Documentary 101

Documentary 101 will take participants through the journey of creating a short documentary film, as well as looking at the different types of documentaries and the ethics of factual filmmaking.

You will produce your own 3-5 minute documentary based on the story of a single interviewee. Week-to-week, participants will be taken through the pre-production phase, onto production where you will direct and shoot your own interview, through to the final edit. The films produced will be screened at Broadway as part of a celebratory premiere. Each participant will be supported to source their own documentary interviewee in the first weeks of the course. The film may consist of a combination of interview footage and B Roll constructed of photographs, video etc. 

As well as creating a film, as you journey through the process, you'll learn about the history of documentary filmmaking and the different styles of factual filmmaking. 

Week 1: Ice Breaker and Films to Inspire

Week 2: Ethics and Developing Access

Week 3: Poetic, Expository and Observational Documentaries

Week 4: Participatory, Reflexive and Performative Documentaries

Week 5: Documentary Storytelling

Week 6: Editing for Documentaries

Week 7: Production and Post-Production Problem Solving

Week 8: Screening of Films

Tutor: Keith Allott 

Duration: 9 weeks (8 teaching weeks + final networking session TBC

When: Tuesday evenings from Tuesday 6 October - 24 Nov 2026, 6:30–9pm

Price: £135 full / £105 members & concessions / £85 under 25s