The Grierson Trust

12/06/2024

This week the team & New Entrant trainees are heading to Sheffield DocFest!

We're so looking forward to introducing our 12 budding doc-makers to the industry📹

Join us on Fri 14 June, 6pm at Tamper Sellers Wheel🔗https://www.sheffdocfest.com/composition/grierson-trust-drinks

03/06/2024

Today our trainees kick-stated the online training week with a surprise visit from no other than Louis Theroux! 📺

Huge thanks to Louis for taking time out of his busy schedule to inspire the trainees, giving them invaluable advice and top tips for starting their documentary careers 💪

There’s a stellar line up of speakers, workshops and activities this week – all culminating in industry panels for our 12 trainees to practice their pitching skills to at the end.

Grierson DocLab: New Entrants is run in association with the The Rank Foundationfoundation and core industry sponsors Banijay UK ✨

30/05/2024

The deadline is tomorrow! ⚠️

Submit your documentaries to the 2024 awards by midnight Fri 31 May to still be in with the chance of winning a British Documentary Award this year 🏆

There are 15 categories to choose from, including dedicated categories for Students and Short documentary filmmakers!

Fnd out more and enter 🔗 https://bit.ly/3Iy2qSa

24/05/2024

Last night we gathered from across all of our different training programmes for a networking event with supporters of the programmes ❤️

The New Entrant, Editor, Unscripted Editor, Production Manager and Archive Producer cohorts were all represented – it was such a joy to have so much talent from different areas of the documentary and factual sector in the room 📺

Big thanks to for being top hosts, as ever!


[Image description: a collection of images of Grierson DocLab Alumni, Grierson staff, talent managers, production company reps, and other industry guests networking on the Picture Shop rooftop bar in Soho, London.]

23/05/2024

Not long to go until the close for entries! 🏆

Get your and factual programmes submitted & completed across 15 categories by Friday 31 May 2024 📅

Enter today! 🔗 https://bit.ly/3Iy2qSa

Celebrating the very best of the documentary genre from the UK and abroad, are in association with All3Media 💫

22/05/2024

Last week our New Entrant trainees headed to the Peak District for the first part of their documentary training – the residential led expertly as ever by Carol Nahra!

Along with the Grierson training team, the group spent time getting to know one another, learning the foundations of the documentary industry, formats and genre as well as practising a bit of pitching.

We were lucky to have industry speakers join the cohort via Zoom too! Big thanks to…

🌟Will Rowson from Dragonfly North
🌟Robbie Hunter – Grierson Doclab Alumni – who works in Development at Renowned Films
🌟Spencer Kelley and Dee Kahlon from The Garden taking the group through fixed rig shows
🌟Dora Baker – Assistant Producer on Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland

Going through case studies, listening to people working at production companies and getting top tips from those in the sector truly brings their training to life – we could not do the work we do without you!

But the learning isn’t over for our group of 12. The first week of June will see them gather online for an intensive week of training, where they’ll have more speaker sessions, do more team exercises and even pitch their own documentary idea to a panel of industry representatives 🎥

We can’t wait to see how this talented group develop in the coming months 💙

Grierson DocLab: New Entrants is run in association with the The Rank Foundation and core industry sponsors Banijay ✨

21/05/2024

Not sure about how to enter the ? 🤔

You can always check out our FAQ page, as well as our ‘How To’ tutorials to help guide you through the process.

Still stuck? Or have a question you don't think is covered? Feel free to reach out at [email protected] so we can help!

Visit the website for more info 🔗 https://bit.ly/4bIuHlp

17/05/2024

🚨 The countdown is on!

There are only 14 days left to submit your entries for the 🏆

Don't miss the opportunity to enter before the deadline on Fri 31 May!

Find out more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Iy2qSa

09/05/2024

Meet the 2024 New Entrants group! ✨

12 trainees have been selected for this year’s programme of intensive training, a trip to Sheffield DocFest mentoring, placements at leading UK production companies and more 📹

Grierson DocLab: New Entrants is run in association with the The Rank Foundation and core industry sponsors Banijay 🙏

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to the group and send a huge thank you to the production companies already signed up to offer bursary-supported placements, including: BBC Studios, Blast! Films, Box to Box Films, Dorothy Street Pictures, Dragonfly TV, Fulwell 73 Productions, Lightbox, KEO Films, Minnow Films, Nutopia, Raw TV, Rogan Productions, The Garden, True North, TwentyTwenty, Wall to Wall, Wise Owl Films (part of All3Media), and Wonderhood Studios.

