CANNES: Reed Midem's two-day documentary market that precedes the annual MipTV in sunny Cannes this weekend continues to prosper with an increasing presence over preceding years.

The total companies registered for the event have gone up from 357 in 2004 to 374, a five per cent increase, while the total companies represented too has gone up from 53 last year to 59 last year. The total number of participants, say officials at the Noga Hilton Hotel on the Croissette, where the market is held, has also registered an increase - from 579 in 2004 to 679 this year, a rise of 17 per cent.

Among the first-time companies at the market this year are Argentina, Estonia, Iceland, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, New Zealand, Ukraine and Vietnam.

The top 10 programmes listed at the MIPDOC, according to officials, have come from France, USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Australia, Spain and the Netherlands.

POPE JOHN PAUL II, IRAQ WAR, OSAMA HOT TOPICS

Hot shows this year revolve around Pope John Paul II, the Iraq war, Osama bin Laden, Hitler, the environment and animal life. History and civilisation have the most documentaries, comprising a whopping 20 per cent of the whole. A significant 18 per cent of the documentaries presented focus on current affairs, 14 per cent on art, music and culture, nine per cent on science and knowledge. Eight per cent of the shows revolve around nature and wildlife. The number of programmes presented too has gone up to 1,053 from 1,031 last year, while the number of new programmes this year is 599, as against 580 last year.