Sunny Side of the Doc – RDV Canada Docs 2025

Deadline: April 4, 2025

Aiming to help Canadian producers of various genres expand into foreign markets and do business internationally, this RDVCANADA series of training programs was created by Telefilm Canada and the Trade Commissioner back in 2020. RDVCANADA | Docs 2025 is the third iteration of the program dedicated to documentary content. You can learn more about the 2024 edition here. 

The 2025 RDVCANADA | Docs initiative is organized by Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, in collaboration with Sunny Side of the Doc, and in partnership with Black Screen Office, Creative BC, Ontario Creates and SODEC. 

From April to June 2025, the selected Canadian producers will embark in two months of personalized mentorship and training (with a focus on international co-production and distribution – as well as pitching) in order to get ready to pitch their project to their future international partners.

The selected participants will then attend Sunny Side of the Doc from June 23 to 26, 2025. Set in sunny La Rochelle, France, the 36-year old market brings together the international documentary community in all its forms for an unmissable 4-day event. The event attracts over 2,200 participants from more than 70 countries and aims to support the financing and international co-production of projects, as well as the distribution of completed programs. In addition to Sunny Side’s rich program, the RDVCANADA | Docs cohort will participate in a series of networking activities with producers from key countries and exclusive meetings with decision makers.