
Sunny Side of the Doc + IMZ Pitching Session
What happens when the IMZ International Music + Media Centre, the host of Avant Première and the global network for the performing arts film industry, cooperates with Sunny Side of the Doc, the internationally renowned market place for documentary + factual content?
You guessed it! Avant Première 2020 shines a special spotlight on performing arts documentaries and offers filmmakers the possibility to take their projects further. We are looking for documentaries on performing arts and welcome proposals in development or production combining quality, originality and innovation, including native web creations and cross-platform storytelling.
Out of the many proposals submitted, the five best have been selected to pitch directly to international decision makers at Avant Première. The best pitch will further be invited to pitch again at Sunny Side of the Doc in La Rochelle!
HOSTS

Esther van Messel
Founder + CEO at First Hand Films
Van Messel joined Warner Bros. Israel in 1990 as Head of Distribution and later an independent company in Zurich in 1992 as Head of coproduction + Sales. She founded First Hand Films in 1998 and represents 300 international films + 200 producers.

Jean-Jacques Peretti
International consultant in charge of the editorial line at Sunny Side of the Doc
Jean-Jacques Peretti is in charge of the editorial line at Sunny Side of the Doc, the internationally renowned market place for documentary and factual content. He organises panels, case studies and pitching sessions. Previously, Jean-Jacques worked as a production manager with many companies for ten years in Paris.
Expert Jury

Emma Cahusac
Commissioning Editor for Arts, Music and Dance at BBC Music
Emma Cahusac has worked in TV for over 25 years as a producer, director + executive. She has produced programming for all major UK channels and US broadcasters, with subjects ranging from the visual arts, theatre, classical dance to pop music.

Emelie de Jong
Head of Arts + Performing Arts at ARTE France
De Jong has commissioned documentaries and developed emblematic programmes for ARTE France such as the urban culture magazine Tracks + Music Planet Tonite. She currently develops magazines, documentaries, web-native formats + performing arts programmes.

Gunny Hyoung
Executive Producer at EBS Korea
Gunny Hyoung joined EBS Korea in 2004 and has been organising the EBS International DOC Film Festival ever since. Hyoung has contributed to connecting many Asian, European and North American Documentary Initiatives with the EIDF.

Kay Meseberg
Head of Mission Innovation at ARTE
Kay Meseberg has worked on many award-winning digital productions over the last 20 years. He joined ARTE in 2013, where he contributed to the first-ever VR documentary “Polar Sea 360” and now works on immersive media as well as leads ARTE’s Mission Innovation. Kay is also a visiting lecturer for the Center of Collaborative Arts + Media at Yale University and Innovation Ambassador for the IMZ.

Jack Oliver
Head of Coproductions at Sky
With 25 years’ experience in TV + film acquisition, Jack Oliver has worked across the full Sky Entertainment channels and launched Sky Crime, Sky Comedy and new US pilots. He has a broad remit for factual entertainment across the Sky channels.

Ana Vicente
Head of Sales at Dogwoof
Ana Vicente joined Dogwoof in 2011, where she oversees the sales strategy for all documentary films + pre-sales of documentary projects outside the UK. Some recent titles include “Women Make Film”, “Cunningham”,“Mystify”, “Making Waves” and “Maiden”.
PARTNER
- Avant Première
Programme 2020 - Overview
- Timetable
- SCREENINGS
- CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
- Broadcaster Lightning Talks
- Sunny Side of the Doc + IMZ Pitching Session
- One-on-One Expert Sessions
- SPECIAL FOCUS
- Innovation Day
- NETWORKING
- Kick-Off: ARTE Concert@Berlinale
- Opening Ceremony
- Warm-Up Brunch
- Introduction for Newcomers
- Closing: Cross-Sector Drinks
- IMZ Member Session
- Booth Area
- IMZ Meeting Point
- Accentus Lounge
- Meeting + Networking Places