For the first time Eurovision's Documentary Group and Science & Knowledge Group will both attend the Sunny Side of the Doc (SSD) from 20 to 23 June 2016. Over 60 programme managers from European public service channels will be defending the best documentary projects with international potential on all subjects and themes.

The Documentary Group will hold its plenary meeting on Monday 20 June with its own pitching session featuring about 20 projects in Current Affairs, Contemporary History and Art & Culture. It will also present a few flagship projects during the Sunny Side of the Doc pitching sessions in the Global Issues, History and Arts et Culture categories.

The Science & Knowledge Group will meet on Tuesday 21 June to share experience, screenings, and develop coproductions. Additionally, for the third year running it will join forces with the Sunny Side team to call for projects and hold a pitching session on a special day dedicated to science subjects, Wednesday 22 June.

Asta Dalman, the chairwoman of the Eurovision Science & Knowledge Group, and Axel Arnö, the chairman of the Documentary Group, stated, "Bringing these two major Eurovision groups to the Sunny Side of the Doc to develop documentaries promotes synergies between programme managers, producers and directors for the strongest projects on the market and helps defend the values of public service broadcasting on the international stage."

With more than 2,000 documentary professionals from more than 60 countries each year in La Rochelle, the Sunny Side of the Doc is a key event for all platforms on the international documentary market. The presence of two Eurovision documentary groups at the 27th Sunny Side is an enormous asset as they attract a large number of European public channels and so provide more opportunities for international coproductions that combine quality, originality and innovation.

"We are delighted to step up our collaboration with Eurovision this year and to welcome these two documentary groups," declared Yves Jeanneau, the director-general. "Sunny side of the Doc is a favourite destination for European public service broadcasters as it enables them to join forces and attract new, non-European partners to projects they've selected."

Project managers have until Thursday 21 April 2016 to present their projects to the Eurovision Science & Knowledge and Documentary Groups through the intermediary of an EBU Member.

Independent producers will also have the opportunity to submit their science projects, provided they can prove the involvement of an EBU Member.

Sunny Side of the Doc Contacts

Irem Couchouron, International Development, [email protected]

Laura Longobardi, Buyers Relations, [email protected]