And thank you to our supporters: Blueberry Creative Consultants Clear Cut Pictures Talented People 👏

Without our sponsors, supporters & industry colleagues bolstering the programme, we would not be able to work with young documentary enthusiasts to nurture their talent & factual TV careers 🎬

Read more about the group https://bit.ly/4buSq8C

If you would like to support this cohort with a mentorship, placement, or in another way, please email [email protected]

03/05/2024

This week the Archive Producer trainees have been at the residential portion of their training 📺

With the beautiful Peak District backdrop, they’ve recapped their learnings from the online training week, watched docs, bonded over country walks and more.

Big thanks to the speakers who Zoomed into the residential to deliver fantastic sessions to solidify our trainees’ learning – Archive Producers…

👏James Hunt
👏John Smith
👏Jo Stones
👏Jo Griffin

Each gave helpful insights, anecdotes and tips to help guide our trainees as they develop their roles in the world of documentary archive.

The trainees will now undergo the placement and mentor-matching process to solidify all their learning to become the archive producers of the future 🔮

Huge thanks to collaborators Amazon Prime Video Pathway for supporting Archive Producers!

23/04/2024

Last week our first group of trainees started their intensive online training programme

Run in collaboration with Amazon Prime Video Pathway, the training week brought trainees together for an overview of everything documentary and archive, with a fantastic array of speakers to chat through case studies and provide invaluable insight to help the group on their training journey to becoming the Archive Producers of the future.

We would like to extend huge thanks to…

👏 Director, Kevin Macdonald
👏 Beatrice Read for outlining two case studies
👏 Obi Adumekwe from Associated Press
👏 Carol Nahra for an intro to the docs industry
👏 Donna Taberer and Anna Mayers from the Prime Video Pathway team for meeting the trainees
👏 Fozia Khan and Harjeet Chhokar from Prome’s Unscripted team
👏 Archive Producer Miriam Walsh on workflows & research
👏 Jenny Coan from Kino Library
👏 Archive Producer Rebecca Hickie on BBC Archives
👏 Sonia Mullett and Andi Beckham from Getty Images
👏 Prash Naik from Creator Councils
👏 Producer, George Chignell
👏 Archive Producer, Kalbir Dhillon
👏 Assistant Editor, Sam Claverley
👏 Producer, Simon Chinn & Editor, Ed Perkins
👏 Rowan Bray from Clear Cut Pictures
👏 Amanda Huntley from Huntley Archives
👏 Editor/Director & Grierson Trustee Andy Worboys

And of course, a massive thanks to the lead trainer, Sam Dwyer for guiding the trainees and speakers through the week expertly.

The trainees now have just one week to reflect on all their online training, ready to head to Buxton for the residential portion of the programme 📺

They can expect lots of team building, watching docs and of course more fantastic sessions and speakers 🔊

Stay tuned for more updates on the group in the coming weeks!

https://griersontrust.org/grierson-doclab/archive-producers-2023

16/04/2024

Meet our Archive Producer trainees 🎞️

We are happy to reveal the selected trainees for our latest Grierson DocLab training programme, run in collaboration with Prime Video Pathway.

Hailing from Glasgow to Brighton via Liverpool, each trainee brings their documentary production experience and unique point of view to the programme.

The first day of training kicked off just yesterday. With an impressive and inspiring line-up of speakers ahead of them, plus residential training, archive visits and work placements, the trainees are set to immerse themselves in the growing world of archive-based documentary productions.

See the group 🔗 https://bit.ly/4aF6pbs

is run in collaboration with Amazon Prime Video Pathway

26/03/2024

2023 New Entrant trainee Coleen completed her work placement at Box To Box Films

Read about her experience working as a Researcher on a show about 6 Nations rugby 🏉 https://griersontrust.org/about-us/news/coleen-brennan-placement

Thank you for supporting DocLab, Box to Box!

15/03/2024

The 2024 – in association with All3media international – are officially open for entries 🏆

Submit your & across 15 categories.

