FOR DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS

The Pursuit of Truth.

Craft non-fiction stories that illuminate, challenge, and capture the human experience.

Documentary Courses and Events - Registration Closing Soon!
Register by 1/12
Self-Paced Course

Documentary Filmmaking: Core Elements

Instructor: Patrick Shen

Documentary Filmmaking: Core Elements

Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Patrick Shen
You have an idea for a documentary film, but now you want an expert in the field to help guide you as you take the next step. In this eight-week self-paced course, you will learn how to move from concept through post-production with a documentary film. Along the way, you will develop a compelling proposal for potential funders of your project and get feedback on your work from a Sundance Collab Advisor.
Jan15
Spotlight
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)

Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP

With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi

Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP

January 15, 2026
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi
Celebrated filmmaker Laura Poitras joins Sundance Collab for a live, online conversation about her explosive new documentary COVER-UP. This hour-long conversation will conclude with an audience Q&A, where attendees will have the opportunity to ask Poitras questions about her extraordinary new work. Don’t miss this chance to learn from Laura Poitras, an honoree of the Academy, BAFTA, DGA, Emmy, Peabody, and Independent Spirit Awards.
Recently Added Documentary Courses and Events
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS

With: Mohammadreza Eyni and 2 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS

With: Mohammadreza Eyni, Sara Khaki and Soheil Rezayazdi
Jan15
Spotlight
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)

Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP

With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi

Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP

January 15, 2026
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi
Celebrated filmmaker Laura Poitras joins Sundance Collab for a live, online conversation about her explosive new documentary COVER-UP. This hour-long conversation will conclude with an audience Q&A, where attendees will have the opportunity to ask Poitras questions about her extraordinary new work. Don’t miss this chance to learn from Laura Poitras, an honoree of the Academy, BAFTA, DGA, Emmy, Peabody, and Independent Spirit Awards.
Self-Paced Course

Scripting and Pitching Your Documentary

With: Mark Monroe and Xan Aranda

Scripting and Pitching Your Documentary

Beginner to Intermediate
With: Mark Monroe and Xan Aranda
In this four-week course, Mark Monroe reveals the strategic art of shaping hundreds of hours of raw footage into compelling cinema. This course builds upon a previous Sundance Collab Master Class and features exclusive insights and conversations with established documentary storytellers Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Piece By Piece), Geeta Gandbhir (The Perfect Neighbor), and Kavery Kaul (The Bengali).
Event Recording

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Ignite Program

With: Samina Saifee and 3 more

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Ignite Program

With: Samina Saifee, Kat Schulze, Toby Brooks and Katherine Street
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SABBATH QUEEN

With: Sandi DuBowski and 5 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SABBATH QUEEN

With: Sandi DuBowski, Francisco Bello, ACE, Jeremy Stulberg, ACE, Kyle Crichton, Meranda Yslas and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: PATRICE: THE MOVIE

With: Jenna A. Bush and 4 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: PATRICE: THE MOVIE

With: Jenna A. Bush, Ally Southwood-Smith, John Tarquinio, Ephraim Kirkwood and Soheil Rezayazdi
Spotlight

Spotlight: Documenting Digital Lives with Lauren Greenfield (SOCIAL STUDIES)

With: Lauren Greenfield and Soheil Rezayazdi

Documentary Filmmaking: From Rough Cut to Fine Cut

Advanced
Take your documentary to the next level in this immersive eight-week online workshop designed for filmmakers ready to refine their films in post-production. Whether you're crafting a short, a feature, or a series, this course offers the rare opportunity to workshop your project with a seasoned filmmaker and a tight-knit group of fellow creatives—all focused on helping you break through creative roadblocks and uncover your film’s strongest form.

Master Class: Integrating Accessibility and Inclusion into Filmmaking

With: Reid Davenport, Day Al-Mohamed and Alison O'Daniel

Festival Spotlight 2025: Advocacy Meets AI with FREE LEONARD PELTIER

With: Jhane Myers, David France, Jesse Short Bull and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SPERMWORLD

With: Daniel Garber and 2 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SPERMWORLD

With: Daniel Garber, Emily Yue and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Festival Spotlight 2025: The Art of True Crime with ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT

With: Charlie Shackleton and Katherine Street

Shaping Your Documentary Story in Post

Intermediate
Over the course of four weeks in this live, online course, you will gain the expertise you need to shape your story. You will analyze documentary scenes across genres and styles to learn how to create the world of your story, “write” your documentary, and elevate your film in post-production. The course will include case studies and interactive exercises to offer space to share and connect with other filmmakers in the course. Weekly assignments will include research exercises designed to deepen your understanding of the post-production process.

