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? Our intensive, practice-led summer school led by acclaimed documentary makers Katharine Round gives you the practical, critical and theoretical skills to make your film.

In this immersive, East and central London-based course, 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.

Course Description

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.

Once outfitted with the skills they need, participants will go out and make their film with professional camera and sound equipment, provided for the duration of the course. Students will also benefit from access to UCL’s advanced editing suites. The required commitment following the core course teaching is two one-on-one meetings 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 the last week of the course students screen their rough cut. Finally on the last day there is a screening where students can share their work on the big screen.

Through the Summer Film School, students 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. Previous students have described the course as “a life changing experience” and “one of the best things I’ve ever done”.

Students will be provided with camera and sound equipment for the duration of the course. Please note students will need to bring two external hard-drives with them.