Deadline: Fri 31 May 2024 💫

Categories are…

ENVY Post Production Best Single Documentary – Domestic
Best Single Documentary – International
Televisual Best Current Affairs Documentary
Best Arts Documentary
Sky Best Music Documentary
Broadcast Sport Best Sports Documentary
Best History Documentary
Best Science Documentary
Best Natural History or Environmental Documentary
Channel 4 Best Popular Culture Documentary
Best Cinema Documentary
Netflix Best Documentary Series
Fulwell 73 Productions Best Documentary Short
All3Media Best Student Documentary
Best Documentary Presenter

Find out more & enter 🔗 https://bit.ly/3Iy2qSa

Thank you to our sponsors and supporters.

BBC Pictureshop

Celebrating the best of documentary and factual filmmaking through the Grierson Awards and Grierson DocLab training.

12/03/2024

Our Unscripted Editing trainees reflect on their Netflix supported training week from last month 💭

Find out how they rose to the editing challenge set over the week and which industry speakers & sessions inspired them ✨

🔗 https://griersontrust.org/about-us/news/unscripted-editing-training-highlights

28/02/2024

The University of Stirling Archivist introduces two Stirling-born filmmakers who were key figures in the evolution of cinema in the twentieth century. John Grierson (1898-1972) was known as ‘the father of documentary film’ and Norman McLaren (1914-1987) was an award-winning animator and experime...

23/02/2024

📣 Attention documentary lovers!

Today’s your last chance to apply to this year’s . Applications close at 5pm tonight!

If you are UK-based, aged 18-25, and passionate about factual film & TV, then get your application in now ⬇️

https://bit.ly/48moni1

20/02/2024

Just a few more days left to apply to !

Do you love documentaries but don’t have the connections, experience or networks to secure work in the industry? This programme could be what you’re looking for.

We’re seeking UK-based 18-25 year olds with little to no experience in the industry who are passionate about the factual TV genre and want to pursue working in the sector 📺

12 successful trainees will get intensive training, a bursary-supported work placement, a mentor, a trip to Sheffield DocFest and more ✅

We especially welcome applications from those under-represented in the industry. So if you’re disabled, from an ethnic minority background, the LGBTQ+ community, an area with less screen industry opportunities, a lower socio-economic background, or other under-represented group, we’d love to hear from you.

Deadline this Friday 23 February at 5pm.

Apply today! ⬇

19/02/2024

trainee Nerea spent her placement at HiddenLight 📽️

Working across production & development, she built on her pitching knowledge from the training week.

Thank you, HiddenLight for supporting DocLab 💙

Read more ➡️ https://griersontrust.org/about-us/news/nerea-zambrano-placement

To get the chance to secure bursary-supported placements like Nerea, don't forget to get your applications to Grierson DocLab training in by Friday 23 February at 5pm!

16/02/2024

We loved meeting the young film enthusiasts at the BFI Future Film Festival Careers Marketplace yesterday! 📹

Huge thanks to BFI Film Academy & BFI for organising the event, and for giving our Director of Training Programmes, Yen Yau the chance to hop onto their Instagram live to talk about Grierson DocLab and opportunities for working in docs and factual TV (visit their profile to watch for yourself… 📺 )

Remember, applications for this years’ Grierson DocLab new entrant training programme close next Friday 23 February at 5pm!

Head to our website to find out more and apply 🔗 https://bit.ly/4a9QAu4

13/02/2024

Last night our gathered on Zoom for a panel talk from the wonderful documentary directors Abi Mowbray, Poppy Begum and Emily Turner 💙

They discussed the challenges they each faced to become directors and shared insights on navigating a career in docs/factual TV.

Huge thanks for lending your time, insight and experience to our alumni network!

08/02/2024

Yesterday we attended the RTS Futures Careers Fair in London and the day absolutely flew by!

It was brilliant to meet so many people keen to forge a career in the screen industries – and of course in particular those who dream of working in documentary 🎬

If you came to speak to the team yesterday to learn more about Grierson DocLab, we hope we have piqued your interest. Those of you who fit the 18-25 age bracket for the new entrant training programme, don’t forget to get your applications in by Friday 23 February at 5pm.

