Northern Film School

Studying and Making Documentaries at the Northern Film School

What Are Documentaries?

Documentaries have played an important role in filmmaking culture since the dawn of the moving image in the 1800s. They are hugely important in our understanding of our lives. They mirror our societies, reflecting the important and seemingly insignificant happenings, philosophies and perceived realities of our world. Documentary filmmakers record everything about our planet and help us reflect on the past, understand the present and consider the future. Most filmmakers have some contact with documentaries in their careers. At the Northern film School we seek to cultivate and inspire the new generation of Documentary filmmakers.

What Is the Documentary Industry?

Documentaries are an integral part of the Film and Broadcast industries worldwide. The many hours of documentary films and factual programmes produced each week makes it the biggest employer in the film & moving image industry. At some point in their future careers many of our graduates will not only enjoy working on documentaries but also earn their living in this sector, so we take the teaching of Documentary seriously at the Northern Film School.

What You Do Here?

Our students are guided and taught to professional standards by award-winning documentary filmmakers who continue to work as respected practitioners in the field. We don’t want students to just copy what’s out there already. Northern Film School students are expected to search out different and unusual stories that reflect today’s society. We expect our students to be creative and explore new ways of producing exciting documentary films to a very high standard. We also want our students’ documentaries to be seen by audiences and many Northern Film School students have screened their films at international film festivals.

How Do You Learn?

Practising filmmakers supervise the development of your documentary ideas throughout all the courses in the Northern Film School. In the first year of the BA (Hons) course every student is encouraged to develop and pitch their own documentary ideas, a panel choose the most innovative, creative and feasible proposals that then go into production with students forming their own production teams. Seminars are complimented by workshops, screenings and discussions. Annually students have the opportunity to attend the world famous Sheffield International Documentary Festival. As a Northern Film School Delegate you see premieres of the best international documentary films and network with the inspiring people involved at every stage of their production.

And When You finish?

You will have an understanding of the Documentary in our world today. You will graduate into an industry that employs other Northern Film School graduates. You will also be eligible to take part in the Northern Film School’s Alumni Production Scheme which encourages, enables and supports graduates who are starting out on their careers. Often Alumni productions are able to offer placements and experience for our undergraduates. You will be in a strong position to pursue your career in Documentaries.


The Filmmakers' MA BA (Hons) Animation BA (Hons) Film & Moving Image Production FdA Film & Television Production Short Courses & Workshops Documentary Staff Students Associates Alumni News Contact NFS About NFS Links & Partnerships Equipment & Facilities Festivals International	Studying and Making Documentaries at the Northern Film School What Are Documentaries? Documentaries have played an important role in filmmaking culture since the dawn of the moving image in the 1800s. They are hugely important in our understanding of our lives. They mirror our societies, reflecting the important and seemingly insignificant happenings, philosophies and perceived realities of our world. Documentary filmmakers record everything about our planet and help us reflect on the past, understand the present and consider the future. Most filmmakers have some contact with documentaries in their careers. At the Northern film School we seek to cultivate and inspire the new generation of Documentary filmmakers. What Is the Documentary Industry? Documentaries are an integral part of the Film and Broadcast industries worldwide. The many hours of documentary films and factual programmes produced each week makes it the biggest employer in the film & moving image industry. At some point in their future careers many of our graduates will not only enjoy working on documentaries but also earn their living in this sector, so we take the teaching of Documentary seriously at the Northern Film School. What You Do Here? Our students are guided and taught to professional standards by award-winning documentary filmmakers who continue to work as respected practitioners in the field. We don’t want students to just copy what’s out there already. Northern Film School students are expected to search out different and unusual stories that reflect today’s society. We expect our students to be creative and explore new ways of producing exciting documentary films to a very high standard. We also want our students’ documentaries to be seen by audiences and many Northern Film School students have screened their films at international film festivals. How Do You Learn? Practising filmmakers supervise the development of your documentary ideas throughout all the courses in the Northern Film School. In the first year of the BA (Hons) course every student is encouraged to develop and pitch their own documentary ideas, a panel choose the most innovative, creative and feasible proposals that then go into production with students forming their own production teams. Seminars are complimented by workshops, screenings and discussions. Annually students have the opportunity to attend the world famous Sheffield International Documentary Festival. As a Northern Film School Delegate you see premieres of the best international documentary films and network with the inspiring people involved at every stage of their production. And When You finish? You will have an understanding of the Documentary in our world today. You will graduate into an industry that employs other Northern Film School graduates. You will also be eligible to take part in the Northern Film School’s Alumni Production Scheme which encourages, enables and supports graduates who are starting out on their careers. Often Alumni productions are able to offer placements and experience for our undergraduates. You will be in a strong position to pursue your career in Documentaries.