February 2021

Story of the Month
Television is making more documentaries than ever—but skipping the journalism
Director Nanette Burstein & Hillary
But imagine if hulu's Hillary began with a disclosure of what really happened:
"Much of the footage you’re about to see was shot by the Clinton campaign, and Clinton’s political action committee was paid to license it. Hillary Clinton selected the production company, helped pick the director, and weighed in during editing".

Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2021 // Reuters Institute
EBU initiative to give audiences access to trusted news from across Europe
PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
Britney Spears documentary reveals misogyny and draws apologies from Hollywood stars // The Guardian, The Age

Sky documentary slate includes Chernobyl & True Crime // Deadline

PBS, BBC Studios slate Greta Thunberg doc series for April // Realscreen

Welcome to Chechnya doc has huge impact on LGBTQ community // THR

Exploring Hate: Anti-Semitism, Racism & Extremism // PBS/WNET

Netflix's Surviving Death is very poignant during lockdown // The Independent

Discovery+ secures rights to Pope Francis documentary // The Wrap

Disclosure examines transgender depictions in film & television // Netflix

A Guide to Oscar's Shortlisted Documentary Shorts // The Wrap
Amazon and Netflix original productions (titles and hours) (Source:OMDIA)
STREAMERS
Netflix swamps Amazon Prime: Original Hours & Titles // TBI Vision (chart above)
Netflix to open offices in Canada to 'work directly' with Canadian Creatives // The Wrap
FILMPIXS, a new global streamer dedicated to docs & shorts // Business Doc Europe
discovery+ tops 11 million subscribers; Disney + 95 million and Netflix 200 million subs // World Screen, Rapid TV, VideoNuze
Documentary+ a new AVOD service launches // Digital TV Europe
Facebook, YouTube share 50% of total online video ad revenues // Rapid TV
There's a price war between streaming platforms // Vulture
Regulation: Australia joining France in pushing internet giants to pay // AP News
US consumers subscribe to multiple streaming services // Rapid TV News
Amazon’s Prime Video Direct (PVD) stops licensing unscripted // Filmmaker Magazine
CATCHING THE WAVE
Original analysis from Sunny Side of the Doc & Documentary Business
BIG vs SMALL
BIG vs SMALL: Production & festival strategy for Minna Dufton's giant wave surfer doc // Indie Case Study from Finland
Room 2806 : The Accusation: a Netflix Europe's commission from France's CAPA Productions // Case Study from France
Sunny Side’s Global Pitch Award Winner: The Hungarian Playbook, directed by Bence Máté and produced by Germany’s Film Five // World Screen
The Real Impact of Global Doc: France Televisions X Rai Documentari
Dan Salerno, veteran programming exec reviews discovery+ // Podcast
Room 2806: The Accusation
DIGITAL STORYTELLING
10 years of digital storytelling // World Press
What will virtual experiences look like once we've all been vaccinated? // The Drum
Force online platforms to carry public service media, says EBU chief // FT
Amazon Prime launches "Génération Brut," a documentary format developed with Brut // Teller Report
WOMEN IN DOC

A New Leader Pushes Sundance Forward // NYT
BBC expands Claire Sillery's role as part of specialist factual restructure // TBI Vision
Meet director Zhannat Alshanova, winner of the 5th EWA Network Female Talent Award // ScreenDaily
REALLY WORTH READING...
A call for Ethical Infrastructures in the Documentary Industry // IDA
European film festivals slam EU funding changes // Screen Daily
Rupert Murdoch bosses Australian government in Facebook battle // The Age
Jeffrey Bezos to buy CNN and merge with Washington Post? // Berkshire Eagle
John Caldron, Flame Distribution's managing director passed away after a long struggle with cancer. We benefited from the commercial vision and financial business experience that John brought to our niche. Our condolences to his family, colleagues at Flame and the many producers and buyers who value and will miss their work with him."
Peter Hamilton's Documentary Business and Sunny Side of the Doc are publishing partners, providing our colleagues throughout the year with valuable industry analysis and context. Thanks for your feedback, and for sending us stories with links that you feel our readers will appreciate... at news@sunnysideofthedoc.com.
Editorial Assistant: Becca Wallance