Documentary Education Program
San Miguel de Allende
For accomplished and aspirational filmmakers, university students and heart led creatives.
In three weeks, participants will collaborate with local NGOs, creatives, cultural guides and professional mentors to produce a short documentary of 30 minutes or more. The program is designed to give emerging filmmakers practical experience beyond the classroom while amplifying the voices of changemakers creating positive impact across Central Mexico.
Mexico
Dates: 22 August – 13 September
Location: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Cost: $2,700 USD per person
The Location:
San Miguel de Allende is one of Mexico’s most beautiful and culturally rich towns — a place known for its colour, creativity, architecture, art, community spirit and deep sense of history.
Located in the heart of Central Mexico, San Miguel is home to artists, educators, social entrepreneurs, local leaders, community organisations and NGOs working to create real world change. Its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, vibrant markets, creative communities and surrounding landscapes make it an inspiring environment for documentary storytelling.
For filmmakers, San Miguel offers more than a beautiful backdrop. It is a living, breathing community filled with human stories, social impact initiatives and opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration.
Who The Program Is For:
This program is perfect for:
University film, media and communications students
Study-abroad and exchange programs
Emerging documentary filmmakers
Creative community centres seeking hands-on experience
International film residencies
Heart-led creatives interested in social impact storytelling
Individuals or groups wanting real-world production experience
Film Crew Roles:
Participants will step into real production roles across the documentary process, including:
Director
Cinematographer
Editor
Producer
Sound Recordist / Gaffer
Behind-the-Scenes Photographer
Behind-the-Scenes Videographer
Marketing Manager
Each production will be supported by a wider creative and cultural team, including floating crew members, local translators, cultural guides and professional mentors.
Additional cultural and subject-matter roles may be included depending on the documentary topic.
For example, an environmental story may involve input from a horticulturalist, botanist, lecturer, researcher or local expert.
Crew and Mentor Structure:
Each documentary production is supported by a collaborative team structure:
Core Film Crew
Director
Cinematographer
Editor
Producer
Sound Recordist / Gaffer
Floating Support Crew
Marketing
Behind-the-Scenes Video / Photography
Translator
Local Guide
Professional Mentors
Producer / Editor
Cinematographer
Director / Writer
Program Foundations:
3 weeks of documentary mentorship and practical training
Shared accommodation in San Miguel de Allende
Guided production with local NGOs and changemakers
Access to camera, audio and editing equipment
Local transport for scheduled shoots and cultural activities
Translation support and local cultural guidance
Workshops in story, interviews, production and editing
Selected group meals, food tours and cultural experiences
Community screening night and final celebration
The San Miguel de Allende Documentary Education Program is more than a filmmaking course. It is an immersive, real-world storytelling experience designed to help participants grow as filmmakers, collaborators and socially conscious storytellers.
By the end of the program, participants will have contributed to a meaningful documentary project, gained practical production experience, collaborated across cultures and helped amplify the story of an organisation creating positive change in Mexico.
Program Structure Guide
3-Week Program
An immersive, hands-on journey through documentary filmmaking in San Miguel de Allende, moving from story development to final screening. From first arrival to final cut, each week builds your film and your connection to place, people, and story.
Week One: Pre-Production & Ignition
The first week is designed to help participants arrive, connect with the group, understand the local context and begin developing the documentary.
Arrival Weekend
Arrival in San Miguel de Allende
Group excursion to Cañada de la Virgen
Walking tour of San Miguel de Allende
Pre-Production
Fundamentals of Documentary workshop
Cultural integration session
Meet the local NGOs
Preliminary interviews with NGOs
Story development and production planning
Production Begins
First week of filming with local NGOs
Weekend Experience
Half-day food excursion to Atotonilco
Thermal spa relaxation experience
Week Two: Production & Assembly
The second week focuses on production, deeper storytelling, community interviews and the beginning of the editing process.
Production
Continued filming with NGOs
Interviews, observational scenes and supporting visuals
Ongoing mentorship and creative guidance
Editing
Logging and transcribing footage
Syncing and labelling media
Paper & Assembly Edits
Weekend Experience
Walking tour of Guanajuato
El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Gardens tour
Week Three: Post-Production & Screening
The final week is dedicated to shaping, refining and completing the documentary for a community screening.
Editing
Rough Cut, Picture Lock & Fine Cut
Sound design, Mixing & Colour Grading
Final Export
Screening Night
Community gathering to celebrate the documentaries
Screening with participants, mentors, local collaborators and NGO partners
Final Weekend
Farewell dinner at local restaurant
What's Included in the Program:
Workshops and Practical Production:
Participants will receive hands-on training and mentorship across:
Documentary structure, story and fundamentals
Field interview training
Cultural understanding and integration
Social impact storytelling practices
On-the-ground production support
Hands-on shoot days
Short project development
Editing workshops
Distribution strategies and film screenings
Cross Cultural Collaboration:
The program is built around authentic cross-cultural collaboration and community-led storytelling, this includes:
Immersive community-led narratives
Local translators for community interviews
Local cultural guidance for accurate insights
Collaboration with local NGOs and changemakers
End-of-program community screening night
Cross-cultural filmmaking experiences
Technology, Software and Equipment:
Participants will have access to production tools and creative workflows, including:
Digital translation support, including tools such as Trint and ChatGPT
Video editing software, including DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Creative Cloud
Film equipment including cameras, lenses, gimbal, tripod and audio recording gear
Editing equipment including laptop and hard drive support
Accommodation:
The program includes shared accommodation designed to support collaboration, creativity and cultural immersion, including:
Group facilities for maximum collaboration
Authentic lodging for a deeper cultural experience
A supportive environment for creative development
Experiential Learning:
Participants will also take part in cultural and wellbeing experiences designed to deepen their understanding of place, community and story.
Group excursions led by a local guide
Food tours exploring local cuisine and culture
Film screenings connected to program themes
Reflective and meditative practices to support health and wellbeing
Not Included:
The program cost does not include:
Flights
Travel insurance
Visas
Daily meals, aside from selected welcome and farewell dinners, food tours and group experiences
Program Price:
$2,700 USD per person
This includes documentary workshops, production mentorship, accommodation, local support, selected excursions, equipment access, collaborative production experience and the end-of-program community screening.
Our goal is to create documentaries with depth, purpose and festival potential — while helping the next generation of storytellers develop the skills, awareness and confidence to tell stories that matter.
Learn
Documentary storytelling, interviewing, cinematography, editing and ethical filmmaking.
Create
Produce a real-world 30 minute or longer documentary alongside a collaborative international crew.
Connect
Work directly with local changemakers, community leaders, local and international storytellers.
Explore
Experience a new culture through meaningful immersion beyond traditional tourism.
Grow
Develop confidence, leadership, interviewing skills, creative problem-solving, cultural intelligence and professional resilience.
Share
Screen your documentary with the community and showcase your work to a wider audience.
Continue
Join a global alumni network to share films, exchange ideas, build skills, and collaborate on future storytelling projects.
Our Process
How we craft our Documentaries
