For the second consecutive year, the Eurovision Science & Knowledge annual pitching session will take place during the Sunny Side of the Doc (SSD) on Tuesday 23 June 2015. The 26^th edition of the international factual documentary market held in La Rochelle, France (22-25 June) will showcase the best story-driven Science projects with international appeal in front of an engaged audience of global decision makers.

Chair Asta Dalman says the Eurovision Science & Knowledge Experts’ Group will be looking to offer outstanding projects a greater opportunity to move from the media laboratory into production: “In 2014, SSD brought together more than 1500 producers, filmmakers and 300 commissioning editors, buyers, funding executives and distributors in search of pre-buy and co-production deals,” Ms Dalman said.

“This collaboration represents a unique opportunity for our Members to pitch what public service media do so well – to develop feasibility-based projects that combine originality with relevance in particular in those core public service areas such Knowledge and Science programmes.”

In total, more than 2,000 documentary professionals representing 60 countries attended last year’s event, making Sunny Side one of the must-attend international documentary marketplace events.

Event CEO Yves Jeanneau said Sunny Side welcomes the involvement of such an important industry group of public service broadcasters: “What differentiates Sunny Side of the Doc from other festivals and markets, is its international reach and focus on specialist factual. We are delighted that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is holding its annual Science and Knowledge pitch session at La Rochelle, open to all attending decision makers, with commissioning editors from EBU members hearing pitches and discussing collaborations. Their presence reinforces our longtime mission of encouraging high quality international co-productions.”

Submissions to the Eurovision Science & Knowledge Experts’ Group should be made by commissioning editors through an EBU Member broadcaster before Thursday 23 April 2015. Independent producers can also submit to the session provided that there is an EBU member broadcaster on board, with the agreement of its broadcaster