The Grierson Trust

The 2026 #GriersonAwards deadline is fast approaching🏆 Submit your #Documentaries & #FactualProgrammes across 16 categories. Deadline: 11.59pm, Friday 22 May Enter now 🔗 - link in bio! #Grierson #BritishDocumentaryAwards in association with All3Media

We’re proud to announce the launch of the Grierson-Percy Documentary Grant – a new finishing fund for UK-based independent documentary filmmakers and production companies. The grant is open to documentary films and series about political or international crises and will cover essential finishing and/or additional shooting costs. Two-to-three grants ranging from £10,000 to £25,000 will be awarded. Deadline to apply: 5pm BST, Tuesday 30 June 2026. To learn more about the grant, register for our Discovery Webinar and Q&A taking place Tuesday 2 June from 6pm. Find out more, apply & register for the webinar at the link in our bio 🔗 The #GriersonPercyDocGrant is made possible by a generous donation from Grierson Patron and prolific documentary-maker, Norma Percy. . . . . . . . . #GriersonTrust #NormaPercy #Documentary #FilmFund #FilmGrant #DocumentaryGrant #GriersonPercy #UKDocumentary

Wishing Sir David Attenborough – Patron of the Grierson Trust and winner of numerous Grierson Awards for his astounding body of work – a very happy 100th birthday. This special birthday aptly coincides with the 100th anniversary of John Grierson using the term “documentary” to describe film. 📸 David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet – winner of the 2021 Grierson Award for Best Single Documentary – Domestic. #DavidAttenborough #GriersonTrust #GriersonPatron #JohnGrierson #Grierson #Documentary #100YearsOfDocs

We're delighted to reveal the 12 trainees selected for this year’s Grierson DocLab: New Entrants programme, supported by Headline Industry Sponsor @natgeo and industry supporter, Banijay UK @banijayuk Trainees come from across the UK, with three-quarters of the group based outside of London. The new entrants are: Grace Acum, Leah Adina, Dominique Baptiste, Mila Boersma, Lillie Brazier, Dylan Coundley-Hughes, Jonah Hall, Olivia Hughes, Moyenda Lowe, Jennifer Morrison, Sakura Singh Corke, and Katie Wilson. Find out more about the cohort at the link our bio 🔗 Many UK production companies have renewed their support for the programme this year, offering placements to the trainees once the residential and online training programme are complete. A huge thanks to those sponsors, plus supporters Clear Cut Pictures, Creators Counsel, and Talented People. . . . . . . . . . #GriersonDocLab #NationalGeographic #BanijayUK #RankFoundation #TheGriersonTrust #Training #TrainingScheme #Documentary #FactualTV #ProductionCompany #NewEntrant [Image descriptions in alt text]

We're happy to open registrations to the first two online sessions in our programme... Demystifying Documentary Distribution 📅 Friday 8 May, 12-1pm This session offers an open and transparent conversation exploring how documentaries reach audiences in the UK and internationally. Moderated by Lizzie Gillett of Misfits Entertainment, the session features Graham Fulton (Conic), Oli Harbottle (Dogwoof) and Sarah Mosses (Together Films). Undercover: Exposing the Far Right - How Not to Get Sued, Arrested or Killed 📅 Wednesday 17 June, 12-1pm Explore how the team behind Grierson-nominated Undercover: Exposing the Far Right navigated complex legal challenges during production. Media lawyer Prash Naik (Creators Counsel) and producers Natasha Dack and Havana Marking (Tigerlily Films) unpack the legal terrain of making a high-risk investigative documentary. PLUS – we have the second Meet the Talent Exec online session open for registrations 💻 Hattie Wood from Wonderhood Studios, Sophie Jones from Minnow Films, Vicky Bennett from Wall to Wall and Twenty Twenty and Mark Hedgecoe from Rogan Productions will meet with 20 selected freelancers. Taking place Wednesday 20 May, the session is open to early and mid-career level freelancers looking to connect with production companies in the factual and documentary space. Deadline to apply is Wednesday 6 May. Register and book now 🔗 link in bio . . . . . . . #GriersonSessions #JohnGrierson #TheGriersonTrust #Grierson #Documentary #100YearsOfDocs #Masterclasses #Panels #TalentExecutives #Networking [Image description: The first image: Registrations Open. The first two sessions in our programme of masterclasses and panels will cover documentary distribution and legal issues. Open to freelancers and independent documentary makers looking to expand their knowledge in these specific areas. Book now. The second image: Meet the Talent Execs. Freelancers seeking their next role in documentary TV can now register for the chance to secure time with talent executives from Twenty Twenty/Wall to Wall, Wonderhood Studios, Rogan Productions and Minnow Films. Sign up today. > griersontrust.org/grierson-sessions.]

Interested in being part of the British Documentary Awards judging process? You can register to be a reviewer or juror for 2026 now – link in bio. Just upload your CV and let us know which categories you’d like to be involved with for the chance to join our pool of jurors for the 54th annual Grierson Awards. We’ll be in touch should you be selected. The 2026 #GriersonAwards are in association with All3Media. . . . . . . . . #GriersonAwards #Griersons #GriersonTrust #BritishDocumentaryAwards #Documentary #FactualTV #FilmAwards #Grierson2026 #DocumentaryAwards #Awards #EntriesOpen #EnterNow #AwardsEntries [Image descriptions: White text on blue background: Register to Judge. Complete the form to register your interest in being a juror or reviewer for the 2026 Griersons]

