“Croatia’s Coast – Endless and Wild”
At Sunny Side of the Doc 2025, the traditional ORF Apéro took place on Tuesday and delivered an impressive showcase that attracted over 100 attendees.
“Universum Nature” offers a broad view into nature and wildlife: “Croatia’s Coast – Endless and Wild”, takes viewers along the Adriatic, exploring how climate change and natural rhythms are reshaping this iconic coastline. “South Tyrol – The Land Between” explores the unique habitats of this northern Italian province, where Mediterranean and northern European climates converge, supporting diverse flora and fauna, from chamois to scorpions. Meanwhile “The Pigeon Hustle” provides a fresh look at urban wildlife, following the adventures of three city pigeons through London and New York.
“Universum History” brings to light the stories of remarkable women who have influenced history. “Above and Beyond – The First Female Aviators” honors the pioneering women in aviation, while “The Forgotten – The Women of the Peasants’ War” reveals the significant roles played by women during the Peasant’s War. “Mothers of the Minotaur – Rise, Reign and Ruin of the Minoans” delves into the ancient Minoan civilization, offering insights into its potentially female-centric culture.
"Our ‘Universum’ productions, celebrated as some of the world’s most acclaimed nature documentaries, are the result of enduring and fruitful collaborations with renowned filmmakers and committed co-production partners from around the globe. What holds even greater significance for all those involved in their creation is that these films are now embarking on a journey to inspire audiences worldwide”, says Gernot Lercher, Head of ORF “Universum Nature”.
Stefan Binder, Programming and Content Manager of “Universum History”, underscores the significance of their global partnerships: “The success of ‘Universum History’ wouldn’t be possible without our partners all over the world. Sunny Side of the Doc once again proved to be an essential meeting point for the global documentary community. The event offered valuable opportunities for networking, discovering bold new projects and engaging in forward-thinking conversations about the future of factual storytelling. We leave inspired, connected and excited for what’s ahead.”
“Our history documentaries are the result of long-standing collaborations with talented filmmakers and dedicated co-production partners worldwide”, adds Sabine Bures, Deputy Program Manager of “Universum History”. “It is especially rewarding to see these films inspiring audiences across the globe. The ORF Apéro and Sunny Side of the Doc provide the perfect platforms to strengthen these international partnerships, gain fresh ideas, and shape the future of documentary storytelling together.”
“As a distributor, witnessing the global appeal of our ‘Universum’ products reaffirms our commitment to delivering high-quality content that transcends borders and cultures. The ORF Apéro has been a wonderful opportunity to showcase the breadth and depth of our content”, remarks Armin Luttenberger, Head of Content Sales International at ORF-Enterprise.
A DIVERSE DISTRIBUTION
The event marked a significant moment for ORF-Enterprise as a diverse array of titles found new homes with various broadcasters at and before the market. Among the highlights, “Untamed Vietnam” captured the interest of multiple recipients, including PTS Public Television and Societe Radio Canada, showcasing its broad appeal. “The Real Jungle Book” also garnered attention, acquired by PTS (Taiwan), APT (United States) as well as pubcaster RAI (Italy).
MTVA (Hungary) opted for the intriguing documentaries “Wild Transylvania – Dracula’s Hidden Kingdom” and “Slovenia – Where Nature Comes First”. Additionally, Ceska Televize (Czech Republic) added "Nicobar Islands – A Monkey’s Long Tale” to their catalog.
Meanwhile, TV Justicia (Mexico) secured “Pride and Persecution” and TV UNAM (Mexico) will soon broadcast “Rebellion in the Brothel – Trafficking in Women around 1900”.
Viasat (Scandinavia, Baltic states and CEE) opted for “Women Pirates – Rebels of the Seas”, while SBS (Australia) and Axess TV (Sweden) acquired the award-winning documentary “The Imperial Crown – Myth, Mystery and Majesty”.
