IMZ at Sunny Side of the Doc 2025

At this year’s Sunny Side of the Doc, the IMZ hosted a panel and proudly presented its Special Prize as part of the Arts & Entertainment Pitch, celebrating excellence in storytelling at the intersection of music, and film.

The winning pitch, "Leonard Cohen: Behind the Iron Curtain", emerged as a standout among a strong selection of projects. Not only did it receive the IMZ Special Prize, but it also took home the overall Arts & Entertainment Pitch Award, marking a double victory for this compelling documentary.

A documentary built around previously unseen archival footage from US television, "Leonard Cohen: Behind the Iron Curtain" recounts the story of Cohen’s 1985 concert in Poland and the profound influence his music had on the spirit of resistance that contributed to the fall of communism.

Alongside the pitch sessions, the IMZ also hosted a dedicated panel discussion, bringing together representatives from public broadcasters to examine the evolving role of cultural and performing arts programming in today's shifting media landscape. Moderated by Silvia De Felice, Commissioning Editor at RAI – Radiotelevisione Italiana (Italy), the conversation explored the criteria and processes for content selection, the delicate balance between educational and entertainment values, and the ongoing challenges faced by broadcasters.

The panel featured Sharon Nuni, Head of Documentaries, Arts and Culture at ORF – Austrian Broadcasting Corporation; Ali Delici, Commissioning Editor (Arts Department) at ARTE France; and Daniel Gorjão, Head of Performing Arts at RTP / Rádio e Televisão de Portugal.

Together, they explored how public service media are adapting to evolving audience behaviours and technological shifts while continuing to serve the public interest.