SYDNEY FILM SCHOOL
The
Documentary
Program
The Sydney Film School's documentary program is world-renowned as one of the leading documentary
programs in Australia. The program has been developed over the last 11 years and is a key focus for our
School.
Documentaries produced in the program, such as "The Hidden Gem", "Richard: the Most Interestingest
Person I've Met", and "Troy" have been highly awarded on the global festival stage.
Our graduates Gracie Otto with her film "The Last Impresario" and Maya Newell with "Gayby Baby" have also
received major acclaim for their feature documentary projects in recent years.
The Documentary Program features in both our Diploma of Screen and Media and Advanced Diploma of
Screen and Media.
Dr. Alejandra Canales
Head of Documentary
Alejandra is a passionate professional who strives to promote Documentary both at Sydney Film School and
more widely in the international film community.
Alejandra is an award winning filmmaker, a graduate from the
Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and holds a
PhD in Creative Arts.
Her work has screened in many major festivals both in Australia and
internationally, including the International Documentary Film Festival
Amsterdam (IDFA) and the Sydney Film Festival where she was
awarded a Dendy Award. She has received numerous scholarships
and participated in International documentary workshops and
residencies.
She was the Co-Director of the inaugural version of Antenna International Documentary Film Festival in 2011
and is the creator and curator of DOC_Space.
Diploma of Screen and Media (CUF50107)
Diploma Part 1
In semester one of the Diploma, students explore documentary genres and are provided with a foundation
knowledge of documentary filmmaking.
In this course students will develop an understanding of directing techniques for documentary filmmaking.
Through practical workshops they will develop ideas that incorporate research, finding strong
documentary subjects, finding the story thread, constructing the visual landscape and approach and
developing a pitching presentation. They work in small groups in the production of a short documentary.
Diploma Part 2
Semester two provides the opportunity for students to explore documentary in greater depth and allows
them to pitch a documentary as a major project.
Students will develop, research and pitch a documentary project as part of this course. Selected projects
will go into production. Each documentary selected for production is allocated an HD digital video kit and
a small cash budget to cover a range of possible expenses.
Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (CUF60107)
The Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media offers students the opportunity to undertake a specific documentary stream.
In the AD Documentary Stream, students will write and direct a short documentary (10 – 23 minutes) and
undertake a documentary craft package that includes cinematography, editing and sound. Students
benefit from studying in very small class sizes within their chosen craft area.
At the end of the course you will be offered a work placement to help launch your career.
Documentary Specialisation Workshops
Sydney Film School offers 2 full day intensive workshops, screenings, practical exercises and analysis of films
with a range of documentary industry experts from directors, producers, cinematographers, editors,
composers and animators.
The documentary workshop provides the opportunity for meeting up-close talented Australian
documentary filmmakers to review their work, gain insights into their motivations and working methods and
also receive mentoring for their own documentary ideas with talented and inspiring industry
professionals.
Sydney Film School - Film Festival
Every documentary film screens at our prestigious Sydney Film School Festival. Our in-house Distribution
Officer also manages entry of select films into the international film festival circuit and other emerging forms
of distribution.
DOC_Space
DOC_Space is a recent initiative created by our Head of Documentary, Dr. Alejandra Canales, that seeks
to establish a broader community around documentary. DOC_Space provides a platform to think,
challenge, create, share and discuss all aspects of documentary, utilising the school’s strong networks within
the national and international documentary filmmaking industry,
82 Cope Street WATERLOO NSW 2017
PH: 02 9698 2244
www.sydneyfilmschool.com
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