Documentary Filmmaking Courses and Certifications

Film Courage

Breaking Into Documentary Filmmaking - Tips and Insights

1 review

Renowned documentarian Patrick Creadon shares invaluable insights on breaking into the industry, from on-set techniques to financial realities, offering aspiring filmmakers a comprehensive guide to success in documentary filmmaking.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 30 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Film Courage

Documentary Filmmaking Masterclass - Tips and Techniques

1 review

Acclaimed documentarian Kevin Knoblock shares insights on funding, subject selection, interviewing techniques, and evolving trends in documentary filmmaking, offering valuable tips for aspiring filmmakers.

• YouTube
• 44 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Making a Short Documentary

58 ratings at CreativeLive

Making a Short Documentary with Ed Kashi, Julie Winokur

• CreativeLive
• 10 hours 41 minutes
• On-Demand
• Paid Course

Tehachapi

Explore the transformative power of art in a supermax prison through JR's documentary, witnessing stories of hope, redemption, and the potential for human change.

• MasterClass
• 1 hour 32 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

Explore Ken Burns' documentary filmmaking techniques, from research and storytelling to visual composition and editing, to create compelling narratives that bring history to life.

• MasterClass
• 4 hours 56 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

Documentary Filmmaking with Soul

1282 ratings at Udemy

How to Create a Modern, Cinematic, Story-Driven Documentary from Start to Finish- An Emmy Award-winning approach!

• Udemy
• 1 hour 49 minutes
• On-Demand
• Paid Course

Microcredential

Create and Finance a Short Documentary Film

6 ratings at Coursera

Master visual storytelling, hands-on documentary creation, and professional pitch techniques to independently produce and finance compelling short films.

• Coursera
• 4 weeks, 10 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Paid Course
• 3 courses

Film Documentaries: Write, Film & Edit A Short Documentary

Master documentary filmmaking from concept to completion with hands-on guidance from an experienced director who's worked with Academy Award nominees.

• Coursera
• 8 hours 20 minutes
• On-Demand
• Paid Course

Advanced Videography: Documentary and Promo Editing

Master documentary promo creation through professional interview setups, cinematic B-roll techniques, and storytelling that blends interviews with compelling visuals for impactful results.

• Coursera
• 4 hours 46 minutes
• On-Demand
• Paid Course

Shooting Documentary Short Films (Self-Paced)

Learn how to spot powerful real-world stories and turn them into compelling documentary short films.

• CourseHorse
• On-Demand
• $24.00

Documentary Filmmaking Step by Step - How to get it made

781 ratings at Udemy

From a 3-time Sundance alum, learn to make documentary films and videos from production to distribution on any budget

• Udemy
• 4 hours 44 minutes
• On-Demand
• Paid Course

Educational Documentaries Collection for Classroom Learning

Explore diverse educational documentaries covering civics, nature, social issues, design, and child development through Netflix's free classroom collection.

• YouTube
• 1 day 4 hours 34 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Introduction to Documentary Video Storytelling

125 ratings at LinkedIn Learning

Learn about the history and importance of documentary filmmaking. Explore the narrative building blocks of documentaries, with examples of nonfiction filmmaking over 120 years.

• LinkedIn Learning
• 1 hour 55 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

Learning Documentary Video: 1 Planning and Pre-production

86 ratings at LinkedIn Learning

This course—the first in a three-course series—shows how to develop your documentary idea into a story, pitch your idea, and plan for production.

• LinkedIn Learning
• 1 hour 38 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available

Learning Documentary Video: 2 Production

39 ratings at LinkedIn Learning

This course—the second in a three-course series—shows how to produce and direct your documentary including how to interview subjects, capture observational scenes, and more.

• LinkedIn Learning
• 1 hour 44 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Trial Available