China Takes Center Stage at Sunny Side of the Doc’s 36th Edition
China is making a big impression at the 36th edition of Sunny Side of the Doc with an expanded pavilion showcasing high-profile international co-productions and two key events aimed at strengthening global partnerships in the documentary industry.
The highlight of the showcase is two events scheduled for June 24. The first event, China Hour in the Grand Auditorium, will see participating organizations presenting partnership proposals and announcing cooperation plans. This will be followed by China Night at the Maritime Museum of La Rochelle, where international TV broadcasters, distributors, and production agencies will come together.
The China Pavilion features five co-productions that highlight China’s increasing collaboration in premium documentary content. One such project is “Geographical Discovery: Exploring the Hanzhong Sinkhole Cluster,” a collaboration between CCTV9 and France’s Bellota Films. This 52-minute documentary explores China’s newly discovered sinkhole formations in stunning 4K and 8K resolution.
Another notable co-production is “Life at the Yellow River Delta, Season 2,” a partnership between China Intercontinental Communication Center, National Geographic Channel, Shandong Television, and IFA Media. This 2×44-minute series delves into wildlife adaptation across the four seasons and is set to premiere on National Geographic Channel in the latter half of 2025.
“Wing Chun: The Heritage of the World” is China’s first themed animated documentary, produced in collaboration between China Real Image Media, One & All Culture Dev., and France’s Realworks. The project traces the global spread of the martial art Wing Chun to over 80 countries.
Other co-productions showcased at the pavilion include “Wetlands, Our Land,” “Diary of Biosphere Reserves,” and six additional projects presented during the pitch lineup. The programming lineup also features titles like “Creatures’ Wonderland,” “Walking with the Spoon-billed Sandpiper,” and “Food Markets around the World.”
China Night will unveil more co-production announcements, including “The Great Yellow River Delta II,” “Restless Farewell,” and the global promotion event “Friendly Shandong, Hometown of Confucius.”
Organized by China Intercontinental Communication Center, the China Pavilion brings together major industry players such as China Media Group (CMG), Shandong Radio and Television Bureau, Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation, and Shanghai Media Group’s Documentary Production Center. This marks the eighth consecutive year for the China Pavilion at Sunny Side of the Doc, highlighting China’s commitment to international collaboration in the documentary space.
