Intro to Documentary Certificate

This documentary filmmaking course provides you with all the information you need to get your first documentary made. It focuses on the challenges that first-time documentary filmmakers are up against and provides practical strategies that enable you to get to the finish line.

You can apply for the course with a project already in development, but this is not a prerequisite. The week is used for project consultations as well as group work that will help you to move your project forward. The course includes documentary development, pitching, paperwork, budgets, production, directing and post-production. Case studies are used to explain different production strategies and the course culminates in pitching techniques for project presentations.

In addition to your project work, we offer practical advice on thinking through a documentary film career, with an emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach and strategies for making, presenting and distributing in a wide variety of formats in order to ensure your success.

• Gain an intensive overview of the documentary industry, including festivals, broadcasters and funding bodies
• Skills in researching “the story”, producing and conceptualising, scriptwriting, defining your audience and finding your key team
• You are given example documents, including treatments, release forms, schedules and permissions
• Insight into budgeting – crew size, camera format, sound set-up, length of shoot and postproduction – and how to balance practical and artistic considerations.
• How to film an interview discreetly, ethically and safely
• Post-production needs of your documentary, from viewing and logging footage to producing a finished film ready for distribution
• Exhibition, distribution and broadcast strategies are discussed with a range of case studies from traditional TV documentaries to new media platforms.

Minimum age 18.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS (For International Students)

To access the course content and understand the technical filmmaking terminology used when delivering our courses, all applicants must be able to read, write, speak and understand English to a B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. The best way to find out your CEFR level is to take a well-designed standardised test. Most common English assessment tests now provide the CEFR equivalency. If you have questions about our English language requirement, please feel free to email the Short Courses team.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

For in depth Visa information please visit our Visa page.

To apply online please click on the course date below.

• 21 September 2026 - 25 September 2026
  Course Fee: £ 695
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