsored by National Geographic Channels International (NGCI): 2,000 € in cash Best Arts & Culture Project, sponsored by Rare Media: 2,000 € in cash Best Politics & Society Project, sponsored by RTBF-Sonuma et SRC-Radio Canada: 2,000 € in cash Best Interactive Factual Project, sponsored by CICC: 2,000 € in cash + The Cuban Hat Award* *The 2014 Cuban Hat Award Conceived by Diego Briceño (Cuibafilms/Pimiento, Montreal) and Giulia Frati (Zelectra Productions, Montreal), The Cuban Hat is a crowd participatory initiative and the award is composed of contributions in cash and in kind from industry partners, sponsors and private donors. At Sunny Side of the Doc 2014, the Cuban Hat Award includes all the money and goods gathered in “the hat” through our online crowdmarket platform to be awarded to the Best Interactive Factual project. All delegates will be involved in the voting system online to support their favorite pitch during the market. In the Hat: - Gaumont Pathé Archives: a grant for an archives research - INA Expert: 2 days of training - Ottoblix: Post-production and creative services for a value of 5,000 $ (CAD) - Redpinata: Post-production services during a week for a value of 5000 €

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CEZAME MUSIC Awards CEZAME MUSIC AGENCY will award two CEZAME MUSIC Prizes supporting the musical side of the doc. These separate prizes reward two pitched projects allowing authors to benefit from: - Assistance for the creation of original music for a value of 2,000 € - Assistance for the use of music labels CEZAME MUSIC AGENCY for a value of 1,200 € RTBF Award The RTBF will grant a pre-buy offer on one pitched project, across all categories. SONUMA Award Sonuma is specialized in media sourcing with its huge collection of current programs and vintage footage produced by famous belgian TV producers such as RTBF, BELGAVOX, VRT NIEUWS and EBUCO. This prize consists in archives purchases from their collections for a value of 5,000 €.

THE MUST-ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE FOR DOCUMENTARY

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IT’S PARTY TIME! 25 years of Sunny Side: the evening of Thursday 26 June in the evening for a party at the Espace Encan de la Rochelle. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Francofolies, and the two events have decided to celebrate this together: Hippocampe Fou (rap), from the Chantier des Francofolies, will be giving a concert on the party evening. And also … the Trinidad and Tobago Steel Band, which plays in the film “PAN”, which will open the evening. A special evening on 25 June, at La Sirène – La Rochelle’s modern music venue – organised by Bellota Films in collaboration with ARTE & Sunny Side: Screening of a film looking back over 25 years of techno music followed by a concert with DJ The Hacker.

THE MUST-ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE FOR DOCUMENTARY

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GRAND ECRAN For the 25th anniversary of Sunny Side we have made a selection of films reflecting the broad variety of subjects covered by major directors from Latin America, Asia, Germany, Belgium, the UK and, of course, France. These films all have one thing in common: they all benefitted from Sunny Side, Asian Side or Latin Side that we have organised over the pastThey found part of their financing, partners, broadcasters or distributers there… They are examples of what we are working for, because our role is to support good projects, help them to be made and be shown to you. They will take you on a journey from Rio to the Congo, from China to Japan… from the beaches of the Normandy Landings to the life of Picasso... from the seabed to the Trinidad & Tobago Steel Band! You will be surprised by the stories they will tell you. Let yourself go and trust them: your curiosity will be rewarded!

Press Contacts : National and international press: Natasha Moulin - 06 62 66 24 43 - [email protected] Regional press: Catherine Blondy Communication - 05 46 56 82 85 - 06 80 93 52 20 - publicrelations@ sunnysideofthedoc.com

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SPONSORS SPONSORS

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INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS With the support of the MEDIA Programme of the European Union

WITH THE SUPPORT OF

With the support of the MEDIA Programme of the European Union

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WITH THE SUPPORT OF MINISTÈRE DES AFFAIRES SOCIALES ET DE LA SANTÉ MINISTÈRE DU TRAVAIL, DE L'EMPLOI, ET DU DIALOGUE SOCIAL

