Twelve Basque production companies attend Sunny Side of the Doc fair

From 25 to 28 June, the French city of La Rochelle is hosting the Sunny Side of the Doc, the main international documentary market, which will once again be attended by a large representation of the Basque audiovisual sector under the Basque Audiovisual brand, created and promoted by Eiken (Basque audiovisual cluster), Zineuskadi and the Etxepare Basque Institute.

It is an unmissable event for the sector that brings together more than 2,000 professionals from 60 countries every year. Distributors, buyers, creators, producers and other agents from the documentary market come to Sunny Side of the Doc to present their proposals, access new markets, seek funding or partners to develop their projects and learn about the latest trends in the sector.

Basque companies in the sector find in this fair a favourable setting to present their audiovisual projects and access potential buyers from the main international markets.

This year, 12 Basque companies will be attending the French city: Altube Filmeak, Arena Comunicación, Bainet Zinema, Gastibeltza Filmak, Haruru Filmak, Irusoin, Marmoka Films, Mirokutana, Sincro Produccion, Sonora Estudios, Sr y Sra and Taui Media. Also represented will be the Lau Haizetara documentary co-production forum organised every year by Ibaia (Association of Independent Audiovisual Producers of the Basque Country) within the framework of the San Sebastian Festival, and the Iparralde Kanaldude television station.

Staff from the Etxepare Basque Institute, Eiken and Zineuskadi will accompany the Basque companies at the Basque Audiovisual stand, where they will also distribute a catalogue compiling a total of 32 documentary projects, of which 13 are in development, 9 are at some stage of production and 10 have been completed and/or premiered.

The aim of this action promoted by Eiken, Zineuskadi and the Etxepare Basque Institute is to give visibility to and consolidate the Basque audiovisual industry as a powerful brand, recognisable in foreign markets for the quality and innovation of its products.

Cholitas, selected for pitching

For four days, Sunny Side of the Doc is organising a long series of activities including panel discussions, networking events and pitching sessions in which 42 projects from 11 countries will be presented. Cholitas, a project of the production company Arena Comunicación, has been selected for the pitching of projects of social and human interest. Its creators, Jaime Murciego and Pablo Iraburu, will have the opportunity to present their work on Tuesday in front of more than 350 international producers, distributors and agents. Cholitas tells the story of six indigenous women´s expedition to Aconcagua.