Congress '24 was one for the books! For the first time, the event was held on the African continent, bringing together about 600 attendees from 35 countries for a dynamic five-day experience in Marrakesh, Morocco. Packed with thought-provoking sessions, high-impact networking, and unforgettable social events, this year’s Congress focused on shining a light on the future of our industry, with a special emphasis on Africa’s growing role in science and factual storytelling.

2024 Highlights

• 26 Sessions tackling the biggest industry challenges and innovations
• 2 Ideas Salons connecting scientists with producers to foster new collaborations
• 8 Close Encounters of the Funding Kind connecting creators with key funders
• 260 One-on-One Speed Dating Meetings linking independent producers with global buyers
• Plus 3 unforgettable social events
  • A grand dinner at El-Badi Palace, hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco
  • An exclusive tour of Jacaranda Studios, hosted by Dune Films, a cutting-edge production facility in Morocco
  • A desert party under the stars, immersing attendees in Moroccan culture

Celebrating Excellence: The Buzzies Awards

15 awards were presented to 17 winners (with 2 ties) selected from 170 submissions across 20 countries, honoring the best in science and factual media and individual achievements. Dr. Michael Mosley was honored posthumously with the Lifetime Achievement Award, accepted in a heartfelt tribute by his wife, Clare Bailey Mosley. Other award winners include Faith Musembi (Rising Star of the Year), Noble Television (Diversity Leadership Award), the production team behind National Geographic’s natural history series 'Queens' (Mentor of the Year), and Planet Earth III - Heroes (Green Impact of the Year). To see the full list of winners, click here.

Industry Insights & Impact

Our incredible lineup of speakers and panelists addressed critical topics, including AI guardrails in production, funding solutions for independent creators, mental health in the industry, filmmaking in conflict zones, and six sessions dedicated to Africa’s storytelling landscape.

The event’s 33 session producers, of whom 63% were women, reinforced WCSFP’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Real Results for Attendees

115 projects were reviewed by international buyers through Speed Dating. These projects were chosen from nearly 1,000 applicants, highlighting the unmatched value of Speed Dating in connecting creators with key industry decision-makers.. Across Speed Dating and other networking opportunities, 69% of attendees reported that Congress helped them advance their projects and 74% found new production partners through the event, as reported in our post-Congress survey.

Thank You to Our Partners 

A huge thank you to our 2024 sponsors and partners for making this event possible. Our 2024 sponsors and partners included:

Host Sponsor the Ministry of Culture, Communication and Youth of the Kingdom of Morocco

Gold Sponsors Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Bellota Films, PBS International and NOVA

Silver Sponsors BBC Studios – Science Unit, bilibili, CICC, France TV and France TV Distribution, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, NHK, Terra Mater Studios, Jacaranda Studios and Dune Films 

Bronze Sponsors ARTE, British Pathé, ITV Studios, IMAX, ORF

Industry Partners Media Pros Africa, Screen Scotland, UniFrance

Media Partners Broadcast Intelligence, Documentary Business

Take a Look Back

Want to revisit the highlights of Congress ‘24? Click here to dive into our Photo Gallery and relive the moments that made this year unforgettable!

Plus stay tuned as we’ll be announcing the 2025 location and dates soon! We can’t wait to bring the community together again for another year of inspiring connections and groundbreaking collaborations.