It is no secret that corporations such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple have lost their hunger for the current incident documentaries dealing with politics. Good old days when streamers presented seven figures for the document about polarized politicians such as Alexandria Okasio-Cortez (“Nock Down the House”), and after their sunday debut, the eye-opening mock-government teen conference (” Boys State “) lagged behind. We. That type of nonfiction, streamers would like to think you, do not attract enough attention and do not lead to new subscriptions. Algorithm suggests that the doctor is mostly interested in looking at the documents about celebrities, creeds and true crimes.
But the sunday programmers are not selecting professional capacity as their priority. Between the terrible political atmosphere and the development of right-wing documentaries and the taste of streaming buyers for congesting subjects, it comes on festivals to program bold titles that will draw the attention of the awards.
“We know that some distributors are a little careful in choosing films with open political subjects,” says Basil Tsiocos, a senior programmer of Sunndens. “We get all that. At the same time, filmmakers are spending many years of his life to carry on stories, examining situations in the struggle areas and telling these extremely difficult stories around the war and in the world. Our mission is to provide a platform for this. ”
This year Tsiocos did not avoid programming doors in Russia (“Mr. Nobdi Against Putin”), Iran (“Cutting Through Rocks”), America (“Heightnad Scrutiny”) and Sudan (“Khartum”). ,
“Are we sure that all the movies of this year’s lineup, especially more serious, difficult films, will enter Megaplex? No, “Tsiocos is called”. “But we have never been sure about it. I think it is important that these films still get support from Sunndans and other festivals to share their stories because they are important. ‘Khartum’ is about Sudan. People do not talk about Sudan. This is an important story, and I will feel really terrible to say, ‘it is not going to be distributed. Let’s not program it, “because I don’t think this is the issue. The issue is to share the story with the audience, and perhaps it is only the audience of the sundays. Who knows? But at least it is reaching someone. ”
Whereas 17 of the 23 documents in Sunndans last year were distributed, most of them were self-confused or issued through a service deal for which filmmakers had to pay. Those methods included self-distribution in terms of “ANO” or arrangement with a picturehouse for submarine deluxe and Oscar nominated “Porcelain War” for “War Game”.
In particular, last year, Netflix bought six documents including “doctors,” “Ibeline” and “Will and Harper”, while Warner Brothers Discovery spent $ 15 million for a documentary about the life of “Super/Man”. Did Christopher Reve. Those sales showed a ray of hope for the struggling documentary market.
The sales agent of Submarine Entertainment Josh Braun is coming to sundons with the demand for distribution with eight documentaries, which is “Stringer“Middlertown,” and “Andre is an idiot.”
“The quality of our films is very good, so I can’t stop myself from thinking how buyers would not want to buy these films?” Braun says. “I know some markets are denying it, but finally the buyers need films. Distributors need to fill their slate and documentary, and even if we are going through a challenging time, we are still part of that mixture. I am hoping that Sundans is the place where people will go to stock this year. ”
Bron is also repeating Ryan White’s “cum in the good light” about love, life and cancer. For White, which has premiered the last three doors in Sunndens, this will be the first time to demand distribution in Park City. The filmmaker said that there was no point in finding a deal for “Come Si Me in the Good Light” before the sundays.
“This is the type of film that people have to watch to understand completely,” says White. “I just knew that it was not a type of film where you would find a streamer or distributor who immediately throw money at you.”
White is carefully optimistic that the documents will be distributed.
He says, “I don’t have much expectations, because I do not want to sell the film, but just because I am a part of the documentary community, and I know that the market is difficult now.” I am managing my expectations, but I sincerely hope that once the distributor is in the theater, they will realize how big the film can play and how relevant it is. ”
So far, “One to One: John and Yoko” of Kevin McDonald has been sold – an Indie Sunndens document. Magnolia gained the North American rights of the film while Max gained streaming rights.
While many streamers including Max, Apple TV+ and Hulu have documents in the Sunndans 2025 lineups, Netflix has no one. Some people in the industry think that not inviting any Netflix original documentary in the fest was a bad step that was not politically suitable for the festival, and less to document the company’s commission keeping in mind the festival circuit. Funding may occur.
However, Eugene Hernandez, director of the Sundays, emphasizes that the festival is a equal opportunity area.
He further says, “The Netflix documentary is a premiere destination for full break, there is no doubt,” herandez says. “They have supported Sunndans, ecosystem and festival, and we respect and respect it. We are very excited to be able to show them this lineup. The second thing that I would say is that Sundans is a festival of search. The sundays makes place for search. This is fundamental to the mission of the organization. “
Bron says, “I honestly does not think whether Sundans pays attention to whether a film is from streammer or not.” “Surely, with limited slots and low theaters this year, he did not invite many of the best films. I also think that perhaps it is a bit better for the industry that the slots went to most distribution -seeking films as it will increase the frequent subsistence and success of the sundays.
Whether it is distribution or not, Tsiocos says that “it is important that everyone feels that there is a seat on the Sunndan table.”
In the theatrical market, the anti-Jagrit, orthodox documents are earning money, but for most parts, they will not be selected for festivals such as Sunndans.
Matt Walsh’s “Am I Rasician?” – A right -wing film that blows the diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiative – earned $ 12 million at the box office in 2024, making it the highest grossing film of the year. Morgan Neville’s “Peace by Peace” stood second with more than $ 9 million, but this year the remaining eight places in the top ten-earning docks list “Windicating Trump” and “In Jesus Thaters:” like conservatives and faith- Was full of based films. Miracle of the echoist.
Tsiocos says that Sunandan programmers want quality films and are not biased. He pointed to the document about Mit Romney (“Earthen”), Ronald Reagan (“Reagan”), and Dick Chenny (“The World Accident to Dick Chenny”), which were displayed in previous sunday celebrations. This year, the five-part documentary series of Barry Lewinson and Robert May “Bux County, USA”, which is about friends with anti-political beliefs, will undoubtedly lead to debate among the Sunndan audience.
But Amazon has recently paid more than $ 40 million for the Brett Ronner documentary about Melania Trump, threatening the future viability of liberal-dictators on corporate streaming services.
“In the documentary world I know that there is not a single person who is not afraid of such a clear trick to bias with the Trump administration and boot a canceled filmmaker,” by a doctor manufacturer Did not want to tell the name.
However, no one knows what will happen in Sunandans when it comes to documentary sales, according to internal sources, the existing self-distribution/service deal for Indy Dacus is unstable.
“It cannot run forever because the original point of every film begins with the manufacture of a work, but it is also a commercial offer,” says Bron. “Business, art and commerce are no different. Therefore, if there are obstacles in the widespread distribution of films in large numbers, then it will be philanthropy and other sources of support that cannot live forever. The market will have to go back to another direction at some point, but it cannot happen to the extent that everyone wants. But I think this will happen. ”
RJ cutterWho will be in Park City to provide Vangard Award to Julian Brave Nocat and Emily Kaisi, co-director of “sugarcane” this year.
“Distribution is cyclic,” he says, “We could not sell in 2009 (Anna Wintor Dock)” The September Issue “. Later, displayed in theaters and made Mint because it was a big hit that we are in a few extent in the history of distribution, but historically it is back, and it then New delivery routes and new delivery routes are emerging when it comes back.