Find out more and apply: https://bit.ly/3t66DbM

Thank you to the team Royal Television Society RTS Futures for organising such a great event.

06/02/2024

We'll be at the RTS Futures Careers Fair tomorrow!

Come along to meet the team and find out more about our new entrant training programme, which offers 12 trainees the training, paid work experience & connections needed to kick start a career in 📹

Do you want to work in TV?

On Wednesday 7 February you can find us at the Careers Fair at the Business Design Centre

With 45+ Exhibitors, a CV Clinic & Ask Me Anything area + sessions from industry pros, this is not one to miss!
https://rts.org.uk/event/rts-futures-careers-fair-2024

05/02/2024

Last week we were joined by our Grierson DocLab In Focus: Unscripted Editing trainees at Netflix offices in London to kick start their training journey!

The group hit the ground running with an amazing mix of industry speakers and an editing exercise to work on throughout. The editing task was intended to challenge the trainees, who all applied the tips and tricks they gleaned from each session to their respective cuts 🎞

We would like to extend a massive thank you to every one of the guest speakers who came along to teach and inspire the group…

- Stephen Yemoh, Executive Producer, Studio Lambert
- Jordan Gitahi, Editor
- Gareth Hicks, Editor
- Chris Bird – Director/Editor
- Nick Walker, Exec Producer/Showrunner, Netflix
- Ben Kelly and Daisy Lilley, Directors in the Unscripted team, Netflix
- Stephen Hunt, Head of Production, Unscripted, Studio Lambert
- Nigel Austin, Post Lead Editor and Post-Production Consultant, Lifted Entertainment
- Gabe Turner, Producer/Director and Ben Turner, Producer/Director and founding partners of Fulwell 73 Productions
- Anna Price, Editor
- Luke Macfarlane, Manager, Unscripted at Netflix

And thank you to our course leader, Claire Ferguson for convening the sessions and skilfully coaching the trainees through their editing challenge, Matt Tegg and the Post-Production team at Netflix for hosting the training, and lastly, Alison Small for the impromptu drinks on our final evening 🥂

We’ll now be busy matching each trainee with a mentor to help with the next steps into the world of unscripted, as well as aligning available placements with the right candidates for the job 💪

is run in partnership with Netflix.

05/02/2024

Dhillon from the 2023 core cohort did one of his production company placements at Firecrest Films 🔥

Read all about what he got up to & about screening his own short films at festivals ➡️ https://griersontrust.org/about-us/news/dhillon-clarke-placement

Don't forget to apply for the 2024 DocLab by 23 Feb!

01/02/2024

The deadline to apply for our programme - run in collaboration with Amazon Prime Video Pathway - is tomorrow, Friday 2 February at 5pm!

No late applications will be accepted. Don't miss it!

Any questions, email [email protected]

31/01/2024

Just two days left to apply! ⬇️

The Grierson Trust opens applications for a new training programme – in collaboration with Prime Video Pathway – for those with strong ambitions to become archive producers for documentary and factual programmes, the latest in its prestigious Grierson DocLab In Focus talent development initiativ...

30/01/2024

Miss our Ask Our Alumni webinar last week? 💻

Don't worry, the recording is now available to watch!

Head to our website to see past trainees answer your questions ▶️ https://griersontrust.org/about-us/news/ask-our-alumni-webinar-2024

Deadline for applications is Friday 23 February!

29/01/2024

Each training programme we run includes mentors for every participant 🌟

As it's , we checked in with our trainees and their mentors to get a sense of how each party has benefitted from the mentoring process 👥

🔗 https://griersontrust.org/about-us/news/power-of-mentoring

24/01/2024

Calling all aspiring Archive Producers! 📺

Do you love documentaries? Have 2-3 year’s work experience in the industry and now want to specialise?

Get the training, paid production company work experience on an archive documentary, mentoring and networks you need to step into archive producing.

Apply for Archive Producers – in collaboration with Amazon Prime Video Pathway.

Deadline 2 February 2024. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3QOZdkP

The Grierson Trust opens applications for a new training programme – in collaboration with Prime Video Pathway – for those with strong ambitions to become archive producers for documentary and factual programmes, the latest in its prestigious Grierson DocLab In Focus talent development initiativ...