The 2026 #GriersonAwards – in association with All3Media – are now open for entries🏆 Submit your #Documentaries & #FactualProgrammes across 16 categories, including the new Best Digital Documentary, and returning for 2026, the Best Constructed and Formatted Documentary Series and Most Entertaining Documentary categories. Deadline: 22 May 2026 – link in bio for more info🔗 Categories to enter are… @envypost Best Single Documentary - Domestic Broadcast International Best Single Documentary - International Televisual Best Current Affairs Documentary @bleedingfingersmusic Best Arts and Music Documentary Best Sports Documentary Best History Documentary Best Science and Natural History Documentary Best Crime and Justice Documentary Most Entertaining Documentary @netflix Best Documentary Series @channel4 Best Constructed or Formatted Documentary Series @sky #SkyDocumentaries Best Cinema Documentary All3Media Best Student Documentary Best Documentary Short Best Digital Documentary Best Documentary Presenter Thank you to our sponsors, @bbc and wider supporters @britishcouncil , @thefarmpost.tv @natgeo & @realscreen #GriersonAwards #Griersons #TheGriersonTrust #BritishDocumentaryAwards #Documentary #FactualTV #FilmAwards #Grierson2026 #DocumentaryAwards #Awards #EntriesOpen #EnterNow #AwardsEntries [Image descriptions: White text on blue background: Entries Open. Smaller text: griersontrust.org/grierson-awards. Submit your documentaries by Friday 22 May 2026. Blue background with Text: “With thanks to our sponsors and supporters” with logos: All3Media, BBC, Bleeding Fingers Music, Broadcast International, Channel 4, Envy, Netflix, Sky Documentaries, Televisual, British Council, The Farm, National Geographic & Realscreen.]

We're delighted to launch the first of our Grierson Sessions to celebrate the centenary of John Grierson coining the term "documentary”. 📎 Booking is now open for our CV Clinics. Aimed at early and mid-career level freelancers, the clinics will provide clear, actionable feedback on CVs to help boost chances of securing new work. Slots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. 💻 Registrations are also live for the first Meet the Talent Executives session. It will bring together execs from Blast Films, The Garden, Raw TV and 72 Films to meet with 20 selected freelancers at early and mid-career level seeking work in the factual and documentary space. Deadline to apply is Friday 13 March. These sessions will support the factual freelance community by strengthening professional growth, helping to build a resilient factual workforce for the next century. Read more, book and register now 🔗 link in bio . . . . . . . #GriersonSessions #JohnGrierson #TheGriersonTrust #Grierson #Documentary #Centenary #100YearsOfDocs #CVClinics #TalentExecutives #Networking #ApplyNow #BookNow [image description: The first image: blue image of John Grierson behind an old film camera on set. Large white text reads “Grierson Sessions”, with smaller text: Celebrating 100 Years of Documentary. The second image: Meet the Talent Execs. Freelancers seeking their next role in documentary TV can now register for the chance to secure time with talent executives from Raw TV, Blast Films, The Garden and 72 Films. Sign up today. The third image: CV Clinics. Open to early and mid-career (4-10 yrs) freelancers in documentary/factual, who are actively seeking work in TV/film. This is your chance to get free one-to-one CV feedback from the Grierson Trust team. Book your slot now > griersontrust.org/grierson-sessions]

We're #hiring: Events and Admin Assistant 📢 The new team member will be responsible for various administrative tasks across all areas of the Trust’s initiatives Fixed term 3 months. UK-based & remote Apply by: Thurs 19 Feb 5pm - link in bio . . . . . . . #TheGriersonTrust #Grierson #Documentary #Hiring #EventsAndAdmin [Image description: audience seated at the 2025 Grierson Awards ceremony]

This Sunday marks 100 years since John Grierson coined the term "documentary" relating to film. He first used the phrase in a 1926 review of Robert J. Flaherty’s Moana for the New York Sun, arguing that it carried real “documentary value.” To celebrate this landmark year, we'll be rolling out a suite of free programmes for freelancers and others working across film, TV, and digital documentary. These will include CV surgeries, talent manager meetings, career clinics with Grierson Trustees, and a series of masterclasses. Register to stay tuned for more details 🔗 link in bio . . . . . . . #JohnGrierson #TheGriersonTrust #Grierson #Documentary #Centenary #100YearsOfDocs [image description: a black and white photograph of John Grierson, wearing a suit and glasses, sitting in an office/library and looking away from the camera]

Your documentary filmmaking career could start here 👇 #GriersonDocLab New Entrants offers training, paid placements, mentors and more to kick-start your journey in factual filmmaking 📽️ Find out more & apply by 19 Feb 🔗 link in bio Supported by @natgeo and @banijayuk #GriersonDocLab #TheGriersonTrust #Training #Documentary

We’re so proud that two of our Grierson DocLab: Editing alumni have been out at Sundance Festival in Park City – attending with their fellow film teams behind selections for the iconic festival’s programme. Will Hewitt was on the Editing training programme in 2022 and is the editor for BIRDS OF WAR: The love story of a London-based Lebanese journalist and a Syrian activist and cameraman as told through 13 years of personal archives across revolutions, war, and exile. Hannah Jayawardene was part of the 2021 cohort and attended for her work as additional editor on ANTIHEROINE, a documentary all about Courtney Love. Here they are with Claire Ferguson, who led their respective Grierson DocLab: Editing training courses. Read more about Birds of War and Antiheroine on the Sundance website festival.sundance.org/program/ We’re thrilled that Grierson DocLab Alumni continue to make waves in the UK documentary industry and internationally! . . . . . . #GriersonDocLab #GriersonDocLabEditing #Editing #Sundance #Festival #Documentary [Image descriptions: Claire and Will stand in front of press boards at Sundance. Claire and Hannah smile at camera at Sundance event.]