Documentary

Equipping students to make documentary films that tackle global challenges and harness possibilities.

Documentary

Overview

The Documentary Program is a dynamic production hub where emerging filmmakers tackle urgent stories that connect audiences to the heart of global challenges, revealing what's at stake and what's possible. Through hands-on mentorship, publishing partnerships, and a strong industry network, we equip our students to excel in a competitive field and create work that matters. Behind every great documentary is a storyteller with a vision - and the passion to bring it to life.

  • Industry Connections: We bring top professionals to campus and send students and faculty to premier events like Sundance and SFFILM Doc Stories.
  • Publishing Opportunities: We help students place their work in leading outlets like The New Yorker, PBS's POV, and the Los Angeles Times.
  • Career Launchpad: Our training opens doors at the BBC, PBS, and top production companies like Trilogy and Actual Films.
  • Reaching Audiences: Our graduate films have engaged hundreds of thousands of viewers and shaped public understanding.
  • Hosting Events: We bring filmmakers, scholars, and the public together for screenings and conversations on urgent local and global issues.

 

One of the most prestigious documentary film programs in the country whose student films have won numerous Student Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Peabody Awards, IDA/David L. Wolper Student Documentary Awards and more.

 

Documentary

Featured Student Work

Award Winning Work

Our doc students and alums consistently win awards and screen films at the highest levels.

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Documentary

Instructors

Exceptional, hands-on education from documentary filmmakers.

Jennifer Redfearn

Documentary Program Director

Jennifer Redfearn

Redfearn is an Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker, committed to social issue filmmaking, with a style the press has described as "engrossing," "beautifully cinematic" and "intensely human."

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Jason Spingarn Koff

Professor and Knight Chair in Climate Journalism

Jason Spingarn-Koff

Spingarn-Koff (he/him) is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist and media executive. He's working to reinvent how stories about climate change are told, unite the brainpower of top science experts on the UC Berkeley campus with the expertise of the journalism school, and build partnerships around climate change.

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Cassandra Herrman

Continuing Lecturer

Cassandra Herrman

Herrman is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, immersive storyteller and journalist. She is drawn to stories that explore the intersection of the criminal justice system, gender and race, and those that disrupt mainstream media representations. 

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Nani Sahra Walker

Lecturer

Nani Sahra Walker

Walker is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker. She executive produced the acclaimed short documentaries Kylie (Sundance, 2023), Merman (Tribeca, 2023) and The Last Repair Shop (Telluride, 2023), which won the 2024 Academy Award.

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Documentary

Alumni Testimonials

Tsanavi Spoonhunter

Tsanavi Spoonhunter
Independent Documentary Filmmaker 

"...set its students up for success in this demanding industry..."

At Berkeley Journalism, I learned how to create compelling films that are deeply reported and visually respectful. This opportunity also connected me with well-established filmmakers. It's clear to see that this school has the potential to set its students up for success in this demanding industry through the notable alumni who've gone through the program. I'm honored to have attended and thankful for the amazing staff and faculty who continue to support me and my work.

Bria Light

Bria Light ('23)

"It's not hyperbole..."

It's not hyperbole to say that this program has completely changed my life.

Linus Unah

Linus Unah ('23)

"...better equipped to tell African stories..."

When I left Nigeria, I badly wanted to improve my skills and to be better equipped to tell African stories through documentaries. Every bit of that desire was fulfilled thanks to the Documentary Program.



Alfredo Torres

Alfredo Torres ('23)

"... time for you to take a chance on yourself..."

The program offers the space and time for you to take a chance on yourself as a filmmaker. 

Documentary

Career Success

Our graduate students have won 12 Student Academy Awards, and alongside alums, their films have premiered at festivals such as Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca and Telluride. Their work in the program has led to publishing deals with The Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, and PBS's POV.



Typical career paths:

Documentary Program alums work at all levels of production at major streaming platforms, such as Netflix, and at publications with video arms, such as The New York Times. They produce their own films as independent documentary filmmakers. Our alumni make exceptional films and produce groundbreaking investigative work, and also become thought leaders in the field.



Students and Alums Publish at Major Outlets

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Documentary

Curriculum

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Introduction to Documentary Production

The Intro to Documentary Production course introduces students to the foundational tools and techniques of nonfiction filmmaking. Through hands-on exercises, crafting short films, and critical discussion, students learn to use light, composition, framing, and sequencing to convey meaning, evoke emotion, and shape narrative. The course emphasizes visual language as a form of creative expression, journalism, and authorship and builds technical proficiency and artistic awareness. Students complete the course with a final project demonstrating their emerging cinematic voice.

