WHAT: An intensive, in-person short course (full-time for the first 3 weeks, more flexible for the final 3 weeks) in which an international body of students will complete a documentary short film.

WHERE: In person. UCL East, Marshgate Building, 7 Sidings St, London E20 2AE & occasionally central London. 

WHO: Run by UCL tutor and professional filmmaker, Katharine Round.

WHEN: 6 weeks, Monday 8^th June – 17^th July 2026 (+ 1 week extra optional edit time)

COMMITMENT: Weeks 1-3: 10 AM – 5 PM. Weeks 4-6: flexible.

WHAT YOU GET: 3 weeks contact time with tutors, filmmakers and an edit tutor. A thorough grounding in what it takes to make a documentary, both in theory and practice, 6 weeks of full access to a camera kit, and access to edit software and edit rooms.

HOW MUCH: General: £2,190.00 | Concession/Student: £2,040.00 | UCL Student: £1,970.00

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP: Monday, 11th May 2026

Please note - we accept sign-ups on a rolling basis, and this course will likely be full by this date. Unfortunately, we cannot accept payments made in instalments. If you wish to discuss reserving a spot, please email Beth at b.privitera@ucl.ac.uk

BURSARIES: This course offers a limited number of bursaries. Please read the information on our bursaries page. The deadline to apply for a bursary is Friday, 20th March.

AGES: Strictly 18+

Course Description

Want to make a documentary but don’t know where to start? Or do you have experience, but want hands-on guidance through the process of making your short documentary? This intensive, practice-led summer school led by acclaimed documentary makers Katharine Round and Penny Woolcock gives you the practical, critical and theoretical skills to make your film.

 

In this immersive course, taught across our UCL East and central London Bloomsbury campus, you will complete a 5-10 minute self-shot documentary from start to finish. You will be encouraged and supported to discover and express your own response to the world around you, explore authorship, form, character, emotion, and much more.

 

For the first three weeks, the course is full-time face-to-face teaching, Monday to Friday. You will go through a series of practical exercises to build the technical and analytical skills needed to complete a documentary film project: to produce, direct, shoot and edit. In addition, we look at the art of filmmaking, and students have the chance to learn from some of the most respected names in the industry through several guest lectures.

 

You will then be guided over the final 3 weeks to complete your film with professional camera and sound equipment, provided for the duration of the course.  During this period, you will also benefit from access to UCL’s editing suite. The required commitment following the core course teaching is a one-on-one meeting in weeks four and five with the course tutors to support the making of your film. These meetings can be done in person or remotely. In week six,  you will screen your rough cut. Finally, on the last day, all participants see their work on the big screen.

 

Throughout the Summer Film School, participants will be challenged to experiment with their voice and to start or invigorate their artistic filmmaking practice while receiving structure and support to guide them through completing a project. Now in its 8th year, this renowned summer course has helped launch the careers of many emerging filmmakers, with films developed and created on the course selected for festivals worldwide. Previous participants have described the course as “a life-changing experience” and “one of the best things I’ve ever done”.

 

You will be provided with a camera and sound equipment for the duration of the course. Please note you will need to bring two external hard drives with you.