How the partnership between Suspilne Ukraine and ARTE works and what opportunities it creates for Ukrainian documentary filmmakers were discussed during the panel “Co-production Without Borders” at DOCU/PRO, the industry platform of the 23rd International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Docudays UA. The event took place in Kyiv on June 6.
The discussion featured Serhii Nedzelskyi, Director of the Co-production and External Production Department at Suspilne Ukraine; Alexandre Marionneau, Head of International Co-productions in the Society and Culture Department at ARTE France; and Daria Bassel, Programme Director of the International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Docudays UA.
“We signed a partnership agreement with ARTE in December last year, and within just six months we had moved on to practical cooperation. We currently have four projects that we plan to commission, and three of them already have French co-producers. We plan to present one of these projects to ARTE GEIE and another to ARTE France,” said Serhii Nedzelskyi.
Alexandre Marionneau stressed that the partnership gives Ukrainian creators access to ARTE’s extensive network and international partners.
“This is highly beneficial and creates many opportunities for filmmakers. It allows them to first gain access to the ARTE ecosystem through ARTE Strasbourg and then present their stories directly to French or German partners. It is truly an excellent first step,” he said.
Serhii Nedzelskyi also spoke about how Suspilne Ukraine’s approach to co-production is evolving.
“For the past three years, we have worked through a co-production pitching system, selecting documentary projects for joint production. This year, we are introducing an additional mechanism — direct commissioning without pitchings. Projects will still be reviewed by a content committee, which will make decisions on whether contracts are signed,” said Serhii Nedzelskyi.
The participants also discussed what kinds of stories have the greatest potential for international co-production.
“If a story is very local and does not resonate with audiences across Europe, it is difficult to find partners for it. But if it is a geopolitical story that helps people understand what is happening and is relevant to audiences in at least two partner countries, then it becomes something we pay attention to,” explained Serhii Nedzelskyi, Director of the Co-production and External Production Department at Suspilne Ukraine.
The speakers also discussed opportunities available through the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). In particular, they highlighted international documentary pitching forums where public service media organisations can find co-production partners, secure pre-sales, and attract additional funding.
“The EBU is a great way to present your project to people who may eventually acquire it or join it as co-producers,” said Alexandre Marionneau.
For reference, Suspilne Ukraine has been developing co-production partnerships with Ukrainian and international partners, supporting the creation of documentary, cultural, and socially significant projects. In 2023, the broadcaster launched co-production pitchings to select projects for joint production. In 2025, Suspilne Ukraine signed a partnership agreement with ARTE, one of Europe’s leading public service media organisations and one of the continent’s largest commissioners of documentary content.
DOCU/PRO is the industry platform of the International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Docudays UA. It was created to promote Ukrainian documentary filmmaking, support the Ukrainian film community, and foster connections with international documentary film professionals. Suspilne Ukraine is an information partner of the 23rd International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Docudays UA and is represented in a number of programme events. The full DOCU/PRO programme is available here.
Suspilne Ukraine is an independent media company with a strong presence across all platforms: the TV channels Pershyi, Suspilne Kultura, Suspilne Sport, and a national network of local channels; the radio stations Ukrainske Radio, Radio Promin, Radio Kultura, Radiotochka. Find only verified news on suspilne.media, as well as on our national and local digital platforms. We broadcast in minority languages, represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest, develop the children’s platform Brobaks, and train media professionals through the Public Media Academy. Our Suspilne Mediateka platform offers unique video and audio archives dating from the 1920s to today. Defending freedom in Ukraine.
Photographed by Valeriia Mezentseva
