The centenary comes at an incredibly difficult time, with fewer commissions, rising living costs and growing insecurity placing sustained pressure on talent across the industry. To try to stem the resulting exodus of talent, it is crucial for us all to come together to offer freelancers a sense of community, access to training and meaningful connections with sector leaders, all helping to support the long-term health of UK documentary.

Over the coming months, the Grierson Trust will be celebrating this landmark anniversary year with special events and activities to bring the documentary community together. We’ll be rolling out a suite of free programmes for freelancers and others working across film, TV, and digital documentary and factual filmmaking. These will include CV surgeries, talent manager meetings, career clinics with Grierson Trustees and other industry leaders, as well as a series of masterclasses and discussions – all designed to support continued professional development in the sector.

Now, more than ever, the documentary sector needs everyone to step up. Organisations that support factual filmmaking through training, commissioning, funding or advocacy have a role to play in strengthening the freelance and emerging talent base. Collaboration isn’t optional, it’s essential if we want UK documentary to remain vibrant, diverse and creatively bold for the next 100 years.

We invite anyone with expertise, resources, or ideas to partner with us and help ensure that the next generation of filmmakers is supported, their voices amplified and their stories seen and heard. Together, we can commemorate this centenary through safeguarding the future of UK documentary making.

If you would like to learn more or partner with the Trust, please email [email protected]

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