Sheffield Doc/Fest’s MeetMarket event has helped raise £27m for new projects since 2006 and has generated the most funds to date in 2012.

The UK festival launched MeetMarket in 2006, offering individual pitching sessions for makers of documentary and digital content.

A total of £27m has been raised for 369 projects from 35 countries at 5,900 one-to-one meetings.

MeetMarket titles have won at Sundance, Tribeca, IDFA, Hot Docs and Sheffield Doc/Fest.

They include 5 Broken Cameras, first pitched at MeetMarket in 2010, which went on to win the IDFA Special Jury 2011, the World Cinema Directing Award at Sundance and Sheffield Doc/Fest Audience Award in 2012.

This year has been the most successful to date, raising a projected £7m, averaging £107,692 per title, with 70% of projects striking a deal.

A total of 239 buyers attended including distributors and sales agents (15.5%); commissioners, buyers, financiers, investors and film funds (40.7%); producers and executive producers  (24.9%); directors, filmmakers and creatives (11.2%); crowdfunding platforms, mentors, advisers and consultants (7.7%).

Speaking about the release of a report, titled MeetMarket: the First Seven Years, marketplace director Charlie Phillips said: “This report shows the substantial impact that MeetMarket has had on the international documentary industry.

“Without it, lots of films and TV programme simply wouldn’t have got made and been seen by audiences. We’re delighted to be helping filmmakers and keeping documentary-making sustainable.”

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