Browse 89 courses and events

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Trending
Self-Paced Course

Scripting and Pitching Your Documentary

With: Mark Monroe and Xan Aranda

Scripting and Pitching Your Documentary

Beginner to Intermediate
With: Mark Monroe and Xan Aranda
In this four-week course, Mark Monroe reveals the strategic art of shaping hundreds of hours of raw footage into compelling cinema. This course builds upon a previous Sundance Collab Master Class and features exclusive insights and conversations with established documentary storytellers Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Piece By Piece), Geeta Gandbhir (The Perfect Neighbor), and Kavery Kaul (The Bengali).
Register by 1/12
Self-Paced Course

Documentary Filmmaking: Core Elements

Instructor: Patrick Shen

Documentary Filmmaking: Core Elements

Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Patrick Shen
You have an idea for a documentary film, but now you want an expert in the field to help guide you as you take the next step. In this eight-week self-paced course, you will learn how to move from concept through post-production with a documentary film. Along the way, you will develop a compelling proposal for potential funders of your project and get feedback on your work from a Sundance Collab Advisor.
Spotlight

Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP

With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi

Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP

With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi
Celebrated filmmaker Laura Poitras joins Sundance Collab for a live, online conversation about her explosive new documentary COVER-UP. This hour-long conversation will conclude with an audience Q&A, where attendees will have the opportunity to ask Poitras questions about her extraordinary new work. Don’t miss this chance to learn from Laura Poitras, an honoree of the Academy, BAFTA, DGA, Emmy, Peabody, and Independent Spirit Awards.

Insider Session: Submitting Your Feature Film to the Sundance Film Festival

With: Sudeep Sharma, Ana Souza and Katherine Street

Making Short Films with Mariama Diallo (HAIR WOLF), Bernardo Britto (GLOVE) & more

With: Mike Plante, Mariama Diallo, Francisca Alegria, Anna Kerrigan and Bernardo Britto
Join Senior Short Film Programmer, Mike Plante and learn about the art and craft of making short films and strategizing for festival and distribution opportunities.
Advisor Studio

Advisor Studio: Documentary Grant Writing with Tracie Holder

With: Tracie Holder and Katherine Street

Advisor Studio: Documentary Grant Writing with Tracie Holder

With: Tracie Holder and Katherine Street

Documentary Filmmaking: From Rough Cut to Fine Cut

Advanced
Take your documentary to the next level in this immersive eight-week online workshop designed for filmmakers ready to refine their films in post-production. Whether you're crafting a short, a feature, or a series, this course offers the rare opportunity to workshop your project with a seasoned filmmaker and a tight-knit group of fellow creatives—all focused on helping you break through creative roadblocks and uncover your film’s strongest form.

Shaping Your Documentary Story in Post

Intermediate
Over the course of four weeks in this live, online course, you will gain the expertise you need to shape your story. You will analyze documentary scenes across genres and styles to learn how to create the world of your story, “write” your documentary, and elevate your film in post-production. The course will include case studies and interactive exercises to offer space to share and connect with other filmmakers in the course. Weekly assignments will include research exercises designed to deepen your understanding of the post-production process.

Master Class: Integrating Accessibility and Inclusion into Filmmaking

With: Reid Davenport, Day Al-Mohamed and Alison O'Daniel

Master Class: Social Activism Through Storytelling with Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk (AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER)

With: Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk
At the heart of every successful social activist movement is a compelling story. This three-hour, live, online master class will delve into strategies for making media that moves the needle on social issues and galvanizes its audience to make change.
Event Recording

Insider Session: Submitting Your Short to the Sundance Film Festival

With: Mike Plante and Katherine Street
Advisor Studio

Advisor Studio: Pitching Your Documentary for Production Funding

With: Kavery Kaul and Erica Elson
Event Recording

Festival Spotlight 2025: The Art of True Crime with ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT

With: Charlie Shackleton and Katherine Street
Event Recording

Festival Spotlight 2025: World Cinema Documentary Competition

With: Sara Khaki and 4 more

Festival Spotlight 2025: World Cinema Documentary Competition

With: Sara Khaki, Mohammadreza Eyni, Christopher King, Maia Lekow and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Documentary Fund

With: Dominic Davis and 2 more

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Documentary Fund

With: Dominic Davis, Evan Neff and Katherine Street
Event Recording

Insider Session: Applying to the Ignite Challenge

With: Toby Brooks and Erica Elson

Insider Session: Applying to the Ignite Challenge

With: Toby Brooks and Erica Elson
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SPERMWORLD

With: Daniel Garber and 2 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SPERMWORLD

With: Daniel Garber, Emily Yue and Soheil Rezayazdi

Festival Spotlight 2025: Advocacy Meets AI with FREE LEONARD PELTIER

With: Jhane Myers, David France, Jesse Short Bull and Soheil Rezayazdi
Spotlight

Spotlight: Documenting Digital Lives with Lauren Greenfield (SOCIAL STUDIES)

With: Lauren Greenfield and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: PATRICE: THE MOVIE

With: Jenna A. Bush and 4 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: PATRICE: THE MOVIE

With: Jenna A. Bush, Ally Southwood-Smith, John Tarquinio, Ephraim Kirkwood and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SABBATH QUEEN

With: Sandi DuBowski and 5 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SABBATH QUEEN

With: Sandi DuBowski, Francisco Bello, ACE, Jeremy Stulberg, ACE, Kyle Crichton, Meranda Yslas and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Ignite Program

With: Samina Saifee and 3 more

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Ignite Program

With: Samina Saifee, Kat Schulze, Toby Brooks and Katherine Street