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS

MINISTÈRE DES AFFAIRES SOCIALES ET DE LA SANTÉ MINISTÈRE DU TRAVAIL, DE L'EMPLOI, ET DU DIALOGUE SOCIAL

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS

MINISTÈRE DES AFFAIRES SOCIALES ET DE LA SANTÉ MINISTÈRE DU TRAVAIL, DE L'EMPLOI, ET DU DIALOGUE SOCIAL

MEDIA PARTNERS OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS MEDIA PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS MEDIA PARTNERS

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TRANSMEDIA IN LA ROCHELLE: A THRIVING INDUSTRY Within the La Rochelle conurbation, the local ICT network, known as IMAGéTIC®, represents 130 businesses, 750 jobs and a turnover of 115 million euro. The number of businesses and employees working within the service industry has doubled over the last 10 years and in particular there has been a new generation of entrepreneurs in the ICT sector. The conurbation is home to almost every type of digital technology and, as far as their core activity is concerned, a number of these companies are business leaders.

AN INNOVATIVE SECTOR FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE LA ROCHELLE CONURBATION Many different elements play a part in creating an environment that is favourable for establishing businesses within this sector. The industry professionals offer a wide-range of expertise: web agencies, software designers, mobile application designers and audiovisual producers to name but a few. In addition, key events such as Sunny Side of the Doc, the annual gathering of the documentary industry, and the Web Program Festival, the only international festival entirely dedicated to the Web, bring together professionals and buyers who rely on this industry. Furthermore the University of La Rochelle offers outstanding courses and research in both ICT and digital imaging and therefore is an excellent source of expertise for start-ups. The conurbation also offers the Studios de l’Océan which is a unique facility on the Atlantic coast, right in the town centre, boasting 4 000 m2 of space encompassing two film sets of 550 m2 and 900 m2.

A DYNAMIC CONURBATION As home to a strong and vibrant digital imaging and ICT industry, the conurbation encourages exchanges and synergies between young talent and experienced business people so as to boost this innovative sector and ensure it is firmly rooted here. The La Rochelle conurbation is on hand to support and guide the growth of the sector through assistance with raising finance, jobdating and call for entries for projects which promote creation and innovation such as for the transmedia Moovin project and the PULPE® business competition. It also organises events, helps businesses to take part in professional trade shows and assists young start-ups from the conurbation’s Créatio® scheme of incubators and business development centres to be part of the local network. Through Créatio®, it invests in commercial property, provides business support and it recently renovated the Creatio ImagéTIC® facility which is now available for young budding entrepreneurs.

Since 2006, the Poitou-Charentes Region has enthusiastically renewed its partnership with the Sunny Side of the Doc, which is this year celebrating its 25th anniversary. A haven for cinema, whether fictional or documentaries, our Region is a natural supporter of this event, which is a wonderful showcase for professionals operating in the sector. This international documentary film event is paying homage to China this year. Through funding the cinematographic, audiovisual and multimedia production, the development of training in the image industry, as well as supporting various cultural events and regional companies, the Region is making a firm commitment to the documentary film sector. Young documentary film producers will additionally be offered the chance, during the Sunny Side of the Doc event, to establish new professional contacts. The Region invites students, teachers and stakeholders concerned to attend this major international event which brings together over 2,000 producers, distributors and broadcasters. The "Vallée de l'Image" is one of the priority economic subsidiaries of the Region and brings together all activities in the image industry (audiovisual, cinema, animation, transmedia, serious gaming, etc.) which span the entire region. Since 2012, this dynamism has also been illustrated by the partnership with France 3 Poitou-Charentes during the "Docs d'Ici" event which is a free entry day for the general public to watch for the first time, or once again, those documentaries having received joint support from the Region and France 3 Poitou-Charentes. I sincerely hope that you will all make some wonderful and fascinating discoveries during this 25th edition of Sunny Side of the Doc.

Jean-François MACAIRE President of the Poitou-Charentes Region