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Intermediate Documentary Production

In this intermediate course, students advance their documentary production skills through story pitching and development, technical training, and in-depth critique. Building on the foundations of Intro to Documentary Production, the course introduces more advanced approaches to camera work, location sound, editing, and story structure. Students complete two original projects that challenge them to refine their voice, experiment with form, and strengthen their ability to tell compelling nonfiction stories. The course encourages bold, intentional choices grounded in the ethics and principles of visual journalism.

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The Documentary Workshop I

In the first semester of this year-long immersive workshop, students develop, pitch, and begin production on their 25-minute thesis films. The course mirrors professional practice: students participate in a pitch forum and prepare a comprehensive production plan, including a treatment, budget, schedule, and scene list. Students strengthen their story development, research, reporting, and production management skills—building a strong foundation for documentary work. Guest filmmakers join throughout the semester to share real-world approaches to documentary filmmaking. By the end of the term, students have an actionable plan and are ready to begin principal photography on their final film.

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The Documentary Workshop II

In the final semester of the year-long documentary workshop, students refine and complete their 25-minute thesis films. The course guides them through editing—from original assemblies to final picture lock and showcase. Students present work-in-progress cuts for critique and receive feedback from instructors, peers, and a professional editor. The curriculum includes class sessions on advanced editing, sound design, music, titles and graphics, color grading, and sound mixing. Students finish their films in a post-production environment with support from experienced sound designers and colorists. A dedicated session on distribution prepares students with strategies to pitch and publish their work, laying the foundation for their transition from student to professional filmmaker.

Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

Round 1 deadline is Dec. 16, 2024 8:59 pm PT
Priority consideration for departmental funding

Round 2: Feb. 3, 2025 8:59 pm PT
Admission based on space availability

Concurrent Degrees
Application Deadline: Dec. 2, 2024 8:59 pm PT
Master in Journalism/Master in Public Health (MPH/MJ)
Master in Journalism/Asian Studies (MJ/MA)

Visit our admissions page for all of the information you need and a list of FAQ about your application: https://journalism.berkeley.edu/admissions/

To apply to the Documentary Program, your application must include the following:

  • Area of Interest: Select "Documentary" as your intended track under the "Journalism Program" section of the application.
  • Video Sample: Submit at least one video sample of your work (two are strongly encouraged).

Please note: Video samples count toward the maximum of three total work samples allowed. For example, if you're applying to the Documentary track, you may submit one non-fiction writing sample and two video samples, or one non-fiction writing sample and one video sample—both options fulfill the video requirement.

Be sure to include your credits with each submission so we can clearly understand your role in the project (e.g., director, producer, cinematographer, editor).

You may also include links to additional projects in your resume.

  • Additional Essay: In 300 words or less, address the following questions:
    • What inspired your interest in documentary filmmaking? Please share a specific documentary or experience that influenced your decision to pursue this field. 
    • Why have you chosen to pursue documentary filmmaking through a journalism school program rather than a film school? What do you hope to gain from this specific approach?
    • What cameras, editing software, and other tools have you used in your work? How comfortable are you with these tools, and are there specific technical skills you aim to develop further?

Note: you may include this additional essay in the Supplemental Essay portion of the application or in the same document as your Statement of Purpose, clearly labeling the essay as the "Additional Essay for the Documentary Program".

If you'd like to be considered for both the Documentary Program and general admission to Berkeley Journalism, please be sure to select this option in your application. *Please note, selecting both options will not impact your chances of admission negatively.

If admitted for general admission, you’ll have until the end of your first year to formally declare a concentration, which will serve as the media platform for your master’s project. Concentrations include: Audio, Narrative Writing, Multimedia-Video for the Web, or Photojournalism.

For applicants interested in the Documentary Program but lacking sufficient background or experience, many choose our Multimedia-Video for the Web concentration, which focuses on digital-first platforms, such as web videos, interactive graphics, online photo essays, and data-driven investigative stories, distinct from traditional print or broadcast media.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at journalism_admissions@berkeley.edu

Attend a Berkeley Journalism Information Session to learn more about the the school and application process. Visit our admissions page for information on dates and times: https://journalism.berkeley.edu/admissions/

Contact Us

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Director of Admissions

Nelly Provencal-Dayle

nelly@berkeley.edu
510-664-1234

Would you like to speak with someone directly?  Let's talk.  Our admissions team is here to help.